SERUM AND ASCITES FLUID BIOCHEMICAL PROFILEOF EFFUSIVE-TYPE FELINE INFECTIOUS PERITONITIS

Abstract

Feline Infectious Peritonitis (FIP) is a fatal disease occurring in cats worldwide caused by Feline Coronavirus. Antemortem diagnosis of FIP is difficult due to non-specific clinical and laboratory signs. Rapid and reliable diagnosis is essential for prognostic purposes. The study was aimed to evaluate the serum biochemical profile and ascites of cats with effusive FIP. This study used five cats suspected of effusive FIP as a samples. Diagnosis was based on clinical examination, Rivalta and rapid test of FIP antibodies to ascites samples. Blood serum and ascites fluid were collected for examination of total protein, albumin, globulin and albumin/globulin (A/G) ratio. Clinical examination results showed that 5/5 (100%) cats had ascites. Rivalta test on ascites sample was positive for exudate and antibody rapid test was positive for FIP. The biochemical test showed an average total serum protein and ascites fluid of 7.14 ± 1.36 g/dL and 6.12 ± 0.33 g/dL (P<0.05); hypoalbuminemia was found in serum samples with an average of 1.94 ± 0.33 g/dL and ascites fluid albumin of 1.69 ± 0.32 g/dL (P<0.05), serum globulin had an average of 5.06 ± 1.32 g/dL and ascites globulin of 4.80 ± 0.88 g/dL (P>0.05). All cats had a low mean A/G ratio of 0.37 ± 0.36 in serum and 0.34 ± 0.01 in ascites (P>0.05). Concluded that the biochemical profile of serum and ascites in effusive FIP included normal total protein, hypoalbuminemia, normal serum globulin and decreased A/G ratio. Moreover, significant statistical discrepancy in serum and ascites biochemical profiles only occurred in total protein and albumin, but not in globulin and A/G ratio.