Smallies 8 Flashcards
What causes FIP?
A fatal combination of a feline specific coronavirus and an ineffective/inappropriate immune response
How is Feline Enteric Coronavirus transmitted?
Easily transmitted via faeco-oral route
Highly contagious and very common
How does Feline Enteric Coronavirus survive in the environment?
Survives 1-2 days at room temperature or up to 7 weeks in dry environment
Inactivated by most disinfectants, doesn’t often persist in the environment unless there is a cat constantly shedding the virus
What are the signs of a subclinical infection of Coronavirus?
Asymptomatic
What are the clinical signs of Coronavirus infection?
Enteritis
o Mild self-limiting vomiting and/or diarrhoea
o Can persist for weeks to months as chronic low grade GI signs
Mild upper respiratory tract signs
How long does viral shedding of Coronavirus occur?
Viral shedding can occur for 7-18 mths post infection, it can be intermittent or persistent
How many cats with Coronavirus go on to develop the FIP?
5-12% of cats infected with coronavirus
What is typical history and signalment of FIP?
Cats < 3 years of age - most prevalent from 4-16 months, but it can occur in cats of any age (often see a secondary peak in cats >10 yrs)
A disease of multicat households due to increased exposure to virus and higher stress levels
Seen in breeding colonies and shelter cats
A disease of pedigree cats? Genetic susceptibility e.g. Abyssinian, BSHs, Birmans, Burmese
What is wet FIP?
cats which develop ascites and/or pleural fluid associated with vasculitis
What is dry FIP?
cats that develop granulomatous lesions in multiple organs but often no effusion
What are the presenting signs of wet FIP?
Abdominal distension due to ascites - modified transudate/exudate (non-septic, no bacteria within the neutrophils)
Pleural effusion causing tachypnoea, dyspnoea (restrictive breathing pattern) with muffled heart and lung sounds on auscultation
What are the presenting signs of dry FIP?
Mild intermittent fever that waxes and wanes
Poor appetite
Weight loss/stunted growth
Depression
Anaemia - mild, non-regenerative
Jaundice
Abdominal palpation might reveal enlarged mesenteric lymph nodes, irregular and enlarged kidneys/liver and intestinal mass lesions
Ocular signs of FIP include uveitis, chorioretinitis, retinal detachment, hyphaema, hypopyon
Neurological signs (variable) e.g. dull, abnormal mental state, ataxia, nystagmus, seizures
What are some differentials for FIP?
Lymphocytic cholangitis
Lymphoma
Describe the development of clinical FIP
A cat is infected with feline enteric coronavirus
Phase of rapid replication occurs in enterocytes
A mutation occurs allowing virus (feline infectious peritonitis virus) to replicate in macrophages
Sustainable replication in macrophages then triggers a fatal systemic disease
What are characteristic histopathic lesions of FIP?
Vasculitis affecting serosal surfaces causes pleural, peritoneal and pericardial fluid
Pyogranulomatous or granulomatous lesions in multiple organs (macrophage heavy inflammation) e.g. Lymph nodes, liver, kidney, GI tract often affected
What factors increase the risk of FIP developing?
Viral genetics
Host immunity
Environment e.g. close contact
What haematology findings will you see with FIP?
Lymphopenia and neutrophilia (variable, common stress leucogram in cats)
Mild-moderate non-regenerative anaemia
What biochemistry findings will you see with FIP?
Hyperproteinaemia
Low albumin: globulin ratio
High bilirubin (wet FIP)
Why do you get a low albumin:globulin ration with FIP?
High protein due to high globulins (gamma globulins)
Low albumin - Due to renal and/or GI loss, loss in fluid associated with vasculitis, reduced production by liver
What albumin:globulin ratio makes FIP likely and what ratio makes FIP unlikely?
<0.4 = FIP likely, >0.8 = FIP unlikely
What non-specific acute phase protein can be helpful when diagnosing FIP?
serum alpha-1 acid glycoprotein
What will you see in fluid analysis (pleural or peritoneal) in FIP?
Will see quite a few macrophages with a few neutrophils in a background of red blood cells
Clear yellow viscous fluid
High protein (>35g/l) component with a low Albumin:globulin
Cell content can be low but very variable - Non-degenerate neutrophils and macrophages
Rare cases where fluid is a chylous effusion
What might you see on radiography with a FIP case?
Peritoneal, pleural and/or pericardial fluid
o If you can’t see the cardiac outline clearly on a DV view of the thorax, pleural fluid is likely to be the cause
o Will be able to see fluid in the ventral aspect of the thorax in a lateral view
o A loss of serosal detail in the abdomen is indicative of ascites, if the intestines are full of gas they will still be highlighted even with increased surrounding fluid
Enlarged mesenteric lymph nodes
Irregular kidneys, may be enlarged
Intestinal wall lesions
What will you see on kidney biopsy with FIP?
Pyogranulomatous lesions
How is a diagnosis of FIP made?
Cumulative evidence is important when trying to make a diagnosis of FIP, we cannot rely on one single diagnostic test
How useful is serology when confirming a diagnosis of FIP?
Feline CoV serology indicates exposure only
Very high titres support a presumptive diagnosis if very high clinical suspicion
Rising titres not useful unlike other diseases
How useful is tissue PCR when confirming a diagnosis of FIP?
`Cannot differentiate between FIPV and “normal” coronavirus (FECV) but if virus is present in any fluid sample this supports a diagnosis
How useful is immunofluorescence to detect FCoV antigen in macrophages when diagnosing FIP?
FCoV presence in a macrophage shows that the virus has progressed – current best test to prove we have FIP (need an external lab for analysis)
Positive staining is consistent with FIP
Useful test to confirm a strong clinical suspicion
False negatives if low cellularity in effusions
What sample should you use for immunofluorescence to detect FCoV antigen?
Use effusion if possible (but low cell count so may not have enough macrophages as the antigen won’t be in all of the macrophages) or CSF if showing neuro signs
How can we definitivity diagnose FIP?
Histopathology (invasive) to look for typical lesions
Exploratory surgery inevitably does happen in some FIP cases where the diagnosis has been missed in other ways or the disease is mimicking a surgical disease
Post mortem diagnosis
What is seen on histopathology with FIP?
Perivascular pyogranulomatous or granulomatous lesions in multiple organs
Macrophages and neutrophils +/- lymphocytes and plasma cells
When do you need a definitive diagnosis when dealing with a possible FIP case?
A definitive diagnosis is often important if you have a kitten with FIP and need to report back to the breeder. They will want to see enough evidence to prove that one of their animals may be the source of an FIP infection
What is included in the treatment of FIP?
Supportive care e.g. antiinflammatory, appetite stimulants, vitamin B12 (cobalamin), S/C fluids (at home), antioxidants
Feline interferon omega
Euthanasia is a viable option
Can you vacinate against FIP?
No - there is no UK vaccination
How can you prevent FIP?
Reduce transmission of coronavirus by limiting exposure, especially in multicat environments
Early weaning of kittens
What is the definition of an acute abdomen?
Rapid onset of severe symptoms that may indicate potentially life-threatening intra-abdominal pathology requiring urgent surgical intervention
What cases of acute abdomen do not require surgery?
Generalised ileus or acute gastroenteritis (AHDS)
List differentials of an acute abdomen associated with the GIT
GDV/GD Necrosis, rupture, perforation Surgical wound breakdown Obstruction (complete or partial) Ulceration Ileus Gastroenteritis Duodenocolic ligament entrapment Bowel incarceration (hernia, rupture) Mesenteric torsion/thrombosis Obstipation
List differentials of an acute abdomen associated with the urogenital system
Pyelonephritis/abscess AKI Urolithisasis e.g. Ureteral obstruction or Urethral obstruction Cystitis Uroabdomen Uterine disease Dystocia Prostatic disease Testicular disease
List differentials of an acute abdomen associated with the hepatobillary system
Acute hepatitis/cholangiohepatits Abscess Liver lobe torsion Biliary rupture & bile peritonitis Cholelithiasis Biliary obstruction Cholecystitis Portal vein thrombosis