This disease has gained worldwide distribution in just the last few decades. To date, the diagnosis of "infectious peritonitis in cats" is increasingly made in domestic veterinary clinics. This disease is the least studied in comparison with other viral diseases, therefore not only the owners, but also the doctors know about it.
What is PKI?
Peritonitis in cats is an infection. Its causative agent is coronavirus. The uniqueness of this virus is that it only affects the immune system of cats. This infection develops very slowly, so the disease can proceed for several years, without giving out external signs. Today, infectious peritonitis in cats is incurable, almost all diseased animals die. Specialists know only a few cases when cats have recovered from this infection. Most likely, such an increased sensitivity to the disease is genetic. In this case, we can conclude that this is a fairly new disease, to which the species did not have time to adapt.
What is the difference from enteritis?
It was previously believed that coronavirus causes two similar diseases: viral peritonitis in cats and coronavirus enteritis. Despite the fact that genetically these infections are incredibly similar, their biological characteristics are different. Enteritis affects the epithelial cells of the small intestine, so one of the main symptoms is a violation of the digestive tract. While IPC acts on the cells of the immune system, spreading to all organs and affecting the whole body, which leads to almost 100% death. Specialists are inclined to believe that this virus is a natural mutation of the enteritis virus. Studies conducted in various countries have shown that not only sick, but also cured animals are carriers of infection.
AIDS?
Cats have several diseases that experts call AIDS-like. This group includes viral leukemia, viral immunodeficiency and infectious peritonitis. In cats, these diseases are caused by different viruses, whose similarities are one: they all affect the immune system. This is what makes this infection incurable. In addition, this also affects the complexity of creating a vaccine. Do not forget that this type of infection is “slow” - this means that it may take several years from the moment the virus gets to the onset of symptoms.
The disease is not dangerous to humans.
Who is more susceptible?
Studies show that peritonitis occurs in cats with the same frequency as cats. He can overtake an animal of any age. It was noted that in purebred animals, the disease is most often detected before the age of one year, while in purebred animals - over the age of 7 years.
It was previously believed that thoroughbred animals are much more likely to develop IPC, but recent observations show that "blood purity" is not related to the likelihood of infection. However, at the same time, infectious peritonitis was more often found in the British and Russian blue. In cats, the symptoms are the same, but it has been observed that individuals with a natural color are more resistant to the disease than blue or gray animals.
Symptoms
Peritonitis in cats, the symptoms of which are very diverse, is named so precisely because the most common manifestation of the disease is inflammation of the abdominal cavity.
There are two forms of this disease - wet and dry. In the first case, fluid effusion occurs in the chest or abdominal cavity. When dry, the liquid does not accumulate, but internal organs are affected: kidneys, liver, spleen, intestinal lymph nodes. In addition, inflammation of the brain and spinal cord, the iris of the eye are not uncommon. At the very beginning of the disease, symptoms can easily be missed even by the most experienced doctor, since they are not specific for both forms of the disease.
Studies show that wet peritonitis in cats, whose symptoms were observed in 60%, occurs more often. You need to know that this option may not cause oppression of the animal or its refusal to eat. However, for the most part this occurs throughout the course of the disease, sometimes being its only external manifestations. Sometimes diarrhea and vomiting indicate this infection, jaundice may occur. Probably a temporary increase in temperature. Most often, the disease is accompanied by an enlargement of the spleen, but this is almost imperceptible upon examination. Symptoms may appear not only all together, but separately, which complicates the diagnosis. With a wet form, cough, wheezing, shortness of breath are characteristic, an X-ray examination shows an obvious picture of pneumonia. In this case, damage to the chest area is quite rare.
If the central nervous system is affected, seizures, paralysis, significant changes in the behavior of the animal may occur.
A large percentage of diseased animals show absolutely no symptoms. They have excellent appetite, usually active. They fell for examination due to contact with sick individuals. Most of these animals, which were completely healthy in appearance, turned out to be sick, which indicates the existence of a latent form of the disease.
Sometimes a symptom of an IPC is a stillborn offspring or the death of a litter in the first few days after birth.
Transmission ways
To date, all transmission routes of this infection are not exactly known. It is believed that this can happen in two ways: in utero or orally. This means that kittens can get sick in the womb of a sick mother or after their birth, through milk. Asymptomatic carriers infect most kittens, which either die in infancy or become healthy carriers of the virus. Often sick cats bring a dead offspring. Carriers are more often pets or cats from the cattery than homeless individuals.
It has been experimentally proven that the virus is found in the feces and urine of sick animals. This gives reason to assume that infection can occur through common dishes, a toilet, and a bed. The possibility of transmission of the virus by airborne droplets has not yet been confirmed.
The virus is unstable, it does not survive treatment with conventional disinfectants, but in a dry environment it can remain dangerous for up to three days.
Diagnostics
If there are similar symptoms, a specialist may question the diagnosis of “viral peritonitis in cats”. Symptoms and treatment in this case will be individual. The doctor will be most alert when examining fluid in the peritoneum, an increase in the abdomen, spleen. To confirm the diagnosis, laboratory tests are necessary. In our country, the polymerase chain reaction method is used. Some types of diagnosis are carried out only posthumously.
Vaccination
There is currently no vaccine to prevent the development of infection. Some countries use a product that can only be used for animals that have never had contact with coronavirus. This fact must be confirmed by laboratory tests before administering the vaccine. If there was contact, the drug can only harm the animal, accelerating the development of infection.
In our country, this tool has not been investigated and is not used.
Treatment
Peritonitis in cats, the symptoms and treatment of which has not been fully studied, is not amenable to treatment with currently available drugs. In world practice, there is no effective treatment for this disease. However, there is some likelihood of self-healing of the animal. The reasons for this are currently unknown. But even in cases of recovery, there is no guarantee that such animals do not remain carriers. There is no certainty that in the future the disease cannot resume.
What to do?
First of all, at the slightest suspicion of a PKI, the animal must be isolated from other cats. If a specialist has made this diagnosis, it must be understood that the prognosis is extremely unfavorable. However, if the condition of the animal is satisfactory, if it does not come in contact with relatives, it is important to know that the disease does not carry torment and pain. And euthanasia is not an indication for this infection. Good care and care can stretch the course of the disease and delay the outcome.
If a sick cat brings a live offspring, it is taken away as soon as possible. However, keep in mind that kittens are almost certainly infected. All animals in contact with the patient are examined.
If a sick animal is found in the nursery, prudence must be shown. You can not sell these animals, regardless of whether the disease manifested or not. Any individual from this cattery will be considered as a source of infection for other cats.
It is difficult to predict the occurrence of IPC. Today, infection prevention is compliance with hygiene requirements, proper nutrition, reduced contact with relatives, lack of stress.