FIA & FIP

Question 1

What causes FIA?

Answer 1

Haematropic Mycoplasmas- type of parasite with no cell wall- it attaches to RBC’s to cause immune mediated destruction

Question 2

How is FIA transmitted?

Answer 2

Fleas, blood transfusion, female cats to neonates

Question 3

What type of Anaemia does FIA cause?

Answer 3

Immune mediated Regenerative Anaemia

Question 4

Which groups are at a higher risk of FIA?

Answer 4

young males and cats that are FeLV or FIV positive

Question 5

What is characteristic of a blood smear from a cat with FIA?

Answer 5

Reticulocytosis, regenerative morphology, presence of Howell Jolly bodies
And obviously can possibly see the Mycoplasma on RBC’s

Question 6

If we cannot diagnose FIA with a blood smear, what’s our next step?

Answer 6

PCR- but takes time to get result so start treatment whilst waiting
Also test for FIV & FeLV

Question 7

What medical treatment is available for cats with FIA and what is the risk of this?

Answer 7

Doxycycline (broad spectrum antibiotic)- can cause oesophagitis and stricture so always give with food or water

Question 8

What other management strategies (apart from antibiotics) can we provide for cats with FIA?

Answer 8

Flea control
Blood transfusion if required
May also give immunosuppressive steroids in severe cases

Question 9

Which groups are predisposed to FIP?

Answer 9

young pedigree cats- genetic predisposition?

Question 10

What causes FIP?

Answer 10

Feline coronavirus mutates into a more virulent strain allowing it to replicate in the macrophages

Question 11

Why is FIP difficult to definitively diagnose?

Answer 11

Because it is caused by Feline Coronavirus which is very common in the populations
If you test with PCR- tells you cat has corona, if you test with FCoV antibodies it just tells you they have been exposed (80% of cats have)

Question 12

How is FCoV spread and where does it replicate?

Answer 12

faecal-oral route- replicates in enterocytes

Question 13

What percentage of cats infected with coronavirus develop FIP?

Answer 13

5-10%

Question 14

What is the difference in symptoms of FIP when the body has cell mediated immune response as oppose to a humoral response?

Answer 14

Cell mediated- cytokine overproduction in macrophages activates neutrophils and causes granuloma formation
Humoral- activated by a lack of cell mediated response- causes vasculitis and protein rich effusions

Question 15

What is a dry or non effusive FIP?
What about wet or effusive?

Answer 15

Dry= cell mediated > granuloma formation
Wet= humoral > vasculitis

Question 16

What fluids can we analyse to help diagnose FIP? (3)

Answer 16

• Use biochemistry to look for Hyperglobinaemia (with low albumin:globulin ratio) and Hyperbilirubinaemia
• Use CBC to look for Lymphapaenia and Neutrophilia
• Fluid analysis of pleural fluid- usually yellow, sticky with a high protein content (Rivalta test- differentiates transudate and exudate)

Question 17

How can Immunocytochemistry/ Immunohistochemistry be used to diagnose FIP?

Answer 17

Use effusion fluid or tissue- stain the FCoV in macrophages- can’t differentiate the strains of FCoV but only the mutated FIP forms should be in the macrophages

Question 18

Which test is the only one that is 100% confirmatory of FIP?

Answer 18

Immunohistochemistry!

Question 19

What is used to treat FIP?

Answer 19

Remdesivir- contains GS-441524

Question 20

How does Remdesivir work?

Answer 20

Contains GS-441524 which is a competitor in viral RNA synthesis (basically it stops virus replication)

Question 21

How is Remdesivir administered?

Answer 21

Can be given subcutaneous or IV injection but cats hate this!!
Oral tablet is 1st line treatment now

Question 22

How long does FIP persist in the environment?

Answer 22

7 weeks