Infectious Peritonitis in Cat

Infectious Peritonitis is a disease provoked by a world-wide disseminated corona-virus. It can affect diverse systems of cats organism. The most common ways of transmission are through contact with the saliva or thefaeces of an infected animal.

Symptoms: Peritonitis attacks mainly young cats. Whelps are attacked at ages 4 and 6 weeks and when this happens they begin to show the first symptoms between 3 monthsand 2 years of age. It is a progressive disease and almost always mortal. Infected animals show no specific symptoms, such as chronic loss of weight, fever, loss of appetite and lethargy.

10 or 25% of the sick animals develop neurological signs, such as paralysis, disorientation, convulsions, loss of corporal balance, changes in conduct and urinary inconsistence.

Prevention: As there is no existing vaccine, nor tests to detect animals that potentially transmit the disease, the prevention must be based in an adequate management of the breeding ground. Facilities and equipment must be cleaned every day and disinfected periodically. One must avoid over density of the breeding grounds.

Animals suspected to be infected must immediately be separated in order to avoid unnecessary activities of animals and personnel, among others.

Treatment: Once the disease is present, there is no possible treatment, most of the infected animals irremediably dies 2 months and 1 year after detecting the first symptoms.