The first study on clinicopathological changes in cats with feline infectious peritonitis with and without retrovirus coinfection

Abstract

Background and Aim: Feline infectious peritonitis (FIP) is an infectious, immune-mediated, and fatal disease in cats caused by a mutant feline coronavirus (FCoV) infection. Feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) and feline leukemia virus (FeLV) are two common retroviruses that play a role in reducing feline immune function with opportunistic retrovirus infection being a predisposing factor for the development of FIP. This study aimed to evaluate the clinicopathological parameters of FIP in cats with and without retrovirus coinfection. Materials and Methods: In total, 62 cats presenting with pleural and/or peritoneal effusion at the Kasetsart University Veterinary Teaching Hospital, Bangkok, Thailand, were selected for the study. Effusion samples were collected and a reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) assay was performed on all samples using the 3' untranslated region primer. All FCoV-positive cats were tested for retrovirus infection using a commercial kit (Witness FeLV-FIV [Zoetis]; United States). Clinical signs, hematological, and biochemical parameters of these cats were investigated and grouped. Results: Of the 62 cats with pleural and/or peritoneal effusion, FCoV was detected in 32, of which 21 were highly suspicious for FIP. The cats suspected of FIP were divided into three subgroups following viral detection. A total of 14 had only FCoV infection (Group A), four had FCoV and FeLV infection (Group B), and three had FCoV, FeLV, and FIV infection (Group C). Of the rest, 11 had definitive diagnoses, which included three being FCoV and FeLV-positive (Group D), and eight were retrovirus-negative (Group E). Mild anemia and lymphopenia were found in cats infected with these three viruses. An albumin-to-globulin ratio lower than 0.5 was found in FIP cats with only FCoV infection. Conclusion: Typically, cats with clinical effusion and FIP, with and without retrovirus coinfection, had similar hematological findings. Clinical signs, blood parameters, fluid analysis with cytological assessment, and RT-PCR assays could identify better criteria to diagnose FIP with and without retrovirus coinfection. Keywords: effusion, feline leukemia virus, feline infectious peritonitis, feline immunodeficiency virus, reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction.

Feline infectious peritonitis: A comprehensive evaluation of clinical manifestations, laboratory diagnosis, and therapeutic approaches

“…Nineteen FIP cats were aged less than 1 year, and 18 cats were 1–2 years old. Scottish fold and Persian breeds were the most prevalent among the purebred cat groups, consistent with previous observations [ 12 ].…”

Detection of feline immunodeficiency virus by neutral red-based loop-mediated isothermal amplification assay

“…Feline-acquired immunodeficiency syndrome is a symptomatic disease; however, it is not identical to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), including the fact that FIV uses a different receptor to enter the cell and that cats may live for many years without treatment and without any clinical signs. In addition, it can increase the risk of opportunistic infections [3][4][5][6], neurological disorders, and tumors [7,8]. The main transmission of viral infections occurs by biting during fighting between cats and transmission through the placenta to the offspring.…”