Cat's Diseases

FIP

Feline Infectious Peritonitis is an often fatal disease of cats which is seen frequently in Hong Kong. Cats are usually infected in the first six months of life and the disease becomes clinically evident before the age of three. In a minority of cases an old age form of the disease is seen and cats older than ten years have been diagnosed. The causative agent is a corona virus. The disease is most prevalent either in multi-cat households or in catteries. Infection is by direct contact with infected cats.

There are three types of infections of FIP depending upon the status of the immune system of the infected individual. Cats with a very poor immune system, those who have been infected with a virulent strain, those who live in a heavily infected environment or those who are infected with other diseases often succumb to the typical 'wet' form of the disease and accumulate fluid in their body cavities, loose weight, become depressed and feverish, loose their appetite and can develop eye problems. Cats with a stronger immune system or who are not subjected to all of the above factors may develop the 'dry' form of the disease. These cats still become seriously ill and like the cats with the 'wet' form often die or are euthanased but they do not develop the typical fluid accumulation in the body cavities. Some cats may have a very mild form of the disease which is often not diagnosed and they then become carriers of the virus and actively shed it throughout their lives during times of stress.

Unfortunately there is no effective treatment for FIP. Treatment is symptomatic with IV fluids, corticosteroids or aspirin, ascorbic acid and antibiotics. Cats do not survive this disease and most are euthanased owing to deteriorating health.

Diagnosis is very difficult. There are no tests that are diagnostic for FIP. All of the tests available are tests of exclusion. It is possible to show from blood tests and serum antibody tests that a cat is unlikely to have the disease but not that it definitely does have it. Diagnosis is made by a combination of age, clinical signs (easier with the 'wet' form than 'dry' form) and laboratory tests.

Prevention is achieved through good husbandry procedures in catteries which minimize the contact between kittens and adult cats hence reducing the environmental load that kittens are subjected to.