Leo, a 10-month-old tabby cat, is cared for by Medical Trials Coordinator Jully Pires after receiving remedy as a part of a medical trial on FIP at UC Davis College of Veterinary Medication. Credit score: UC Davis College of Veterinary Medication
Feline infectious peritonitis, or FIP, is a critical and traditionally deadly illness in cats brought on by a coronavirus. It behaves in some ways like extreme coronavirus infections in people, inflicting widespread irritation, T cell exhaustion, and continual immune dysfunction.
Scientists on the College of California, Davis, have discovered that mesenchymal stromal cells, or MSC remedy, together with antiviral medication, helped cats’ immune methods recuperate and decreased systemic irritation. The research was revealed in Stem Cells Translational Medication.
“Our findings support the idea that FIP in cats is a useful model for studying long-term immune problems after a viral infection—something that also happens in some people after illnesses like COVID-19,” mentioned corresponding creator Amir Kol, affiliate professor within the Division of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology on the UC Davis College of Veterinary Medication.
“It shows that MSC therapy might not only reduce short-term inflammation but help bring the immune system back into lasting balance.”
FIP in cats
Feline coronavirus often infects the cells lining a cat’s intestines and causes solely delicate abdomen points. In some cats, a mixture of genetic and environmental components can alter the virus’s conduct, permitting it to contaminate immune cells and unfold all through the physique.
The virus can turn into both moist FIP, the place fluid builds up within the chest or stomach, or dry FIP, the place fluid does not construct up however irritation nonetheless impacts organs. Each kinds of FIP trigger fever, widespread irritation, issues in a number of organs and a drop in necessary immune cells. It is estimated to have an effect on round 2% of cats, mostly younger cats in shelters or catteries.
Till lately, most instances of FIP have been deadly. In 2018, UC Davis researchers first reported that an antiviral agent referred to as GS-441524 efficiently cured cats with FIP. However the patent holder on the time by no means utilized for approval to promote it. Solely inside the final yr has a U.S. veterinary compounding pharmacy made the drug obtainable within the nation.
Lengthy-term FIP
In consequence, few research have tracked cats long-term after they recuperate from FIP. However Kol mentioned a few of these cats nonetheless have enlarged lymph nodes, which occurs when a part of the immune system stays energetic.
This means that even after the cats seem to recuperate, their immune methods should be working time beyond regulation—just like how some folks expertise lengthy COVID after recovering from COVID-19. This ongoing immune stimulation might signify a “long-FIP”-like syndrome in cats.
“Even if you treat the infection with antivirals, your immune system, oftentimes, still won’t go back to normal or where it was before infection,” mentioned Kol. “This might have long-lasting effects on your health and this study shows that MSC may help.”
Medical trial with antivirals and MSC
Researchers needed to see whether or not mobile remedy might improve immune restoration within the cats with enlarged lymph nodes. For this medical trial, one group of cats with FIP obtained antiviral medication together with infusions of MSCs, and the opposite obtained an antiviral drug and placebo infusions.
“As expected, all cats survived because the antiviral treatment is effective in getting rid of the virus,” mentioned Kol. “But we definitely saw evidence of immune recovery in those cats that were treated with MSC compared to the ones that weren’t.”
Researchers discovered that the handled cats had fewer overly energetic T and B cells (which may trigger immune overdrive), and extra regulatory T cells (which assist calm the immune system). Different assessments confirmed that this remedy helped exhausted immune cells recuperate and presumably kind long-term “memory” cells that defend the physique sooner or later.
Scientists discovered the remedy protected with no critical uncomfortable side effects.
These findings not solely matter for serving to cats with FIP and their house owners, however they might additionally assist scientists higher perceive comparable viruses in people, like COVID-19.
“It’s important to understand that many pets suffer from diseases that are similar to human diseases,” mentioned Kol. “Veterinary medicine is a wonderful platform to conduct translational science that helps both pets and humans.”
Extra data:
Patrawin Wanakumjorn et al, MSC Remedy Improves Immune Restoration in a Feline Mannequin of Extreme Coronavirus An infection, Stem Cells Translational Medication (2025). DOI: 10.1093/stcltm/szaf025
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What a illness in cats might train us about lengthy COVID (2025, July 14)
retrieved 14 July 2025
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