CPD ACCREDITED ARTICLE
body titre than have died from FIP. Conversely, some
cats with acute FIP will not have an antibody titre and
some patients with terminal disease may test negative asdall antibody is all bound to viral antigen.3 The
diagnosis of this disease should never ever be based
on antibody titres alone. Very high titres of > 1:1600
can be used as a very small piece of the puzzle only.2
PCR in blood: Routinely offered PCR detection of
coronavirus in blood is not useful, as the test cannot
distinguish between FCoV and FIPV. In addition, false
negatives occur commonly.3 A mutation in the spike
protein (a protein on the viral envelope that assists
with cell invasion) of the FCoV has recently been identified which appears to be associated with systemic
spread of the virus (and therefore may be associated
with FIPV).
A RT-PCR which detects this mutation is commercially available in Europe, but the presence of the mutation is still not 100% specific for the presence of FIP.7
PCR of faeces should only be used to identify FCoV
shedders for the purposes of controlling viral spread
in catteries.
Conclusion
The diagnosis of FIP is not always straightforward
and a combination of findings, or pieces of the puzzle, need to be considered together. Finding more
pieces will give a clearer picture, and some pieces
make a bigger contribution than others.
FIP is NOT contagious:
Cats shed FCoV, which has a possibility
of mutating to FIPV in specific cats those with immunocompromise or
immature immune systems, and those
in high stress, multi-cat environments
FIP is an SYSTEMIC disease - not an
ENTERIC disease - and virus is not shed
in the faeces.
Serum electrophoresis: Electrophoresis patterns may
show either a monoclonal or polyclonal increase in
gamma globulins, and are not specific for FIP. An alpha-2 globulin increase may be present, representing the increase in acute phase proteins, but is also a
non-specific change. Additionally the serum A/G ratio
has a higher diagnostic value than the gamma globulin concentration.6 Electrophoresis is therefore not a
useful puzzle piece for the diagnosis of FIP.
Accredited CPD
Acute phase proteins: Acute phase proteins like serum amyloid A, haptoglobin and alpha(1)-acid glycoprotein (AGP) are elevated in cats with FIP, but increases are also expected in any systemic inflammatory
disease. AGP however has been investigated in detail
and increases above 1.5-2 mg/mL can potentially discriminate cats with FIP from those without FIP but
with clinical signs consistent with the disease.8 This
suggests that AGP is a useful puzzle piece but this test
is unfortunately not available in South Africa.
ANSWER the questions on the Vet360 App. Available from the Itunes/Play store!
Use your App to answer the questions. If you want to use the SMS system or the web interface on your PC,
please visit the CPD electronic platform at www.onlinevets.co.za Use the following codes for the SMS system:
10. The FIP Jigsaw-Puzzle. Dr Emma Hooijberg SMS code: a71336
9. Otitis Externa. Dr Martin Briggs. SMS code = a22785
8. Canine Idiopathic Dilated Cardiomyopathy. Dr Alain Carter. SMS code = SMS code = a68068
7. Cushings. Various Authors. SMS code = a20643
6. Cyclosporine in Canine Atopy. Dr Heidi Schroeder. SMS code = a24438
5. Management of Diabetes Mellitus Dr Marlies Bohm. a55046
4. Transfusion Medicine in Small Animal Practice. Dr Liesel van der Merwe SMS code = a90559
3. Diagnosis of Demodicosis in Dogs & Cats. Karen A. Moriello SMS code = a22801
2. A review of sterilisation practices and impact on the individual animal, in dogs and cats. Drs K de Cramer
and K May SMS code = a26581
1. Rehabilitation of neurological patients. Dr Megan Kelly, SMS code = a97907
vet360
Issue 03 | JUNE 2016 | 18
JUNE 2016 Vet360 working.indd 18
2016/05/24 12:04 AM