Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Cat with severe neurological FIP symptoms improves quickly
By Amy Huynh et al.·Published in Pathogens·2025·Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA, CH·View original on DOAJ →
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Original publication title: Rapid Clinical Resolution and Differential Diagnosis of a Neurological Case of Feline Infectious Peritonitis (FIP) Using GS-441524
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
A 2-year-old male domestic shorthair cat was brought to the vet after experiencing weakness in all four legs, trouble walking, and not wanting to eat for four days. The vet found signs of nasal discharge and performed tests that showed inflammation in the brain and spinal fluid. The cat was suspected to have feline infectious peritonitis (FIP), a serious viral infection, and was treated with a combination of medications, including GS-441524, which is specifically used for FIP. After receiving this treatment, the cat's neurological symptoms improved significantly, and over a year later, he is still walking well and has not had any seizures or other issues.
People also search for: cat weakness and not eating · feline infectious peritonitis treatment · cat seizures medication · domestic shorthair FIP symptoms
Abstract
Case summary: A 2-year-old male neutered domestic shorthair cat was presented with a progressive history of tetraparesis, ataxia, and inappetence over 4 days. A physical exam revealed mucopurulent nasal discharge and stertor. A neurologic exam revealed a multifocal neurolocalization. The cat was non-ambulatory tetraparetic and developed seizures while in hospital. Hematologic assessment revealed anemia, hypoalbuminemia and hyperglobulinemia. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain revealed multifocal meningeal contrast enhancement in the brainstem and cervical spine, as well as mandibular and retropharyngeal lymphadenopathy. Cerebrospinal fluid revealed marked neutrophilic pleocytosis; no infectious organisms were seen. <i>Toxoplasma</i> IgG/IgM and <i>Cryptococcus</i> antigen latex agglutination were negative. Mandibular and abdominal lymph nodes were aspirated, and cytology revealed mixed inflammation. The cat was suspected to have feline infectious peritonitis, and to aid in clinical diagnosis he was enrolled in research study—with targeted Nanopore-based sequencing specifically identifying and characterizing FCoV-1 RNA in spinal fluid and anal swab, but not in urine. The cat was treated with anticonvulsants (phenobarbital and levetiracetam), an antibiotic (ampicillin/clavulanic acid), and GS-441524. Neurologic signs did not improve on an antibiotic alone but improved significantly after two subcutaneous injections of GS-441524. The cat received an 84-day course of GS-441524 and, at the time of manuscript preparation (over 12 months after diagnosis), remains ambulatory and seizure-free without recurrence of neurologic signs and no detectable viral shedding in feces.
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Search related cases →Original publication on DOAJ: https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens14050424