Fip (Feline Infectious Peritonitis) In Cats Is Caused By Feline Coronavirus (Fcov).
The common coronavirus is spread through direct contact via the nose and mouth with infected feces, usually while sharing litter boxes. In addition, if your cat died because of the disease, you should wait 2 months before obtaining another cat to be sure that the virus is no longer present in the environment. It is still unknown which exact genes harbor the mutation(s) leading to.
Generally, The Fcov Not Harmful.
Although fip is not believed to be contagious, it is a very serious disease. It occurs worldwide in cats of all ages, but the disease is most common in young cats less than two years of age. Cats are in a higher risk category (e.g., younger cats, colony cats, etc.)
This Is Why It’s More Common In Cats That Are In Close Proximity With Or Share A Household With Other Cats And Are In Contact With Their Litter Trays.
Fip viruses do not always develop, but the more fip viruses the cat carries, the higher the risk that the cat will contract fip. It is thought that a mutation in the virus directly affects cells and leads to fip which causes a poor immune response in cats with immature or weakened immune systems. When a cat gets fip, it is progressive and almost always fatal.
Fip Is A Very Difficult Disease To Deal With Because There Are No Clinical Signs That Are Specific For The Diagnosis Of Fip, And No Simple Blood Test To Confirm A Diagnosis.
However, when fcov mutates into feline infectious peritonitis virus (fipv), it becomes deadly. It is a fatal disease that occurs in around one tenth of cats infected with feline coronavirus (fcov). Feline coronavirus infection has several possible outcomes including fip, a mild enteritis or no obvious symptoms.
It Is, Without A Doubt, The Most Dreaded Infectious Disease Of Cats.
Although fip is not a particularly common disease, it is important because once a cat develops the disease, the outcome is almost invariably fatal. When it comes to the causes of fip in cats, a clear distinction must first be made between infection with the feline coronavirus (fcov) and feline infectious peritonitis. Therefore most cats infected with fcov do not develop fip.
