Feline Coronavirus Infections

A special issue of Pathogens (ISSN 2076-0817). This special issue belongs to the section "Viral Pathogens".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 October 2025 | Viewed by 774

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
The Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies and The Roslin Institute, The University of Edinburgh, Easter Bush Campus, Midlothian EH25 9RG, UK
Interests: feline infectious peritonitis; feline mycobacterial infections; feline dementia

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Guest Editor
Department of Clinical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA
Interests: feline medicine; feline infectious diseases

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Feline infectious peritonitis (FIP) has been a challenge for veterinarians and a devastating disease among cats for over half a century; however, despite marked efforts and many theories, the pathogenesis of FIP is still not fully understood. Feline infectious peritonitis is a clinical syndrome that is believed to arise from mutations of feline enteric coronavirus (FECV), which results in changes to viral pathogenicity, enabling FIP viruses (FIPVs) to replicate in monocytes and macrophages. Recent studies have reported the use of drugs such as the nucleoside analogue remdesivir, GS-441524 and EIDD-2801 as a successful treatment of FIP, with about 80% success in treating this previously lethal disease.

The aim of this Special Issue is to provide new insights into feline coronavirus infections, particularly FIP, which is essential for a better understanding of the disease and for advancing the treatment for FIP. Thus, we invite you to submit original articles and review articles on feline coronavirus infections, including the basic mechanisms of FIPV infections in vitro and in vivo, virus interactions with the host immune system, the development of novel diagnostic tools, and studies on therapeutic and preventive measures.

We look forward to your contributions.

Prof. Dr. Danièlle Gunn-Moore
Dr. Petra Cerna
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • cats
  • coronavirus
  • infectious peritonitis
  • shedding

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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13 pages, 4665 KiB  
Article
Prospective Analysis of Clinicopathologic Correlates of At-Home Feline Infectious Peritonitis Treatment Using GS-441524
by Kelly Larson, Emma Hart, Rosa Negash, Wendy Novicoff, Nicole Jacque and Samantha Evans
Pathogens 2025, 14(5), 507; https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens14050507 - 21 May 2025
Abstract
Feline Infectious Peritonitis (FIP) is caused by a systemic feline coronavirus (FCoV). Prior to June 2024, compounded FIP treatment was unavailable for prescription by veterinarians in the United States, leading to many cat owners obtaining treatment through unlicensed “black market” sources. We hypothesized [...] Read more.
Feline Infectious Peritonitis (FIP) is caused by a systemic feline coronavirus (FCoV). Prior to June 2024, compounded FIP treatment was unavailable for prescription by veterinarians in the United States, leading to many cat owners obtaining treatment through unlicensed “black market” sources. We hypothesized that clinicopathologic data could provide insight on prognostic indicators for the treatment of FIP with GS-441524. This study used data gathered via surveys from 126 cat owners who used “black market” GS-441524 for their cats. We compared bloodwork parameters over twelve weeks of treatment. None of the clinicopathologic correlates, when analyzed via two-sample t-tests, produced statistically significant results between cured, deceased, and relapsed groups. Within cats considered cured, it was observed that hematocrit (HCT) and white blood cell (WBC) values were within normal limits by the 2–6-week period. Cats who died during the study had lower HCT and higher WBC values within the 2–6-week period. Trends were also seen in A/G and total bilirubin (T-BIL), with deceased patients showing a higher A/G ratio and lower value than those in the cured group. Overall, these data demonstrate a lack of traditional clinicopathologic parameters which are consistently predictive of FIP therapy success. Other predictors of outcome with antiviral therapy should be pursued. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Feline Coronavirus Infections)
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12 pages, 253 KiB  
Case Report
Rapid Clinical Resolution and Differential Diagnosis of a Neurological Case of Feline Infectious Peritonitis (FIP) Using GS-441524
by Amy Huynh, Pamela Moraguez, Logan M. Watkins, Jonathan H. Wood, Ximena A. Olarte-Castillo and Gary R. Whittaker
Pathogens 2025, 14(5), 424; https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens14050424 - 27 Apr 2025
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Abstract
Case summary: A 2-year-old male neutered domestic shorthair cat was presented with a progressive history of tetraparesis, ataxia, and inappetence over 4 days. A physical exam revealed mucopurulent nasal discharge and stertor. A neurologic exam revealed a multifocal neurolocalization. The cat was non-ambulatory [...] Read more.
Case summary: A 2-year-old male neutered domestic shorthair cat was presented with a progressive history of tetraparesis, ataxia, and inappetence over 4 days. A physical exam revealed mucopurulent nasal discharge and stertor. A neurologic exam revealed a multifocal neurolocalization. The cat was non-ambulatory tetraparetic and developed seizures while in hospital. Hematologic assessment revealed anemia, hypoalbuminemia and hyperglobulinemia. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain revealed multifocal meningeal contrast enhancement in the brainstem and cervical spine, as well as mandibular and retropharyngeal lymphadenopathy. Cerebrospinal fluid revealed marked neutrophilic pleocytosis; no infectious organisms were seen. Toxoplasma IgG/IgM and Cryptococcus antigen latex agglutination were negative. Mandibular and abdominal lymph nodes were aspirated, and cytology revealed mixed inflammation. The cat was suspected to have feline infectious peritonitis, and to aid in clinical diagnosis he was enrolled in research study—with targeted Nanopore-based sequencing specifically identifying and characterizing FCoV-1 RNA in spinal fluid and anal swab, but not in urine. The cat was treated with anticonvulsants (phenobarbital and levetiracetam), an antibiotic (ampicillin/clavulanic acid), and GS-441524. Neurologic signs did not improve on an antibiotic alone but improved significantly after two subcutaneous injections of GS-441524. The cat received an 84-day course of GS-441524 and, at the time of manuscript preparation (over 12 months after diagnosis), remains ambulatory and seizure-free without recurrence of neurologic signs and no detectable viral shedding in feces. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Feline Coronavirus Infections)
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