Coronavirus In Cats Fip
In a smaller percentage of cats both domestic and wild cats this coronavirus can mutate or stimulate the immune system to result in a deadly form of coronavirusotherwise known as feline infectious peritonitis virus FIPV.
Coronavirus in cats fip. The disease is most common in young cats six weeks to two years. Feline Infectious Peritonitis FIP is a progressive and often fatal disease that is caused by a coronavirus. The so-called enteric coronavirus is mainly restricted to the intestines.
Scientists dont yet understand how the relatively benign coronavirus is turned into the fatal FIP. Most strains of feline coronavirus are found in the gastrointestinal tract and do not cause significant disease. Niels Pedersen at the UC.
There are no unique signs of FIP and they do vary. Cats that have FIPV also have FECV whereas not all cats that carry FECV develop FIP Simons et al 2005. All cats with FIP are unwell and most will have a fever appear lethargic and go off their food.
FIP stands for Feline Infectious Peritonitis and is caused by a cat-specific coronavirus that poses no risk to humans. FIP is an uncommon fatal viral disease caused by an infection from mutated FCoV. FIP is a disease caused by a mutated changed strain of feline coronavirus.
Positive FECV antibody titers are indicative only of exposure to the virus and are not suggestive of the etiology of the current disease do not correlate with the risk of developing FIP and are not diagnostic for FIP. In most cases a coronavirus causes mild treatable symptoms respiratory andor gastroenteritis in cats. In rare cases the coronavirus may mutate to a more virulent form which is able to weaken the cats immune system and spread.
Positive coronavirus antibody titers are detected in up to 40 of pet cats and in up to 90 of cats in catteries or multicat households. Feline infectious peritonitis FIP is a viral-induced immune-mediated disease of cats caused by virulent biotypes of feline coronaviruses FCoV known as the feline infectious peritonitis virus FIPV. It generally causes asymptomatic infection but can cause mild diarrhea.