Feline Infectious Peritonitis (FIP)
Feline Infections Peritonitis (FIP) is a devastating and nearly always fatal disease of cats which arises from a mutation of the common feline coronavirus (FECV) which infects 40-80% of cats worldwide. Research over the past four decades has increased our knowledge of FIP, but we have not yet discovered a cure for this illness that affects cats, particularly young cats from catteries and animal shelters.
Below are links to resources for information about FIP.
Interview with Dr. Niels Pedersen about Feline Infectious Peritonitis (FIP) September 2008 (pdf)
About Dr. Niels Pedersen
Sock It To FIP is an organization dedicated to disseminating information about this deadly feline disease, and raising money to support research to combat this disease.
Your help is needed for FIP research at UC Davis
New tools and technology, coupled with sequencing of the feline genome, have provided an important window of opportunity to study a genetic basis for FIP susceptibility. As you may know, Feline Infectious Peritonitis (FIP) is an infectious disease that kills 1 in 100 to 1 in 300 of all cats in the U.S. However, the incidence is 5 to 10 times greater among young cats coming from catteries and shelters. It is a disease that is 100% lethal, and is heartbreaking for breeders and for the families that lose affected kittens and young cats.
Our purpose for this study is to find genetic markers to identify FIP susceptible cats and to use these markers to breed for resistance. In order to identify favorable or unfavorable genetic traits, we need to concentrate our studies on bloodlines within breeds of cats that are either inordinately susceptible or seemingly resistant. Such bloodlines exist in virtually all breeds of cats.
Samples are wanted from catteries and lines that have experienced FIP, as well as from catteries and lines that have not. We are particularly interested in samples for Bengal, Ragdoll, Birman, Maine Coon, Persians, Burmese, and other breeds of cats for the study. However, samples are also needed from both random-bred and other purebreeds as well; they will be used in another important study.
We desire information on three groups of cats (see guidelines for the groups here in .pdf format):
1) those that have developed FIP, regardless of age;
2) healthy cats of any age that are close relatives (sire, dam, sibling) to cats that have developed FIP; and
3) healthy cats of any age from bloodlines that have been so far free of FIP. “Any age” includes cats five years and older.
We are also interested in three or more generation families that have both FIP affected and unaffected cats, but realize that such families will be hard to obtain. We would also like to encourage all breeders to collect four buccal swabs using regular cotton swabs from all of their future litters and their sires and dams. These can be air dried and stored in regular paper
envelopes. There should only be one cat or kitten per envelope, and you should make sure that each envelope is dated and has the name or other identification of the animal that is swabbed. The envelopes can be stored indefinitely at room temperature. Since the majority of FIP deaths occur in the first 3-16 months of life, some of these samples will unfortunately be needed.
Please complete the FIP questionnaire, and send in DNA samples where possible. Please attach as much documentation as possible on cats that have died of FIP. Necropsies at U. C. Davis will be free to anyone bringing in a cat or kitten on a special appointment for confirmation of FIP and/or euthanasia. You will be charged only for a regular visit and for any further tests that might be indicated (tests, if any, will be kept to a minimum and per your approval). However, we need to be notified before your appointment so that proper preparations can be made. If you have a cat that you want to bring in to be evaluated or euthanized, please call (530) 752-1393 and ask for Mary Green in Community Services.
Please be assured that your answers will be kept in the strictest confidence. Each breeder or individual submitting samples will be assigned a unique case number that will be used for the study, with names kept confidential. If we are successful in identifying genetic markers for susceptibility or resistance to FIP, breeders who have contributed samples to this phase of the research will have first opportunity to participate in a subsequent genetic control program.
Thank you for helping with FIP research at UC Davis.
UC DAVIS FIP STUDY FORMS FOR DOWNLOAD
If you are sending new samples to UC Davis, please complete the following questionnaire:
Questionnaire for Submitting DNA Samples
Here are instructions on how to take DNA samples with cotton swabs:
Instructions for Taking DNA Samples with Cotton Swabs
When you have the questionnaire completed and the samples ready, this document will tell you where to send the packet.
Instructions for Sending Samples to UC Davis
Following this article are several others that may answer questions you have or provide additional information, including guidelines for the three study groups and instructions for veterinarians on how to take and send FIP tissue and fluid samples.
Thank you for your support and participation in FIP research at UC Davis.
ADDITIONAL FIP RESOURCES:
SOCK FIP (Feline Infectious Peritonitis)
A review of feline infectious peritonitis virus infection: 1963-2008 (pdf format)
Video: A Review of Feline Infectious Peritonitis
Note that the "Video: A Review of Feline Infectious Peritonitis" is a PowerPoint slide show and video record of a talk presented in April 2010 by Dr. Niels C. Pedersen, CCAH director and FIP researcher. The link takes a minute or so to load so please be patient.
FIP Synopsis (pdf file)
FIP information for animal shelters - see "Shelter Health Portal - Information Sheets"
Feline Enteric Coronavirus (pdf file)
