It is a viral disease that occurs worldwide in wild and domestic cats.
Feline infectious peritonitis (FIP) is a fatal, incurable disease that affects cats. It is caused by Feline Infectious Peritonitis Virus (FIPV), which is a mutation of Feline Enteric Coronavirus (FECV) - (Feline coronavirus FCoV). Experts do not agree on the specifics of genetic changes that produce the FIPV What Is Feline Infectious Peritonitis. Feline infectious peritonitis (FIP) is a viral disease that occurs worldwide in wild and domestic cats. It is caused by a type of virus called a coronavirus, which tends to attack the cells of the intestinal wall. In 1970, the coronavirus that causes FIP was isolated and characterized. Cats with fluid in the chest exhibit labored breathing. Cats with fluid in the abdomen show progressive, nonpainful abdominal distension. In the dry form of FIP, small accumulations of inflammatory cells, or granulomas, form in various organs, and clinical signs depend on which organ is affected. In addition, the wet form of FIP is characterized by accumulation of fluid in the abdominal cavity, the chest cavity, or both. Cats with fluid in the chest exhibit labored breathing. Cats with fluid in the abdomen show progressive, nonpainful abdominal distension. In the dry form of FIP, small accumulations of inflammatory cells, or granulomas, form in various organs, and clinical signs depend on which organ is affected. Feline Infectious Peritonitis (FIP) in Cats. Feline infectious peritonitis (FIP) is a viral disease in cats which carries a high mortality due to its characteristic aggressiveness and nonresponsiveness to fever, along with other complications.  About FIP. Feline infectious peritonitis is a viral disease of cats seen worldwide. Not all cats infected with the virus causing FIP will become ill, but cats who do develop signs of FIP will likely succumb to the disease eventually. Cause. FIP is a complex disease. FIP is a result of infection with feline coronavirus -- but while large numbers of cats are infected with feline coronavirus, few will ever develop FIP. It is thought that the mutation in the virus that leads to FIP is more common in cats with immature or weakened immune systems. The coronavirus is spread through direct contact via the nose and mouth with infected feces, so sharing litter boxes is a major route of transmission of coronavirus. Feline infectious peritonitis is a viral disease of cats seen worldwide. Not all cats infected with the virus causing FIP will become ill, but cats who do develop signs of FIP will likely succumb to the disease eventually. It is thought that the mutation in the virus that leads to FIP is more common in cats with immature or weakened immune systems. The coronavirus is spread through direct contact via the nose and mouth with infected feces, so sharing litter boxes is a major route of transmission of coronavirus. FIP is caused by a virus. Cats can be infected with feline coronavirus (FCoV). There are two types of this virus which cannot be distinguished from each other in laboratory tests. One is avirulent (does not cause disease) or only mildly virulent and is called feline enteric coronavirus (FECV). The other type is virulent (produces disease), is the cause of FIP, and is called feline infectious peritonitis virus (FIPV). It is believed that FIP occurs when FECV mutates to FIPV in the cat and starts to replicate in the cat's cells. What causes this mutation is unknown. The wet, or effusive, type of FIP in cats can share the same symptoms as the dry form, such as fever, loss of appetite, weight loss, and lethargy, but is primarily identified by the collection of fluid in the abdomen and occasionally the chest. Feline FIP is a heartbreaking illness that primarily afflicts kittens, and is almost always fatal. It occurs due to a mutation of one particular strand of the feline coronavirus (FCoV), of which there are many strands that many cats are exposed to throughout their lifetimes and especially as young kittens.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Feline_infectious_peritonitis http://pets.webmd.com/cats/cat-fip-feline-infectious-peritonitis http://pets.webmd.com/cats/cat-fip-feline-infectious-peritonitis http://www.petmd.com/cat/conditions/infectious-parasitic/c_ct_feline_infectious_peritonitis?page=show http://vetmedicine.about.com/od/diseasesconditionscat/a/CW-FIP.htm http://vetmedicine.about.com/od/diseasesconditionscat/a/CW-FIP.htm http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?c=1+2134&aid=212 http://www.askthecatdoctor.com/feline-fip.html
what is fip in cats