Feline Infectious Peritonitis (FIP)- associated seizures

 

 

© Timmann et al (2008) Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery 10,9-15

 

Feline Infectious peritonitis (FIP) is  multisystemic disease caused by a macrophage trophic, mutant of feline coronavirus (FCoV), is the leading infectious cause of cat death. FIP associated meningoencephalitis is considered to be the most common inflammatory disorder in the feline neuraxis. The development of FIP is thought to be due to the host immune response.

 

Up to one third of cats with 'dry' FIP, but also some cats with the effusive form, have neurological abnormalities. In the brains of cats with FIP histopathological findings were meningitis, periventriculitis and choroiditis of varying severity. Perivascular inflammatory infiltrates of lymphocytes, plasma cells, neutrophils and macrophages are usually associated with the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) pathways, but may extend into the neurophil.  Arteritis, phlebitis, secondary oedema fluid exudation and haemorrhage have also been observed. Hydrocephalus has been seen in association with meningitis, choroiditis, accumulation of cellular debris in the ventricles and obstruction of the CSF flow.

 

The route of entry of feline infectious peritonitis virus (FIPV) into the CSF is probably haematogenous through macrophages, It has been shown that inflammatory cells are recruited to the CNS and contribute to the clinical manifestation of disease through secretion of cytokines.

 

Commonly described historical findings in cats with neurological FIP include dementia, inappropriate elimination, behavioural changes and - most frequently - central vestibular signs. Most clinical studies report that seizures occur in this disease and may even be the only sign in neurological FIP, although seizure prevalence and characteristics in FIP have not been described. The mechanism responsible for seizures in FIP-affected cats is possibly a structural change(s) in the cerebrum.