Appa, with FIP

[Angie Panczak]

FIP is caused by a mutated version of Coronavirus, but research shows that the immune system of the cat can be key to development of the disease also...so the cats that fall ill may have some defect to their immune system. That is the genetic portion of this. So sometimes a cattery will have a litter where kittens get FIP and it might not just be exposure to the virus (as we know that most cats are exposed to Coronavirus and don't get ill) or a "hot" virus (as the FIP form is not shed in feces) but that there was a bad genetic combination and the kittens have some as-yet-undefined fault that made them more susceptible.

What is meant by 'hot Virus'?

 

[WitchyWoman]

I'm curious also. The definition of a hot virus is one that is lethally infective but I'm not sure that's what Brigitte means here.

 

[kravenheart]

By genetics, I do mean it seems like this litter has a tough time with their immune system. One of Appa's brothers died from a sever reaction to his shots as well, although it was a different shot. Some of my research has shown that some litters seem to be very susceptible to FIP. When their immune system drops from shots or surgery or stress, FIP can develop. That is all cats though, not just savannahs.

Appa really does seem to be doing better though. She is definitely being a pain in her mommy's backside, just like she used to be

 

[Brigitte Cowell]

Somewhat, Deborah.... the term has been used when there have been cases when multiple cats in a cattery or shelter contract FIP and were shown to be the same strain. There have been cases when this was attributed to the strain being more pathogenic, whether by being more prone to whatever mutations convert the coronavirus to the more deadly form or another mechanism (rate of spontaneous mutation etc). I think it hard to distinguish in a cattery situation whether the problem is the strain of virus or the relatedness of the cats though.

 

[kravenheart]

So Appa keeps improving. She is playing a little bit, and today she climbed her cat tree for the first time. The new vet doesn't think she actually has FIP. Hes taken her off one of the medications, but he said she is VERY anemic, so he put her on a medication to stimulate blood growth.

 

[WitchyWoman]

Your emotions must be all over the place. How does the new vet account for the prior FIP-positive test results? Has he said anything about feline leukemia or feline immunodeficiency virus? Happy to hear she seems to be improving.

 

[Brigitte Cowell]

Agreed, I don't remember if you've told us what the diagnosis was made from...was it a viral PCR of the fluid inside her belly? If not that, then it may be a misdiagnosis and worthy of further investigation...

 

[kravenheart]

We don't know, and thats half the problem. The old vet would not talk to us. He would see her and then tell his assistant what to tell us. Sometimes my fiancee was present for the exam and sometimes she wasnt. We thought he had drawn fluid from her belly and tested that for FIP. But the new vet has done blood work, and he said that several key indicators for FIP were normal. As far as the FELV, her liver seems to be fine. I really truely think that the first vet saw the bloated belly, decided that it was FIP and it wasnt worth his time to do anything further. And a lot of people say that there are so many false positives for FIP that there is not a really good test for it.

 

[Kristin]

Wow! Hoping and praying it was a misdiagnosis and Appa will bounce back

 

[Brigitte Cowell]

You have the right to request a copy of Appa's vet records... I would do that. Or ask them to fax them to your new vet. That way you will know if that fluid was ever tested. I would want fluid from her belly to test positive via PCR for the virus before I would assume FIP. If there is fluid now, maybe your new vet can aspirate some and test it. ...