Epsilon Archive for Student Projects

Abstract

Feline infectious peritonitis (FIP) is a disease that can affect cats and is caused by a feline coronavirus (FCoV). FCoV is spread via the feacal-oral route and many cats are carriers of the virus. Despite that, very few of the carrier cats develop FIP. The explanation of this phenomenon is that the virus has to mutate to be able to cause FIP and in the majority of the carrier cats this mutation never occurs. FIP is very hard to diagnose because the symptoms are diffuse and a completely accurate diagnosis can almost exclusively be established during a postmortem necropsy. If a cat develops FIP there is currently no cure available and the diseased cat will sooner or later die by itself or is euthanized. The aims of this literature study was to determine how carriers of FCoV or cats with FIP should be handled in animal clinics and hospitals, give examples of what information that may be appropriate to give to owners of these cats and also try to determine how common FCoV and FIP is in Swedish cats.

It was not possible to give an exact answer of the occurrence of FCoV and FIP in Swedish cats. In one study from 2006 it was found that about 31 % of seemingly healthy Swedish cats had developed antibodies against FCoV. To determine how many of the Swedish cats who develop FIP was even harder and an exact number could not be given in this study, even though the result shows that Swedish cats occasionally do develop the disease.

FIP is not spread horizontally between cats and there is no recommendation to isolate sick individuals in a clinical environment. Carriers of FCoV or cats with FIP can basically be handled as any other cat if basal hygiene routines are followed with care and if careful cleaning and disinfection of surfaces and objects that has been in contact with these cats is implemented.

When it comes to what information that may be appropriate to give owners of cats that are carriers of FCoV or that has developed FIP it is important to understand that this is something that has to vary from case to case. Focus must if needed be on describing the disease and the virus, give examples of common diagnostic methods and also to give practical advice about how cat owners can prevent spreading of FCoV among their cats and as a result of that reduce the risk of FIP.