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There is new information about FIP and how it behaves, and which tells us more than we knew before. Corona virus indeed can spread from one cat to another - so is contagious as *corona* but not as FIP. The mutated FIP can NOT spread from one cat to another, and it has to mutate from corona to FIP within each cat that is infected. the FIP disease is in any case not a virus attack - it is the cat's own antibodies attacking it and of course that too can not be handed from one cat to another. In group situations where it might look like there is an epidemic of FIP - the reason for the FIP looking contagious is not that it spreads from cat to cat, but that the common factors that predispose the corona mutating to FIP, are there for all the cats in that environment. So we really need to look at what predisposes corona to mutate to FIP. There is thought to be a genetic predisposition though this is currently not *proved* one way or the other. It may just be a case of predisposition due to genetic lack of heterozygocity (ie inbreeding depression) and thus lower resistance in general. The details of any possible genetic predisposition are as yet unexplained I believe. But there is known predisposition where there is stress. Stress is the biggest known predisposition factor for FIP. In the past it was thought that corona virus titer would indicate likelihood of mutation of that corona to FIP. That too is disproved. You can get high FIP incidence with low corona titer. You can also get low FIP incidence with high corona titer. It is the presence of stress that is the direct correspondence item for chances of FIP - not the presence of Corona virus. All cats have some corona virus, so theoretically, all cats can have their corona mutate to FIP. The problem with corona virus is that it DOES cause symptoms in many cats, and that is of course stress inducing, in that corona can cause intestinal problems like diarrhea. From that perspective, the stress from this can predispose mutation to FIP. Some multi-cat homes therefore try to rid themselves of high corona titer, or re-home high corona titer cats. I don't go along with this - and prefer to take the approach that the true predisposer is stress AS PERCEIVED BY THE CAT. FIP will attack by mutating in a stressed cat even if the kindest environment is present - but where the cat feels stressed. Some cats have a personality to stress more easily and about different things, than other cats. In general, cats feel stressed if there is overpopulation. rule of thumb is one room per cat as territory - and this correlates closely with the finding statistically, that FIP is far more prevalent where there are 7 cats or more, than where there are less cats. As for tests to determine presence of FIP, there are two tests n the market, which give 95% predictive values for FIP. The one is a PCR test that looks for mutated FIP virus (not corona virus) and which is recommended for use to confirm FIP virus presence at autopsy rather than as a screening test. It was developed in 1994. It will find the virus itself, and is not dependent on antibody from an intact immune system. The other is an ELISA test developed in 1998, using the principle of looking for antibody to mutated FIP virus. This does depend on the immune system being viable enough to make antibody, and is recommended as one of the things to use to determine whether a cat has FIP, as a screening test. It is "95% predictive" which means that it will predict a case of FIP being present, with 95% success if the test is positive. I have personally seen this test in use and it was accurate in prediction for 40 out of 40 cases where I worked. It tends to find cats negative who the vet thinks are positive - and definitely saved the life of a couple of cats that way where I worked. I especially remember one 16 year old rather overweight lady who looked like a wet FIP case, and who was so lethargic as to be totally immobile. The vet was really pushing the owner to euthanize and stop what he called the "heroic IV measures", but the owner wanted a positive test and twice it came back negative. Sure enough, Cleo two days later, hopped off the IV table when her hydrating session was about to start, and next thing was other side the clinic building, feeling fine thank you very much. It's my opinion that this test is a great asset, and that it should be used when FIP is suspected. I would still treat the cat for FIP symptoms homeopathically, and use it only for diagnosis - I would never use any test as a way to make a decision on euthanasia. That decision is for the cat to make - they tell you when they are not enjoying life. No test does that - but tests DO help you devise symptoms the cat may have but which they might be unable to communicate. Blood tests for example, will often tell you a cat is nauseous or whatever, so you can use that rubric when repertorizing for the matching homeopathic remedy. A positive FIP test would also trigger my wanting to make a nosode from the fluid that is specific to the cat - and I would use the FIP nosode treatment - the general nosode for FIP/FIV/FeLV in the meantime. Later one can go on to specific homeopathic remedies to match symptoms, as the case progresses. But with alternative health, and conventional tests, there is hope for FIP cases to live with more quality days/weeks/years than conventional medicine can offer. Cats have survived correct positive FIP diagnosis. The cat's first line of defense against FIP is a cellular immune response. This can in fact overcome FIP. The danger with FIP, happens when the invading virus gets PAST the cellular response, to the general immune antibody system. Once the cat's antibody system "sees" the FIp virus, it makes antibodies to the FIP virus, and these antibodies kill the cat. That is why traditional FIP treatment is things like cortisone that knock out the antibody immune system. It's because the cat's antibodies to FIP are the killer action, not the virus growing in the cat as with "normal" viruses. But if the cat can fend off the FIP at the cellular response level (local level of cell immunity), not the general level of antibody manufacture through the overall immune system, then it can get rid of FIP altogether. It's only the antibody "defense" that kills the cat who has mutated its corona to FIP. I hope that helps explain this horrid FIP phenomenon. You can see why a conventional vaccine for FIP would be contraindicated, as it would teach the body to make antibodies - and that would actually *predispose* death from FIP if FIP got into the cat after that. The so-called FIP vaccine that is currently available is not used by any vet who understands this mode of death of FIP. The theory behind the vaccine, is tat it is a non-virulent temperature-sensitive form of FIP, which they HOPE will only get to the cellular response system, and not through to the antibody system - they hope this from the perspective that the virus gets into the nose where it is cool, and that the temperature-sensitive virus will die before it gets further into the body where it can trigger antibody manufacture (and thus death.) Most vets consider that playing with fire. I think the homeopathic nosode's approach of strengthening cellular immunity and prevention of infection this way, without any fear of a virus getting in there to be able to trigger an antibody response (since there is no virus in the nosode), is the way to go. That said, in a well developed case of FIP, where the symptoms may NOT be the initial FIP symptoms, but something different in an advanced case, I would see a real homeopath for the best way to treat those symptoms in the specific cat. These thoughts are mine about FIP - after my information research on FIP, my experience at the clinic with it, and my my experience with homeopathy principles and practice. I hope it is useful info somewhere along the line.Send me an email:
Finally, here is one example of a FIP case handled with homeopathy and nutrition. It also explains the principles I apply when suggesting a homeopathic approach to FIP.
FIP Case, March 2003, using homeopathy and nutrition.
NOTE: Research has shown that mutant FIPV (FIP virus) arises within an individual cat from FeCV (Feline corona virus, an enteric virus pretty much present in all cats) and is not passed from cat to cat. Thus, we now know that cats do not "catch" FIP, but they develop it themselves from their own mutant FECV, in response to cumulative stresses: The prediusposing stresses are the real concern then in prevention of FIP and they include: Vaccinations, surgeries, early weaning, re-homing, caging, any vaccines before 3 months of age, and especially any combination vaccines or combination of stresses on this short list of examples. It would be wise to avoid especially, any three stresses within a month - especially in young kittens under 3 months, if you do not want to see FIp a few months later. Transmission of FIP disease from cat to cat doesn't happen. Two cats in the same environment can get FIP due to having the same stress exposures. Research shows that such FIP strains will be slightly different if genetically analysed - as each mutation is unique inside the cat. The name "Feline Infectious Peritonitis" is thus historical only, and is a misnomer. FIP is not peritonitis and is not infectious. It is an auto-immune disorder triggered by damage to the immune system through stress. The FIP mutation causes disease if the predisposition is there due to the immune system damage. Prevention is easy - and I recommned doing this through use of homeopathic nosodes instead of those damaging vaccinations currently so popular and strongly promoted by the drug companies that make them. The best test in USA for FIP (not for corona virus) currently is Dr Kevin Steele's test. He developed an Elisa-7B-FIP test in 1998 which is 95% predictive for FIP. He also has a PCR test (more appropriate for autopsy confirmation) called the PCR-7B-FIP test. The 7B refers to a gene that occurs in FIP but not in the regular enteric corona from which it mutates. This covers most of the FIP seen "in the wild". Other signs are in blood tests including high globulin, and in wet FIP there is yellow, sticky, effusion fluid with high globulin. Other effusion fluids have different characteristics. Your vet should be up on the testing options, although the 7B FIP tests are not available in all countries yet. When in doubt, I highy recommned immediate use of the homeopathic FIP nosode to build resistance to FIP.
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