DO NOT EDIT THIS DOCUMENT. Members who edit my documents will be removed from the group. Thank you - Amy Jackson What kind of tests are available for FIP? At this time, the diagnosis of FIP is clinical. A clinical diagnosis means that there is no positive or negative test for FIP. Your veterinarian must look at the sum of several findings. In regards to a diagnosis of FIP, veterinarians will say strongly indicative, suspicious of, likely, or 98% probability. This is because they cannot legally establish the diagnosis albeit they may be sure it is the case. Indeed since FIP moves swiftly, the best way would be to start whatever treatment you chose as soon as possible. This does not preclude anyone from seeking additional diagnostics or a second opinion at the same time. If your veterinarian seems on the fence with a diagnosis or not experienced or knowledgeable enough with FIP, I highly recommend seeking additional diagnostics or finding someone with more clinical experience with FIP. Since many other diseases and parasitic infections mimic the symptoms of FIP, it is a good idea to rule these out if you can afford the additional testing. Taken from Educational Director of Veterinary Partner (VIN), Wendy C. Brooks, DVM, DipABVP Some of the findings coupled with physical examination, history, clinical symptoms used to come up with a diagnosis of FIP are: Elevations in Total Protein and Gamma Globulins Total serum protein is a simple value that can be checked in virtually every animal hospital in a matter of minutes. Cats with FIP commonly have high serum protein levels. Now, there are many types of proteins in the blood. The type that elevates in FIP is basically antibody levels of assorted types. If a blood panel is checked on a cat with FIP, serum protein is often divided into albumin and globulin amounts (adding these together provides the “total protein” level.) When protein levels are broken down into these two groups, it will be the globulin level that is elevated. If the globulin level is further broken down, using a test called electrophoresis, it will be found that it is the “gamma globulin” levels that are elevated. The gamma globulins include antibodies and the FIP infection classically creates so much immune reaction that all antibody levels are elevated. The Albumin to Globulin Ratio FIP tends not only to elevate globulin levels but it also tends to decrease albumin levels. Albumin is an important carrier protein in the blood and one’s body tends to conserve it at all costs. Albumin can be lost through glomerular disease, protein-losing enteropathy, or it can be under produced by a failing liver. All these conditions can occur with FIP. If the albumin to globulin level is less than 0.8, there is a 92% statistical chance that the cat has FIP. If the ratio is greater than 0.8, there is a 61% chance the cat does not have FIP. The FIP Titer This test is often included on a feline blood panel and reflects a cat’s circulating antibody level against coronavirus. The problem is that exposure to coronavirus is common in cats and is not particularly meaningful in diagnosing FIP. Further, cats with fulminant FIP may not be producing FIP antibodies and have negative titers. The only time such a titer might be useful is if one is screening a healthy cat for coronavirus; in this event a negative titer would indicate that the cat will not be shedding virus and can be introduced into a coronavirus free living situation. Many breeders strive for coronavirus-free catteries and such screening is important. The test is not helpful in diagnosing FIP in a sick cat, however. Testing the Belly/Chest Fluids FIP classically produces a clear but viscous yellow effusion, usually in the belly but possibly in the chest or in both locations. The fluid typically has a total protein level greater than 3.5 mg/dl. Several efforts have been made to find a diagnostic test that could be performed on this fluid. So far we know that “typically” FIP fluid is high in lactate dehydrogenase, alpha-amylase, and adenosine demaminase. It is controversial whether or not an FIP antibody titer in the effusion fluid is of significance. Studies have been conflicting. Rivalta’s Test This is a test with which few veterinarians are familiar, but it can be helpful in the diagnosis of FIP. A test tube is filled with distilled water and one drop of 98% acetic acid is added. To this mixture one drop of effusion is added. If the drop dissipates, the test is negative. If the drop retains its shape, the test is positive. A negative Rivalta’s test is 97% accurate in ruling out FIP. A positive test is 86% accurate in ruling in FIP. PCR Testing PCR testing is an extremely sensitive method for detecting DNA, in this case coronavirus DNA. The advantage it has over traditional antibody titers is that it distinguishes active virus infection from past exposure. At least at this time, PCR testing cannot distinguish mutated FIP-causing virus from regular coronavirus. There is a new test currently only performed at Auburn University that uses PCR technology to detect messenger RNA (produced by patient cells infected with coronavirus DNA) in the patients blood. The theory is that the benign coronavirus cannot replicate in blood cells (only in intestinal cells) so if there is viral messenger RNA in the bloodstream, it must be from the mutated virus. The supposition that benign coronavirus messenger RNA cannot be found in the bloodstream has been challenged, however. While this may come down to a matter of how much messenger RNA can be detected in which situations, this test is very new and is still controversial. Dr. Tanya Kuritz adds, PCR outcomes depend on the sample collection and processing techniques and are prone to generating false-positive and false-negative responses in clinical and environmental samples. This is why multiple tests are required to get more accurate results. Immunofluorescent Coronavirus Staining of the Effusion In this test the effusive fluid is tested immunologically for presence of coronavirus using antibodies tagged with fluorescent dyes. In a study using a large number of cats, there were no false positives meaning that if this test is positive there is a 100% confirmation that the cat has FIP. Unfortunately, if the test is negative that does not mean the cat does not have FIP (only 57% of negatives did not have FIP). Tissue Biopsy Most FIP cats are too sick for surgery, though sometimes flushing away the belly effusion surgically provides a temporary “rally” of improvement. A tissue sample is the best method for confirming FIP as there are few conditions that create pyogranulomas throughout the body, but if regular biopsy is equivocal, tissues can be stained for the presence of coronavirus and only in FIP will there be enough coronavirus within macrophages for positive staining. A positive tissue stain is 100% accurate in confirming FIP. Dr. Addie has a wonderful FIP Diagnosis Flow Chart available to print out for you and your vet to help diagnose FIP or to rule it out. dr-addie/downloads/FIPdiagnosisflowchart.pdf Me gustaComentar A 5 personas les gusta esto. Amy Jackson Please do not edit these documents without my permission. 23 de abril de 2013 a la(s) 20:52 · Me gusta Amy Jackson Bump up for new members. 13 de junio de 2013 a la(s) 0:52 · Me gusta · 1 Oscar Birman bump 25 de junio de 2013 a la(s) 9:29 · Me gusta Oscar Birman PCR Testing PCR testing is an extremely sensitive method for detecting DNA, in this case coronavirus DNA. The advantage it has over traditional antibody titers is that it distinguishes active virus infection from past exposure. At least at this time, ...Ver más 25 de junio de 2013 a la(s) 9:29 · Me gusta Oscar Birman Immunofluorescent Coronavirus Staining of the Effusion In this test the effusive fluid is tested immunologically for presence of coronavirus using antibodies tagged with fluorescent dyes. In a study using a large number of cats, there were no false pos...Ver más 25 de junio de 2013 a la(s) 9:29 · Me gusta Oscar Birman Hi Christina Jansson, did you see this? Marleen x 25 de junio de 2013 a la(s) 9:30 · Me gusta Christina Jansson Yes I did see this Marleen. PCR however can not distinguish between living and dead bacteria and virus. If the belly effusion is obtained without any contamination of blood its quite accurate for the diagnosis of FIP in context with other symptoms and signs of the disease. 26 de junio de 2013 a la(s) 7:19 · Me gusta Amy Jackson Ha! See Tanya Kuritz , someone else is gaga over RT-PCR testing like me. 26 de junio de 2013 a la(s) 7:26 · Me gusta Oscar Birman This is an important observation from Dr. Diane Addie: dr-addie/FCoVantibody.htm#uses...Ver más 26 de junio de 2013 a la(s) 7:35 · Me gusta · 1 Oscar Birman This means that if a PCR test on effusion (or tissue) is ordered at a specialised (and recommened lab, with preference a university lab) this should always be ordered in combination with Immunofluorescent Coronavirus Staining of the Effusion (which is still the gold standard). 26 de junio de 2013 a la(s) 7:41 · Me gusta · 1 Oscar Birman and very important to remember: dr-addie/WhatIsFIP.htm#PCReffn...Ver más 26 de junio de 2013 a la(s) 7:43 · Me gusta Christina Jansson Oh yes RT PCR testing rules . I myself work as a specialist doctor/physician at the viruslaboratory in the University Hospital in Malmö Sweden. 26 de junio de 2013 a la(s) 7:47 · Me gusta Oscar Birman Christina, what do you think about Laboklin. Is there any proof their PCR test has been validated? Marleen x 26 de junio de 2013 a la(s) 7:51 · Editado · Me gusta Amy Jackson Tanya Kuritz doesnt think it rules. We go at it from time to time over RT-PCR testing. I love it, she hates it. Were still friends. Maybe she can go a round with you instead of me for a change. You have more credentials than I do to battle it out. (Please know I am saying all of this in fun.)... but RT-PCR rules, so there. 26 de junio de 2013 a la(s) 7:54 · Me gusta Oscar Birman Hi Amy, maybe ask Dr. Legendre what he thinks about PCR if he has some time to respond to you. I dont think he values it high as part of the FIP diagnostic process. Marleen x 26 de junio de 2013 a la(s) 8:06 · Me gusta Christina Jansson Marleen I trust my catveterinarian Eva Heger has made sure that Laboklins PCR analyses is validated. Eva has had a veterinarian clinic in Germany and she knows about my profession I constantly challenges her with a lot of tricky questions . 26 de junio de 2013 a la(s) 8:08 · Me gusta Oscar Birman Laboklin should not advertise that their PCR test on blood can be used to diagnose FIP. 26 de junio de 2013 a la(s) 8:14 · Me gusta · 1 Christina Jansson Tanya Kuritz i just checked out your page and saw the paper Name of the queen? answer Freddie Mercury . The pop/rockgroup Queen is one of my favorites and one of the cats in Remingtons kattlya is named after their former singer who so tragically died of HIV/AIDS. Check out this fine gentleman here: kks.nu/katter/christina/Freddie%20M%20157-12.html 26 de junio de 2013 a la(s) 8:17 · Me gusta · 2 Christina Jansson Marleen you don´t mean that they advertise such a misleading thing? 26 de junio de 2013 a la(s) 8:19 · Me gusta Oscar Birman This is how they advertise it: laboklin.de/pages/php/news_archiv.php ...Ver más 26 de junio de 2013 a la(s) 8:34 · Me gusta Amy Jackson Sounds like the 7b protein test. Is that what it is? 26 de junio de 2013 a la(s) 8:48 · Me gusta Oscar Birman No this is another test Amy. 26 de junio de 2013 a la(s) 9:16 · Me gusta · 1 Christina Jansson I spoke to our catveterinarian today concerning Laboklin and their new RT PCR that they claim detects the modified Coronavirus that causes FIP. She was very suspicious and didn´t believe in what they claim. 27 de junio de 2013 a la(s) 3:58 · Me gusta Oscar Birman Thank you so much for checking Christina. Thats what I thought as well and already mentioned to Leňulka Kratochvilová. Marleen x 27 de junio de 2013 a la(s) 5:15 · Me gusta · 1 Lenka Kratochvilová If effusion is more reliable, we would have sent effusion, but Laboklin said that it finds from the blood... 27 de junio de 2013 a la(s) 5:30 · Me gusta Oscar Birman Lenulka, Laboklin is wasting precious time with their false claim. Did your vet run or order more tests meanwhile? 27 de junio de 2013 a la(s) 15:56 · Me gusta Oscar Birman How is your kitty doing? Hugs, Marleen 27 de junio de 2013 a la(s) 15:57 · Me gusta Amy Jackson Luismi-Nuria Las Meigas Cattery Please do not edit this document. This may only be edited with my permission. I will now need to go back and reformat it because you edited it. Please, no one make changes to it as it makes more work for me in the long run. It is a read-only document. 30 de junio de 2013 a la(s) 17:56 · Me gusta · 1 Julie Stanton Welch Amy- go ahead and add that to the title Do not edit this Doc or something like that. 30 de junio de 2013 a la(s) 19:07 · Me gusta Oscar Birman Immunofluorescent Coronavirus Staining of the Effusion In this test the effusive fluid is tested immunologically for presence of coronavirus using antibodies tagged with fluorescent dyes. In a study using a large number of cats, there were no false po...Ver más 19 de Julio de 2013 a la(s) 8:07 · Me gusta Carol Murphy I have a question about the following statement: If the albumin to globulin level is less than 0.8, there is a 92% statistical chance that the cat has FIP. If the ratio is greater than 0.8, there is a 61% chance the cat does not have FIP. My FIP cat ...Ver más 17 de agosto de 2013 a la(s) 14:28 · Me gusta Amy Jackson Yes, that is correct. The A/G ratio would be 0.26. 17 de agosto de 2013 a la(s) 20:35 · Me gusta Carol Murphy Thank you for answering my question. Im rather angry at the vets then, that they didnt notice this right off when looking at his blood work. He also had high Total Bilirubin and a low platelet count and jaundice. Seems like the signs were all right there for someone who knew what to look for. 17 de agosto de 2013 a la(s) 23:50 · Me gusta Amy Jackson Amye Rimer Martin At the bottom of the document is a link to a diagnostic flow chart created by one of the most respected researchers in the disease FIP. Print this document along with flow chart and give it to your vet. 4 de enero a la(s) 6:08 · Me gusta · 1 Amy Jackson Jessika Acklin 9 de enero a la(s) 2:26 · Me gusta Amy Jackson Carolien Praet Testing for FIP is based on several diagnostics as well as clinical symptoms. Hace 2 horas · Me gusta
Posted on: Sun, 19 Jan 2014 23:37:36 +0000
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