Research update – September 2022

While the last couple of years has been a challenging period, it has also highlighted the strength of our animal-loving community. Despite the fact the Covid-19 pandemic has brought unimaginable challenges, EndFIP® and the Luca Fund for FIP Research have found creative ways to ensure that our efforts to end FIP are moving forward. We are heartened that the work we started to help domestic cats is dovetailing to help other species. The following paragraphs speak to some of the inspiring and innovative initiatives we are undertaking to ensure that every cat across the globe continues to roar, grow and thrive.

FIP Research at the University of Glasgow

Research efforts at the University School of Biodiversity, One Health & Veterinary Medicine laboratory at the University of Glasgow, funded by EndFIP® and the Luca Fund for FIP Research, are ongoing. A large-scale study into using computer-aided decision-making to help in diagnosing the dry form of FIP has now been completed. In this collaborative study involving clinicians, data scientists, and laboratory specialists, a machine learning approach was utilized to address this long-standing problem. The diagnosis of FIP currently requires the subjective assessment and integration of results from multiple tests. Recent work in the laboratory has created a series of highly incisive predictive computer models using data from thousands of suspected cases over a period of two decades. The ability to rapidly and accurately diagnose this condition has now become of critical importance. In the last two years, antiviral drugs developed for human treatment have been licensed for veterinary use in several countries and these have proven highly effective in curing cats with this usually fatal disease. With successful treatment being dependent on rapid and accurate diagnosis, improvements in FIP testing will allow the rapid instigation of treatment where appropriate, thus alleviating the pain and suffering otherwise associated with this disease.

In addition to investigating the genetic diversity of feline coronavirus, which causes FIP, research work within the laboratory is now also focusing on examining the diversity of ferret coronavirus. Ferrets can suffer from a syndrome that is very similar to FIP and which is caused by ferret coronavirus, which is genetically very closely related to feline coronavirus. This virus can also cause a severe intestinal infection which can pass among ferrets. Building on our efforts to sequence and understand feline coronavirus diversity among the cat population, we are now using high-throughput sequencing equipment, purchased with the support of EndFIP® and the Luca Fund, to undertake a parallel study of ferret coronavirus. This will allow us to compare viral populations to gain greater insight into the evolution of this large family of companion animal viruses.

Collaboration with the Cheetah Conservation Fund

The Cheetah Conservation Fund (CCF) is a charitable organization based in Africa that undertakes a range of activities to help conserve cheetahs. In collaboration with various partners, one of the aspects of their work is to care for cheetahs rescued from the illegal pet trade. The CCF provides safe houses and veterinary care for large numbers of young cheetahs, many of which have been rescued from distressing circumstances. Similar to domestic cats, cheetahs can be infected by feline coronavirus and can develop feline infectious peritonitis. The CCF veterinary team, which comprises veterinary surgeons and research scientists, is collaborating with the University of Glasgow University School of Biodiversity, One Health & Veterinary Medicine to investigate the distribution of the virus and incidence of FIP in the rescued cheetah population while in safe-house accommodation. This involves screening incoming and resident cheetahs for evidence of exposure to coronavirus and monitoring viral shedding in infected cheetahs. 

Establishing and maintaining a feline coronavirus-free environment and population is extremely challenging in a rescue center setting such as this. Efforts are directed towards qPCR testing of cheetah fecal samples to investigate carriage of the virus in housed/rescued animals, in an attempt to minimize the risk of FIP, which is a major concern in these animals. VDS is engaged in the ongoing testing of cheetah samples, which takes considerable technical time and resources. This important work is necessary to allow the CCF to optimize management practices and make the best use of their resources in order to reduce the risk of disease in this critical feline species. EndFIP® and the Luca Fund support non-invasive research into FIP and are funding these ongoing activities.

Please contact us by email at fundraising@endfip.com if you would like to discuss your giving or if you have questions about the research progress you make possible.