Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Feline infectious peritonitis in 51 cats in Taiwan from 2003 to 2009
By Tsai, Hsien-Ying et al.·Published in Journal of feline medicine and surgery·2011·Institute of Veterinary Clinical Sciences·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Clinicopathological findings and disease staging of feline infectious peritonitis: 51 cases from 2003 to 2009 in Taiwan.
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
A group of 51 cats diagnosed with feline infectious peritonitis (FIP) showed various symptoms, including weight loss, lethargy, and changes in blood values. The study found that cats with effusive FIP (fluid accumulation) had significant drops in red blood cells and protein levels, along with increased bilirubin, which can indicate liver issues. The researchers developed a scoring system based on blood tests to help predict how long a cat might survive after diagnosis, with higher scores indicating a shorter lifespan. Unfortunately, many of the cats did not survive long after their diagnosis.
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Abstract
Fifty-one cats histopathologically confirmed to have been naturally infected by feline infectious peritonitis (FIP), were collected to analyse the clinical and laboratory findings and to characterise disease staging. Effusive FIP was found in 33 cats, non-effusive FIP in 12 cats, and mixed-type in six cats. Highly significant decreases in haematocrit and albumin levels and an increase in total bilirubin level were noted in both effusive and non-effusive FIP, at first presentation and before death. In serial blood examinations of the effusive group, anaemia and increases in bilirubin and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) were observed from 2 weeks to 0-3 days before death. The packed cell volume, bilirubin, AST, potassium, and sodium levels were established to predict disease staging and survival time. Cumulative points ranging from 0 to 4, 5 to 11 and excess of 12, indicate that the cat can survive for at least 2 weeks, less than 2 weeks and less than 3 days, respectively.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21216644/