The Feline Veterinary Medical Association (FelineVMA, formerly AAFP) and EveryCat Health Foundation released the 2022 AAFP/EveryCat Feline Infectious Peritonitis Diagnosis Guidelines to the veterinary community, which are published in the Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery. Feline infectious peritonitis (FIP) is a viral disease that can affect any organ in the body, and it is caused by the feline coronavirus (FCoV). In publishing these Guidelines, the FelineVMA and EveryCat aim to provide veterinarians with the essential information necessary to provide an FIP diagnosis in cats.
“First recognized over 50 years ago, feline infectious peritonitis has been one of the most important infectious diseases and causes of death in cats, especially affecting young cats less than two years old,” said Vicki Thayer, DVM, DABVP (Feline), Task Force Co-chair. “Further, FIP can be challenging to diagnose in some cases and is often considered an enigma by the veterinary profession. Today, diagnosis relies upon evidence from signalment, history, physical examination findings, and diagnostic testing. The 2022 AAFP/EveryCat Feline Infectious Peritonitis Diagnosis Guidelines serve as a critical resource for veterinary practitioners diagnosing FIP in their cat patients.”
Given the fact that FIP is fatal when untreated and nearly every small animal veterinary practitioner will see FIP cases, the ability to obtain a correct diagnosis is critical. FIP can be challenging to diagnose due to the lack of clinical signs or laboratory changes, especially when no physical symptoms are present. These Guidelines will provide veterinarians with essential information to assist their ability to recognize cats presenting with FIP. “These Guidelines were written with the intent of providing the most current knowledge available in one comprehensive format combined with extensive supplemental resources all in one location,” adds Susan Gogolski, DVM, DABVP (Canine/Feline), Task Force Co-chair. “The Guidelines will be an invaluable resource to veterinary teams around the world as a clinician builds the index of suspicion of FIP brick by brick.”
The Guidelines detail the characteristics and pathogenesis of FIP, as well as numerous diagnostic testing factors to understand when testing for FIP. They offer the most current knowledge in an easy-to-read format and provide clear clinical images, diagrams, and tables to help the reader better understand and build a case for FIP. In addition, the Guidelines feature an extensive supplemental library of videos, figures, instructions, and a printable health questionnaire.
The Task Force included Vicki Thayer, DVM, DABVP (Feline) (Co-chair); Susan Gogolski, DVM, DABVP (Canine/Feline) (Co-chair); Sandra Felten, DVM, DECVIM-CA; Katrin Hartmann, DVM, DECVIM-CA; Melissa Kennedy DVM, Ph.D., DACVIM; and Glenn A Olah DVM, Ph.D., ABVP (Feline).
The FelineVMA and EveryCat Health Foundation thank Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health USA Inc. for supporting the 2022 AAFP/EveryCat Feline Infectious Peritonitis Diagnosis Guidelines and resources through an educational grant.
The Guidelines development was supported by an educational grant to the FelineVMA from:
