Feline infectious peritonitis (FIP) Flashcards
What viruses causes FIP?
Feline corona virus (FCoV)
Do all cats with FCoV develop FIP? What type of cats usually develop FIP?
No
Tend to be disease of cats group together
FCoV is a large enveloped virus. Is it RNA or DNA?
RNA
What are the 2 types of FCoV?
Feline infectious peritonitis virus (FIPV)
Feline enteric coronavirus (FECoV)
Why are feline corona viruses highly evolving?
High mutation rates
No RNA polymerase proof reading
What factors determine whether a cat infected with FCoV develops FIP?
Immune status
Virus biotype
Route of infection
Dose of infection
What symptom does FECoV cause? How can FECoV become FIP?
Mild D+
Transmission via intestinal shedding
Mutates to become FIP
How is FCoV transmitted in kittens?
Faeces
Saliva
FIPV is very virulent. It doesn’t replicate in the intestines and it isn’t shed. Where is FIPV found (and replicate)?
Enterocytes
Macrophages (Ab binding to virus enhances uptake)
Where does FECoV replicate?
Enterocytes
Why might a cat not develop FIP?
If it has no antiviral antibodies
Do Abs given in a vaccination for FIP work?
No speed up disease
What are the clinical signs of FIP
Mild entertitis Wet FIP (fatal) Dry FIP (fatal)
What are the clinical signs of wet FIP?
Ascites Depression Lethargy Weight loss Jaundice Hepatomegaly Dyspnoea Pyrexia
What are the clinical signs of dry FIP?
Depression, lethargy, jaundice, hepatomegaly, dyspnoea
No ascites or fluid accumulation
How is FIP diagnosed? (Difficult)
Histopathology
Clinical signs
FCoV serology (Ab does not mean FIP)
Viscous, straw coloured fluid, high protein content, froths if shaken, clots on standing
What does the haematology of an animal with FIP show?
Neutrophilia
Lymphopenia
Mild non-regenerative anaemia
What is Rivalta’s test? Is it accurate?
Add vinegar to fluid
Positive result - precipitate forms on surface and sinks to bottom of tube
Not 100%
What is the treatment for FIP?
No treatment
Some claim interferon prolongs life but probably misdiagnosed
Most multicast households are seropositive of FCoV. How can infection in kittens be prevented?
Isolate queens prepartum Wean early Isolate kittens Hygiene Reduce number of cats
What is the pathogenesis of FCoV (leading to FIP)?
FECoV shedding cat passes FECoV to another
Causes oronasal infection
Moves to tonsils, URT and intestinal epithelium
Sporadic mutation to FIPV FIPV enters macrophages
How does the status of a cat’s cell mediated immunity influence their outcome from FECoV infection?
Good CMI = recovery
Partial CMI = dry FIP
Poor CMI = wet FIP
