How long can a cat carry coronavirus, and is there a test for FIP?

Question

Good day, for how long does a cat carry the coronavirus? Is there a way of testing for FIP? Pet's info: Cat | European Shorthair | Female | unspayed

Dr. Melanie, BVSc MS · Accepted Answer

Cats infected with a feline coronavirus generally do not show any symptoms during the initial viral infection, and an immune response occurs with the development of antiviral antibodies. In a small percent of infected cats (5 to 10 percent), either by a mutation of the virus or by an aberration of the immune response, the infection progresses into clinical FIP. Cats can become persistently infected and continuously or intermittently shed virus with the feces. One of the most difficult aspects of FIP is that there is no simple diagnostic test. The ELISA, IFA, and virus-neutralization tests detect the presence of coronavirus antibodies in a cat, but these tests cannot differentiate between the various strains of feline coronavirus. A positive result means only that the cat has had a prior exposure to coronavirus, but not necessarily one that causes FIP.

How long can a cat carry coronavirus, and is there a test for FIP?

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