Since the first description of feline infectious peritonitis (FIP) in 1963, the association between feline coronavirus (FCoV) and the development of high mortality systemic disease has been reported worldwide in all species of felids. It appears to have no breed or sex predilection, but the close proximity of many cats, such as occurs in multi-cat households, catteries and shelters increases the rsik of disease.
Approximately 1 in 200 cats are infected and develop FIP from exposure to coronavirus. In the United Kingdom approximately 40% of the domestic cat population is seropositive and where cats are housed together in multi-cat households, this figure increases still further to around 90%.
Natural infections with FCoV are usually transient, although a significant percentage of infections may be persistent. Most infections are asymptomatic or result in mild, self-limiting gastrointestinal disease. In a small percentage of animals (<5%), however, a fatal, multi-systemic, immune-mediated disease occurs. It was originally thought that there were two types of FCoV strains; feline infectious peritonitis virus (FIPV) and feline enteric coronavirus (FECV). However, recent PCR studies have shown that all strains cause systemic infection, and these two forms are merely different virulence variants of FCoV.
The virus is transmitted via oral, nasal and fecal secretions; prolonged contact with an infected cat is usually required for transmission. The incidence of FCoV infected cats in a closed population is typically found to be either zero or 80-90%, whereas in the free-roaming population, FCoV infections are around 25% of the population. The outcome of infection may not be known for months or years, as the virus may remain dormant. The outcome is influenced by the cat’s immune response. Stress, vaccination and concurrent disease can exacerbated and trigger FIP. Antibodies against the FCoV virus may promote the disease rather than cause immunity.
There are four outcomes to feline coronavirus (FCoV) infection: the development of feline infectious peritonitis (FIP, which is immune-mediated), subclinical infection, development of healthy lifelong carriers and a small minority of cats who resist infection. Examination of the FCoV genome has shown that the same strain of virus can produce different clinical manifestations, suggesting that host genetic factors may also play a role in the outcome of infection. FIP is most prevalent amongst pedigree cats, although how much of this is due to them living in large groups (leading to higher virus challenge and stress which predisposes to FIP) and how much is due to genetic susceptibility is not known. If host genetics could be shown to play a role in disease, it may allow the detection of cats with a susceptibility to FIP and the development of increased population resistance through selective breeding. The feline leucocyte antigen (FLA) complex contains many genes that are central to the control of the immune response. Burmese have been shown to have a predisposition to feline leukocyte antigen DRB-restricted polymorphism, suggesting a susceptibility to FIP in this breed.
- History of FIP research
- Pathogenesis of FIP infection
- FIP infection and immunity
- FIP in Thailand
In those cats which develop disease, unexplained fever is probably an invariable first symptom.
It can cause a number of other signs, as well. Lethargy, weight loss, eye disease, swelling of the abdomen or fluid in the chest can all occur with FIP. In adult cats, infection of the brain can also cause neurological signs such as FIP-associated seizures, loss of balance, walking in circles and staggering. Many secondary problems, such as liver or kidney disease can occur with FIP. Any cat with fevers that do not respond to antibiotics should be considered as a candidate for this disease. In any chronic illness in cats for which no other cause can be found, FIP should be considered.
There are two commonly recognised syndromes associated with feline infectious peritonitis. In the ‘wet FIP’ cases, involving B-cell antibody-mediated immune response, fluid accumulates in the abdomen and it can become quite distended. This is known as the effusive form of FIP. The abdominal distension does not appear to be painful. The fluid that builds up in the wet form of FIP is called ascites when it occurs in the abdomen, and pleural effusion when it occurs in the thorax. The fluid is sticky and usually light yellow to golden colour, with a relatively large amount of protein.
The other recognised syndrome is the ‘dry’ form of FIP, a cell-mediated immune response resulting in granulomas, in which the symptoms of fever, weight loss and other clinical signs develop but there is no fluid accumulation. This is the more common form of the disease, especially in kittens.
Diagnosis is based on presenting clinical signs in a young cat (usually under 3 years), together with ancillary diagnostic aids.
A positive Rivalta test can be used but is not always accurate. In house coronaviral antibody tests, although quick, are not necessarily accurate toward establishin active FIP disease, and may only indiate prior exposure.
The standard method of testing for antibodies is a fluorescent antibody test. Up until the 1980s, most vets believed that any cat with antibodies to FIP should be euthanized to prevent the disease from spreading. We now know that the presence of FIP does not mean the virus is present. However, any antibody test that shows FIP titres >400 is suspicious, and a titre >800 is suggestive of active disease or a carrier state. Many cats with titres >1600 die from FIP within three months. FIP can also be diagnosed from X-ray:
The disease can only be confirmed accurately by taking tissue samples from major body organs at death (autopsy). This makes it frustrating to the cat owner who wants a clear diagnosis of their sick cat. What the vet can merely suggest at this stage is that if the blood titre is high, a suggestion of FIP is likely, though not conclusive. This is because there are other coronaviruses that affect cats but that do not produce FIP. The most common of these are the feline enteric coronaviruses. The antibodies produced against these other diseases are too similar to FIP virus for current tests to be able to distinguish between them. To make matters worse, a negative titre (no discernible antibodies) to FIP does not rule out the disease. Presently the only accepted definitive diagnosis of FIP requires biopsy of affected tissues obtained at necropsy or from a surgical biopsy. Common necropsy (Fig. 4) findings include icterus, abdominal or pleural effusion, and multifocal, pale pyogranulomatous lesions covering all affected surfaces. Histopathological examination of affected tissues often shows necrogranulomatous inflammation (large areas of necrosis with infiltration by macrophages and neutrophils). Vasculitis will be present, and appears as a vessel surrounded by an area of necrosis bordered by macrophages, lymphocytes, plasma cells, and neutrophils. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) for FCoV can be performed and aids in the definitive diagnosis of FIP.
Treatment is usually symptomatic. Most vets prescribe broad-spectrum antibiotics such as Clavulox® or Orbax®. The use of cortisone is debatable. Some vets argue that this drug suppresses the cat’s immune system and reduces its ability to fight infection. However, some anecdotal evidence supports slightly greater longevity using this medication. Supportive care such as a well-balanced diet, avoiding stress and overcrowding are vital. Immune stimulating drugs such as Waltham’s Immune Support® or vitamin supplements are advised but may only help in the short term. Eventually, cats with FIP succumb to overwhelming infections three to six months after a tentative diagnosis is made. Not all cats that are exposed to the FIP coronavirus will develop the disease. In colonies of cats in which this disease is known to be present, estimates are that 8 to 20% of cats exposed to the virus will develop clinical signs of FIP. The rest of the cats may become immune to the disease or may simply not react to it. The reason that only a relatively small number of cats exposed to the virus develop the disease is unclear. Cats that do not have a strong immune system may be more susceptible to the disease. Many breeder cats are FIP positive yet never show disease. These cats are usually carriers of the disease, shedding the virus in their faeces and urine.
- Controlling FIP in catteries
FIP virus itself lasts in the environment for up to 6 weeks. It is easily killed with disinfectants, so careful cleansing of a household may help prevent the spread of the disease if a cat with FIP is identified in a household with more than one cat. Due to the delay in the appearance of clinical symptoms once infection occurs, it is likely that most cats in a household have been exposed to the virus by the time it becomes evident that one of the cats is sick. Reducing stress levels by resisting overcrowding of cats in a household and providing adequate litter pans may be helpful in reducing the spread of FIP as well. Strict sanitation and isolation of infected cats and all susceptible kittens from each other is one approach. Vaccination is the other. Sanitation appears to be a major factor in preventing the spread of this virus. In catteries with known FIP exposure, it is possible to severely limit the spread of the disease by keeping kittens isolated from adult cats after the age of 6 weeks and following good sanitary practices. If kittens are not exposed to other cats in the household after six weeks of age, there is a very good chance that they can avoid infection. Once they go to a home where they are the only cat, there is little chance that they will be exposed to the virus. Because FIP is a disease of the immune system, it is also important to ensure the cats are fully vaccinated against cat flu and Chlamydia, and regular wormed and flea-treated, as any disease is likely to reduce a cat’s health.
Public health considerations
FIPV is a naturally occurring infection of domestic and wild Felidae. People are not hosts for the virus. Dogs and swine can be experimentally infected with FIPV. One of the first commercial CCV vaccines for dogs may have actually consisted of FIPV; hundreds of dogs died from severe neurologic and pancreatic disease before it was recalled (Martin 1985). A mild to moderately severe TGE-like syndrome occurs in baby pigs. However, it is doubtful that FIPV is a cause of naturally occurring disease in these species. Diseases closely resembling FIP of cats and caused by species-related coronaviruses have been described in ferrets and mice.
- ↑ Guageuere, E & Prelaud, P (2000) A practical guide to feline dermatology. Merial, France
- ↑ Ward, J (1970) Morphogenesis of a virus in cats with experimental feline infectious peritonitis. Virol 41:191-194
- ↑ Rohrbach, BW et al (2001) Epidemiology of feline infectious peritonitis among cats examined at veterinary medical teaching hospitals. J Am Vet Med Assoc 218:1111
- ↑ Herrewegh, AA et al (1995) The molecular genetics of feline coronaviruses: comparative sequence analysis of the ORF7a/7b transcription unit of different biotypes. Virology 212:622
- ↑ Pedersen, NC (2987) Virologic and immunologic aspects of feline infectious peritonitis virus infection. Adv Exp Med Biol 218:529-550
- ↑ DeGroot-Mijnes, JD et al (2005) Natural history of a recurrent feline coronavirus infection and the role of cellular immunity in survival and disease. J Virol 79: 1036-1044
- ↑ Pedersen NC et al (1984) Pathogenic differences between various feline coronavirus isolates. Coronaviruses; molecular biology and pathogenesis. Adv Exp Med Biol 173:365-380
- ↑ Addie, DD et al (2004) Feline luecocyte antigen class II polymorphism and susceptibility to feline infectious peritonitis. JFMS 6:59-62
- ↑ Foley, JE & Pedersen NC (1996) Inheritance of susceptibility of feline infectious peritonitis in purebred catteries. Feline Practise. 24:14-22