Re: Treatment for Seizures: TO BARB

[Jennifer Phaewryn O'Gwynn]

Just backing up Susan, she's absolutely correct, it's impossible to diagnose FIP on a LIVING cat. You can hypothesize, but there's no sure diagnosis. Here are some excerpts from a few various websites that gives a good basic overview on diagnosing FIP, and the link to genetic factors:   FIP has very diverse clinical manifestations, but there are no clinical signs associated that are unique for the disease. Initial clinical signs are often very vague, consisting of lethargy and loss of appetite. In some forms of the disease inflammatory lesions in the eye and nervous system can occur, resulting in visual disturbances and abnormal behavior, a wobbly gait or tremors. Around 12% of cats with non-effusive FIP develop neurological signs: often they become ataxic (wobbly and falling over when walking), they may have head tremors, fits, their eyes may dart from side to side instead of being focused. FIP is a vasculitis (inflammation of the blood vessels). The clinical signs which the cat develops depend on which blood vessels are damaged, and on which organ(s) the damaged blood vessels supplied. In dry FIP, the cat often has vague clinical signs, such as going off his or her food, losing weight, the coat looking dull. Many cats with dry FIP become jaundiced (icteric), when you look inside the eyelid, it looks yellow. If the cat has a pale nose, you may notice that that looks yellow. Many cats with dry FIP get signs in their eyes: usually the iris (the coloured part of the eye around the pupil) changes colour, parts of it may appear brown. The cat may bleed into the eye, or white precipitates appear on the cornea (the clear membrane on the front of the eye). Routine blood tests (haematology and biochemistry) are very helpful firstly in trying to exclude other causes for the clinical signs, and secondly to look for changes which may support a suspicion of FIP. Frequently the numbers of one type of white blood cell (lymphocytes) are low, there may be a mild anemia, blood protein levels are usually very high, and sometimes blood bilirubin (pigment from old red blood cells) levels are high. All these changes are very non-specific and do not make a diagnosis of FIP, but help to increase suspicion of the disease. In cats with neurological signs without any other abnormalities, MRI scan of the brain and analysis of CSF fluid can also be useful.   Diagnosis of FIP FIP is a notoriously difficult condition to diagnose, many other conditions present with very similar clinical signs. Definitive diagnosis is only possible at post mortem, or occasionally by biopsy (though for accurate biopsy results one has to actually biopsy a visible pyogranulomatous lesion, which may necessitate laparotomy). Only 18% of samples sent to our laboratory for FIP diagnosis turn out to be FIP. Since cats with FIP are usually euthanased, it is absolutely vital that FIP is accurately differentiated from other, treatable, conditions. In our laboratory at the University of Glasgow, we offer an FIP profile which confirms or rules out a diagnosis of FIP in over 90% of cases. The FIP profile consists of four parts: a feline coronavirus (FCoV) antibody titre, albumin:globulin (A:G) ratio on the effusion or plasma, alpha 1-acid glycoprotein (AGP) level and cytology or haematology.    Non-effusive (“dry”) FIP profile FCoV antibody titre FCoV antibody titres in dry FIP are usually equal to or greater than 1280. An antibody titre of zero rules out non-effusive FIP. Note: many healthy cats and cats with diseases other than FIP have FCoV antibodies. The presence of FCoV antibodies alone is NOT diagnostic of FIP, if the other parameters of the profile do not indicate a diagnosis of FIP. A healthy cat with a high FCoV antibody titre is NOT a cat with dry FIP. Albumin:Globulin ratio (A:G) In FIP the globulin concentration in serum or plasma is raised to over 40g/l. Consequently the A:G is usually lowered. An A:G of < 0.4 indicates FIP is quite likely, provided that globulins are raised, remember than a low albumin (e.g. in liver disease) can also artificially lower the A:G. An A:G of >0.8 rules out FIP; A:G of between 0.4-0.8 - consider other parameters. AGP level AGP is an acute phase protein which is useful in distinguishing FIP from other clinically similar conditions. In FIP, AGP levels are usually greater than 1500 ug/ml. In normal cats, it’s up to 500 ug/ml. Bear in mind, however, that AGP is not specific, and will also be raised if there is viral (non-FIP), bacterial (e.g. ascending cholangiohepatitis or pyelonephritis) or fungal infections or recent trauma. AGP measurement is useful in distinguishing FIP from neoplasia or non-infectious liver disease, when AGP levels will be normal.   In the USA, AGP testing kits can be obtained from Cardiotech Services http://www.cardiotechservices.com/ . Enquiries to Jeff Sarno [EMAIL PROTECTED] or call (502)473-7066. Haematology In non-effusive FIP there is lymphopenia, a non-regenerative anaemia with a haematocrit of 30% or less and often a neutrophilia with a shift to the left. Bear in mind that cats with other chronic infections can have similar haematological changes. Haematology is useful in differentiating FIP from Haemobartonella felis infection where the anaemia is regenerative and there may be organisms visible on the erythrocytes.   Summary A cat with dry FIP should have a high FCoV antibody titre, be hyperglobulinaemic and have a reduced albumin:globulin ratio. He or she should have a high AGP, lymphopenia, a haematocrit of less than 30% which is non-regenerative and possibly a neutrophilia. Clinically, the cat should have lost weight and will usually have ocular signs such as iritis, retinal vessel cuffing, keratic precipitates, aqueous or vitreous flare.Remember: a healthy cat with a FCoV antibody titre is NOT a cat with dry FIP. Genetic factors What are the factors that predispose a small percentage of cats with FECV to the development of FIP? Research is currently trying to find more answers to this question, but some facts are becoming clear. Dr. Janet Foley and Dr. Niels Pedersen of the University of California at Davis have identified three key risk factors: genetic susceptibility, the presence of chronic FECV shedders, and cat-dense environments that favour the spread of FECV. A genetic predisposition to the development of FIP was identified by Drs. Foley and Pedersen in 1996. They examined pedigree and health data from 10 generations of cats in several purebred catteries and found that the heritability of susceptibility to FIP could be very high (about 50%). It is likely a polygenetic trait rather than a simple dominant or recessive mode of inheritance. Inbreeding, by itself, is not a risk factor. Selecting for overall disease resistance is a helpful tool for breeders. The likely defect in immunity to FIP is in cell-mediated immunity. Therefore cats that are susceptible to FIP are also likely susceptible to some other infections as well, especially fungal and viral infections. This finding gives breeders the ability to achieve success in reducing the risk of FIP by using pedigree analysis to select breeding cats from family backgrounds that have strong resistance to FIP and other infectious diseases. Phaewryn   Please adopt a cat from Little Cheetah Cat Rescue!!! http://ucat.us/adopt.html Low cost Spay&Neuter services in VT, and Emergency Financial Assistance for cat owners: http://ucat.us/VermontLowCost.html Special Needs Cat Resources: http://ucat.us/domesticcatlinks.html The Sofa Poem: http://ucat.us/sofapoem.html Find us on PETFINDER! http://petfinder.com/shelters/VT44.html

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