Inf. diseases II - Cats 1/2 Flashcards
Feline infectious peritonitis (FIP) is a contagious disease of felines, caused by feline coronavirus, and is characterized by
body cavity effusions or neurologic signs.
Causative agent of FIP.
family
serotypes
DNA type
+details
Agent: Feline coronavirus (FCoV)
Family Coronaviridae
Two serotypes (I and II).
Related to TGE virus in pigs, canine, and human coronaviruses.
Largest known RNA – highly susceptible to mutation!
FIP virus is a mutation of benign FCoV
Feline coronavirus (FCoV) survival.
Does not survive in the environment for long (<48h).
In dry environments <6 weeks.
Readily inactivated by most common disinfectants.
FIP virus is a mutation of
benign FCoV.
Serotypes of Feline coronavirus (FCoV)
Two serotypes (I and II).
In Europe and USA mainly serotype I.
In Japan mainly serotype II.
Host range and age demographic of FCoV.
felids
Most widespread infectious disease of cats.
Mostly sporadic cases.
Most susceptible: young cats during postweaning periods.
Peak age: 6 months to 2 years
Males > females
Purebred cats are most susceptible (esp. Asian breeds: Birman, Himalayan).
Risk factors for FCoV.
Risk factors: stress, multicat households
FCoV is widespread or even ubiquitous in multicat environments.
Most susceptible: young cats during postweaning periods.
Males > females
Purebred cats are most susceptible (esp. Asian breeds: Birman, Himalayan).
Morbidity of FCoV.
Morbidity: 90% of cats have antibodies, but only 5% develop clinical dz
Mortality of FIP.
Mortality: 95%
Transmission of FCoV.
Excretion: feces, saliva, urine, respiratory secretions.
Direct contact
Fomites (litter box!)
Route: fecal-oral, oronasal or through saliva (e.g. mutual grooming)
Two forms of FIP:
dry form (noneffusive) and wet form (effusive)
Clinical signs of FIP.
Nonspecific signs: lethargy, inappetence, weight loss
Other signs depend on whether the disease presents as the wet or dry form.
Clinical signs of effusive or wet FIP.
Abdominal distention with palpable fluid wave.
Dyspnea, muffled heart sounds and muffled lung sounds due to pleural effusion.
Also there might be palpable abdominal masses.
Clinical signs of noneffusive or dry FIP.
Ocular abnormalities – change in iris color due to iritis/uveitis, hyphema, aqueous flare, keratotic precipitates, vitreous clouding, vascular cuffing.
Icterus
Palpable abdominal mass(es)/ organomegaly.
E.g. enlarged mesenteric LNs, nodules in other organs, intestinal thickening.
Raised intradermal pustules (nonpruritic cutaneous lesions).
Neurologic signs – ataxia, incoordination, paresis.
Material for diagnosis of FIP.
Blood
Effusion (peritoneal) fluid
Samples from affected tissues
Lab analyses for diagnosis of FIP.
“Rivalta test”
PCR
Histopathology
Serology (but pos. result only tells you about exposure to FCoV, not FIP)
Titers >1:16 000 suggestive of FIP in cats showing signs of dz. False negatives tho.
Most cats with positive serologic titers for FCoV ….
never develop FIP.
It’s only a small portion of these cats in which the (mostly) fatal mutation takes place.
What is the “Rivalta test”?
A in-clinic test for detecting FIP.
- 8ml distilled water + 1 drop of 98% vinegar + 1 drop of effusion fluid
- If the drop disappears – negative (indicates transudate)
- If drop stays - positive (indicates exudate)
However, this is not gold standard, immunohistochemistry is.