Feline coronavirus (FCoV) and feline infectious peritonitis (FIP) are closely related, but they represent different stages of a viral infection in cats:
🦠Feline Coronavirus (FCoV)
- A common and usually mild virus found in domestic cats.
- Primarily affects the gastrointestinal tract, often causing no symptoms or only mild diarrhea.
- Highly contagious, especially in environments with many cats (e.g., shelters, catteries).
🔄 Mutation to FIP
- In a small percentage of infected cats, FCoV mutates into a more dangerous form.
- This mutated virus gains the ability to infect white blood cells, allowing it to spread throughout the body.
- This leads to feline infectious peritonitis (FIP), a severe and often fatal disease.
🧬 Feline Infectious Peritonitis (FIP)
- Caused by the mutated form of FCoV.
- Triggers a systemic inflammatory response, often affecting the abdomen, chest, eyes, or brain.
- Comes in two forms:
- Wet (effusive): fluid accumulation in body cavities.
- Dry (non-effusive): granulomas form in organs, leading to varied symptoms.
- FIP is not considered contagious like FCoV, as the mutation occurs within the individual cat.
In short, while many cats may carry FCoV without issue, FIP is a rare and serious consequence of a mutation in that virus.
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