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Feline Infectious Peritonitis 327

with improvement in clinical signs and of life for many years with no reduction in • FIV vaccination can interfere with some
routine testing methods.
quality of life in cats with stomatitis and survival time. FIV infection is not in itself a • FIV vaccines contain adjuvants and can be
VetBooks.ir Nutrition/Diet PEARLS & CONSIDERATIONS associated with the development of injection- Diseases and Disorders
neurologic signs.
reason for euthanasia.
site sarcomas (p. 550).
Avoid raw meat, milk, or eggs to reduce risk
status, FIV vaccination might be considered.
of secondary infections through food-borne Comments • For high-risk cats with a known FIV-negative
pathogens. • The FIV status of all cats should be known,
independent of age. Technician Tips
Behavior/Exercise ○ If cat < 6 months old is found to be FIV • The FIV status of every cat should be known.
Strict indoors-only lifestyle is the most impor- antibody-positive, retesting should be • FIV is infective only for minutes outside
tant life-prolonging advice to reduce exposure performed when > 6 months old because the cat and is susceptible to all disinfectants,
of the FIV-infected cat to other secondary positive results in cats less than 6 months including common soap. Simple precautions
infections and to prevent contagion with FIV of age are commonly caused by maternal and routine cleaning procedures prevent
to other cats. antibodies. transmission in the hospital.
○ In vaccinated cats, Anigen and Witness • House FIV-infected cats in individual animal
Drug Interactions are more specific than SNAP and VetScan cages and never in an infectious disease ward
• Avoid immunosuppressive drugs whenever for detection of infection. with cats that have contagious diseases (e.g.,
possible. • FIV infection is not a reason for euthanasia; upper respiratory infections).
• Griseofulvin (e.g., for dermatophyte infec- infected cats can live many years with excel-
tions) should be avoided because of risk of lent quality of life. However, diagnosis should Client Education
severe neutropenia. result in indoor-only lifestyle and more • Every cat should be tested for FIV.
frequent veterinary monitoring. • Benefits of neutering cats should be
Possible Complications ○ Core vaccinations are not recommended in emphasized.
Reversible nonregenerative anemia is an adverse indoor-only, FIV-infected cats. Vaccination
effect of AZT. recommended only for FIV-infected cats at SUGGESTED READING
high risk (e.g., open multi-cat households, Hartmann K: Management of feline retrovirus-
Recommended Monitoring outdoor access). infected cats. In Bonagura JD, et al, editors: Kirk’s
Regular monitoring for evidence of secondary current veterinary therapy XV, St. Louis, 2014,
infections, neoplasia, or progression of FIV Prevention Elsevier, pp 1275-1283.
infection. Recheck veterinary visits every 6 • FIV vaccination is controversial. FIV inci- AUTHOR: Katrin Hartmann, Dr.med.vet., Dr.habil.,
months are recommended. dence is relatively low in household pets, DECVIM
and infection can be prevented (without EDITOR: Joseph Taboada, DVM, DACVIM
PROGNOSIS & OUTCOME vaccination) by preventing FIV-negative
cats from interacting with FIV-positive,
Prognosis is good with well-managed veterinary unfamiliar and unowned cats.
care. FIV-infected cats can have excellent quality

Video
Feline Infectious Peritonitis Available Client Education
Sheet

BASIC INFORMATION • Genetic predisposition likely: littermates of • FCoV infection widespread and ubiquitous
kitten with FIP are four times more likely to in multi-cat environments
Definition develop FIP than other kittens in the same • Horizontal transmission (cat to cat) of FIP
Fatal disease of cats often characterized by body environment. or the mutated virus does not occur under
cavity effusions, neurologic signs, or uveitis. natural circumstances. The ability of the
It is caused by a common feline coronavirus RISK FACTORS virus to mutate inside the cat determines
(FCoV) that, in cats with feline infectious All factors leading to increased FCoV replica- whether FCoV infection remains innocuous
peritonitis (FIP), has spontaneously mutated tion in the intestines increase the risk that the or develops into FIP.
from a benign, minimally pathogenic virus to mutation takes place and FIP develops.
an aggressive, lethal virus. • Living in multi-cat households (e.g., catteries, GEOGRAPHY AND SEASONALITY
shelters, pet-hoarding environments) FCoV infection and FIP occur worldwide.
Epidemiology • Stress (e.g., vaccinations, elective surgery,
SPECIES, AGE, SEX rehoming) ASSOCIATED DISORDERS
FIP can occur in all Felidae family members. • Immunosuppression (e.g., feline immunode- Usually no clinical signs in FCoV infection
Young cats during postweaning periods ficiency virus [FIV] infection, feline leukemia but occasionally mild diarrhea; clinical signs
are most susceptible (peak age, 3 months virus [FeLV] infection, glucocorticoid of FIP after mutation of FCoV
to 2 years), but cats of all ages can be treatment) Clinical Presentation
affected. • Young age
DISEASE FORMS/SUBTYPES
GENETICS, BREED PREDISPOSITION CONTAGION AND ZOONOSIS • Historically, differentiation of two clinical
• More common in purebred cats, mainly • FCoV mainly transmitted by fecal-oral forms of FIP: dry form (non-effusive) and
because of living in multi-cat environments route wet form (effusive). Distinction is inaccurate

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