Tierarztl Prax Ausg K Kleintiere Heimtiere 2025; 53(01): 56
DOI: 10.1055/s-0045-1802473
Abstracts │ DVG

Refining Feline Infectious Peritonitis Diagnostics: New Insights From Effusion Analysis

A Crespo Bouzon
1   Clinical Laboratory, Department of Clinical Diagnostics and Services, and Center for Clinical Studies, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Switzerland
,
A Spiri
1   Clinical Laboratory, Department of Clinical Diagnostics and Services, and Center for Clinical Studies, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Switzerland
,
I Cerchiaro
1   Clinical Laboratory, Department of Clinical Diagnostics and Services, and Center for Clinical Studies, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Switzerland
,
J Wenk
1   Clinical Laboratory, Department of Clinical Diagnostics and Services, and Center for Clinical Studies, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Switzerland
,
C de Witt Curtius
1   Clinical Laboratory, Department of Clinical Diagnostics and Services, and Center for Clinical Studies, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Switzerland
,
J Stachowski
1   Clinical Laboratory, Department of Clinical Diagnostics and Services, and Center for Clinical Studies, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Switzerland
,
M L Meli
1   Clinical Laboratory, Department of Clinical Diagnostics and Services, and Center for Clinical Studies, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Switzerland
,
B Pineroli
1   Clinical Laboratory, Department of Clinical Diagnostics and Services, and Center for Clinical Studies, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Switzerland
,
A K Helfer-Hungerbuehler
1   Clinical Laboratory, Department of Clinical Diagnostics and Services, and Center for Clinical Studies, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Switzerland
,
T Meili
1   Clinical Laboratory, Department of Clinical Diagnostics and Services, and Center for Clinical Studies, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Switzerland
,
S Felten
2   Clinic for Small Animal Internal Medicine, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Switzerland
,
S Meunier
2   Clinic for Small Animal Internal Medicine, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Switzerland
,
A Kipar
4   Institute of Veterinary Pathology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Switzerland
,
K Zwicklbauer
3   LMU Small Animal Clinic, Centre for Clinical Veterinary Medicine, LMU Munich, Germany
,
K Hartmann
3   LMU Small Animal Clinic, Centre for Clinical Veterinary Medicine, LMU Munich, Germany
,
R Hofmann-Lehmann
1   Clinical Laboratory, Department of Clinical Diagnostics and Services, and Center for Clinical Studies, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Switzerland
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    Introduction Diagnosing feline infectious peritonitis (FIP) remains challenging, with effusion analysis being crucial. According to literature, FIP effusions are typically positive in Rivalta test, immunocytochemistry (ICC) and/or feline coronavirus (FCoV) real-time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR).

    Aim of the study This study characterized effusions from 150 cats with confirmed FIP.

    Methods FIP was diagnosed based on clinical and laboratory parameters according to the Advisory Board on Cat Diseases (ABCD) guidelines. In effusions, total protein concentration (TP) was measured by refractometry, alpha-1-acid-glycoprotein (AGP) by VetBio-1 analyzer (SPARCLTM assay). ICC was performed using the anti-coronavirus antibody FIPV3-70. Nonparametric tests were used for statistical analysis (Fisher’s exact test, Mann–Whitney U test, level of significance p<0.05).

    Results Effusions were present in 136 cats (116 abdominal, 6 thoracic, 14 bicavitary). Of these, 113 samples were procurable; all 113 were FCoV-RT-qPCR positive (97/16 abdominal/thoracic). TP was mostly >35g/L (104/113; 92%). Only 35% were high-protein transudates (n=40), 62% exudates (n=70), and three were low-protein transudates. AGP was >1686ug/mL (threshold indicative of FIP) in 94/113 effusions (83%). Rivalta test was positive in 73/97 effusions (75%), and significantly more often positive in higher TP samples (p mwu =0.0419) and AGP >1686ug/mL (p F =0.0288). Most effusions (74/91; 81%) were ICC-positive and with high viral loads (p mwu < 0.0001).

    Conclusions Unexpectedly, effusions were mostly exudate. Rivalta test was often positive in effusions with higher TP, and AGP above the threshold indicative of FIP. Most ICC-positive effusions showed high viral loads, while low viral loads may have accounted for ICC-negative results.


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    Publication History

    Article published online:
    18 February 2025

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