Maladies

FIP or feline infectious peritonitis is caused by a member of the Coronavirus group. It is seen quite often these days and is, after feline leukemia, the second cause of death among cats. Transmission is through faeces, urine, nose and eye fluids, and saliva.

The symptoms of this illness are unspecific: loss of appetite, reduced movement, possible vomiting, fever up to 42 degrees, flu-like symptoms with angina, slight respiratory infection, slight conjunctivitis.

The classic form of FIP shows up later with enlargement of the belly that in female cats looks almost like pregnancy. Actually, this is an accumulation of fluid in the abdominal cavity. Fluid may also accumulate in the chest cavity and in the pericardium, the sac around the heart. This is the wet form of FIP. There is also a so-called dry form, which is difficult to diagnose and often becomes evident only after death, when abnormal changes may be observed on various organs, including the kidneys, spleen, liver, and intestines.

FIP is a very complex illness, not yet understood in all its details. This means it is not always possible to predict the course it will follow. 

The FIP test: It should be noted that this test can only establish the presence of corona virus antibodies. However, there are forms of corona virus that do not make the cat sick, and others which just cause slight diarrhea. It is not yet possible for a test to differentiate between true FIP and a harmless corona virus infection. The results of such a test do not mean very much in the case of a healthy cat, because even healthy cats that have been exposed to the virus carry corona virus antibodies.

However, when a cat shows clinical signs of FIP, the test can be quite useful. Even then, a high titer does not necessarily mean that the cat has FIP, just as a low titer does not necessarily exclude the possibility. The FIP test is used as one element in the diagnosis, along with the clinical overview and other examinations such as X-rays and ultrasound. 

In the case of certain FIP infection there is no treatment.

A few years ago an intranasal FIP vaccine, Primucell F.I.P., came on the market. The basic vaccination is administered at 16 weeks, followed by a second dose three weeks later. The booster should be given at yearly intervals along with the other vaccines. 

(Note: This vaccine is not available in all countries, because its effectiveness is still under investigation. In France, for instance, it is not authorized.)