A REVIEW OF THE CLINICAL-DIAGNOSIS OF FELINE INFECTIOUS PERITONITIS VIRAL MENINGOENCEPHALOMYELITIS

A study was carried out on 19 cats which had been primarily presented for neurological signs caused by the feline infectious peritonitis (FI P) virus. Seven animals only showed central nervous system (CNS) invol vement without symptoms of a systemic disease. The main neurological s igns were depression, tetraparesis, head tilt, nystagmus, and intentio n tremor. Neuroanatomical localization was multifocal in the majority of the cases, with brain stem involvement in all but one. Blood bioche mical changes mainly consisted of total protein elevation and hypergam maglobulinemia. Serum antibodies against FIP virus, detected through i ndirect fluorescence procedure, showed high titer in only 58% of the a nimals tested. The test was negative in two cats. CSF analysis was con sistently characterized by a high protein content : and marked pleocyt osis which primarily consisted of neutrophils. We concluded that bioch emical blood changes and antibody testing have a limited value in diag nosing the neurological form of FIP, while CSF analysis is essential f or a correct diagnosis.