Clinico-epidemiological Assessment of Feline Infectious Peritonitis at a Teaching Pet Hospital in Bangladesh

Abstract

Feline Infectious Peritonitis (FIP) is a highly contagious, potentially fatal viral disease of cats caused by Feline Coronavirus (FCoV). The morbidity and mortality of this disease in cats is very high but scientific studies in FIP are not available in Bangladesh. Therefore, the present study was conducted to evaluate the clinical presentations of FIP, to detect risk factors associated with FIP and describe signs, diagnostic and therapeutic patterns against FIP. The study was conducted at Teaching and Training Pet Hospital and Research Center, Dhaka, Bangladesh (1 to 30 September 2021). Clinico-epidemiological data were collected from April to September 2021, entered into MS excel 2007 and analyzed by STATA-14 software. The descriptive and univariable statistical analysis revealed that the overall prevalence of FIP in cats was 2.3% (Confidence interval: 1.5 to 3.33) during the study period and the prevalence of FIP was significantly higher (p<0.05) in unvaccinated cats (66.7%) than the cats those were vaccinated (32.1%). Listlessness, fluctuating fever, dyspnea, mild to moderate dehydration and ascites were prominent clinical signs of FIP in cats. Antibiotics, steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, diuretics along with vitamins and minerals supplement were commonly prescribed against FIP. The implementation of the study is that by vaccinating the cats against FIP at young age can reduce the occurrence of this disease. Along with considering the clinico-epidemiological findings, performing rapid kit test or Rivalta’s test will be helpful to diagnose the disease. However, affected cats should be treated cautiously and symptomatically to mitigate this disease condition. Therefore, a treatment protocol to manage FIP in cats and avoid antibiotic resistance development should be introduced to the pet hospital.