Promising Reseach for Feline Infectious Peritonitis and Feline Leukemia

| Print | By | December 17, 2008 3:59 PM

One of the most devastating diseases in cats is Feline Infectious Peritonitis, a lethal infectious disease that is responsible for the death of one in every 100 cats in the United States.

This disease is more prevalent in young cats coming from shelters and catteries. It causes a build up of abdominal fluid and intraocular and neurologic inflamatatory disease in felines younger than three to five years of age. Virtually 100% fatal, there are no preventative vaccines available at this time.

Since this disease often strikes without warning many times after weeks, months and even years after its initial infection, the emotional toll on owners is huge, since owners have formed deep bonds with their cats by the time the disease has been diagnosed.

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Save Our Cats and Kittens (SOCK) was started in 1974 as a non-profit group by a group of cat lovers from the San Francisco Bay Area in California. Its purpose was to contribute to research about Feline Leukemia Virus (FeLV) being done by the University of California, Davis (UC Davis). In the early 1960's and 1970's FeLV was responsible for the death of approximately one-third of all sick cats.

"Socking it to Leukemia's" goals of finding simple and quick diagnostic tools to isolate carrier cats and to develop an effective vaccine were met. This resulted in the ability to perform a simple diagnostic blood test and to protect our beloved felines with a leukemia virus vaccine. While FeLV still remains a major cause of death in felines, great preventative strides have been made in recent years with fewer cats being infected today.

Read more about FeLV by visiting: http://www.petside.com/pet-vet

Over the 24 years of devoted service , SOCK has raised thousands of research dollars, and has now "passed its torch" to the Center for Companion Animal Health, (CCAH), UC Davis.

Presently, SOCK has been reactivated by another group of cat lovers to assist CCAH in raising research dollars for FIP. What makes SOCK unique is that this organization is built by people who have personal experience with this devastating disease, and whose support is given to CCAH to an experienced group of researchers in the area of FIP. The SOCK FIP mission is geared to research into the cause, diagnosis, and prevention and cure of FIP and to also provide necessary information to cat breeders, shelters, vets and pet owners to help prevent FIP.

I think that this news is exciting and shows a great deal of promise for those of us who are devoted to cats, don't you agree? Leave a comment and share your thoughts.

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Comments (3)

Margie December 18, 2008 7:56 AM

I've lost two very sweet ex-feral kittens to this terrible disease. This is great news and I hope their research makes a breakthrough soon.

Amy December 18, 2008 8:49 AM

I support these people for their wonderful work in trying to help all the pets. I hold hope that eventually they will be able to create vaccines against diseases.

Vicki December 18, 2008 12:45 PM

I am not familiar with this disease, but it sounds terrible. I am glad they are making strides to help prevent it in poor little kitties.

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