Study offers insights into treatment of FIP
FIP is usually found in young cats that are less than three years old.
US vets have successfully managed to treat laboratory cats suffering from the advanced stage of feline infectious peritonitis (FIP), a previously 100 per cent fatal disease.
In a study published in the journal PLOS Pathogens, researchers from Kansas State University describe their success with an antiviral treatment that stops the virus replicating.
When treatment was started at a late stage of disease, the researchers found that the cats returned to normal health within 20 days or less.
FIP is usually found in young cats that are less than three years old. Caused by coronavirus infection, most cats do not develop any symptoms at all. Yet, a small percentage of cats do go on to develop FIP.
FIP occurs in two forms: wet or dry. The wet form is more common and can be characterised by an accumulation of fluids in the abdominal area or chest cavity.
Symptoms may include fever, jaundice, and weight loss. Once set in it can progress rapidly, resulting in death or euthanasia.
Because of the rapid progression of the disease, it has not been known whether antiviral drug treatment can be effective at reversing disease progression in an infected cat.
"This is the first time we showed experimental evidence of successful treatment of laboratory cats at an advanced clinical stage of FIP," said Yunjeong Kim, an associate professor in the college’s diagnostic medicine pathobiology department.
"The knowledge gained from this study is a step forward to understanding the pathogenesis of FIP and other coronavirus infections important in humans and animals.”
Dr Kim says that the next step will be to find out how effective the antiviral treatment is for cats with naturally acquired FIP.
Veterinary practices are being urged to help owners safely dispose of any unused and expired pet medicines - not just antibiotics - during November's Animal Medicines Amnesty. 
