Abstract
Aim: The present study was undertaken to determine the occurrence of Feline Infectious Peritonitis (FIP) in cats presented to the Veterinary Clinical Complex (VCC), Rajendranagar, Hyderabad, and to evaluate the associated clinical signs and therapeutic management strategies.
Study Design: The study included cats presented to the VCC, College of Veterinary Science, Rajendranagar, Hyderabad, showing clinical signs suggestive of FIP. Data were analyzed with respect to breed, age, and gender, and therapeutic efficacy was assessed between two treatment groups.
Place and Duration of Study: The study was conducted at the VCC, College of Veterinary Science, Rajendra Nagar, Hyderabad, from September 2024 to September 2025.
Methodology: All presented cats underwent detailed physical and clinical examinations, and findings were systematically recorded. Suspected cases were subjected to diagnostic evaluations including hematology, serum biochemistry, effusion analysis, radiography, and ultrasonography to support clinical diagnosis. For therapeutic assessment, FIP-suspected cats were randomly allocated into two treatment groups—Group I and Group II with each group comprising 12 animals and therapeutic efficacy was evaluated. The data obtained was subjected to statistical analysis.
Results: Out of 2,569 cats screened, 108 cats tested positive for FIP, indicating an overall occurrence rate of 4.2%. Male cats (58.33%) were more frequently affected than females (41.67%). Breed-wise distribution showed that Persian cats had the highest occurrence (49/108). In effusive FIP, the predominant clinical signs were respiratory distress (74.36%), ascites (53.85%), pleural effusion (37.18%), and dyspnea (50%). In non-effusive FIP, common signs included seizures (33.33%), ataxia (22.22%), icterus (14.81%), nystagmus (11.11%), and anisocoria (11.11%). Effusion samples were typically clear, viscous, and straw-colored, and all tested positive for the Rivalta test. The albumin-to-globulin (A/G) ratio in effusion was <0.45 in 65 cases (86.67%). Major hematobiochemical abnormalities included lymphopenia (68.52%) and hyperglobulinemia (71.30%). Radiographic findings revealed pleural effusion in 22 cats (30.55%) and abdominal effusion with ground-glass appearance in 43 cats (59.72%). Ultrasonography showed anechoic effusion (59.26%) and hepatomegaly with rounded liver margins (41.97%).
Treatment and outcome: Group I animals treated with Prednisolone and Group II animals treated with Inj Remdesivir followed by oral GS441524. Group II animals showed marked clinical recovery, with significant resolution of clinical signs and normalization of hematobiochemical parameters.
Conclusion: GS-441524 has emerged as a highly promising therapeutic agent for FIP, demonstrating a remarkably high success rate in affected cats and offering new hope in the management of this once-fatal disease.