Pregnancy causes complex hormonal changes in cats, affecting their immune system, particularly T cell immunity. Although pregnant cats may be more susceptible to certain infections, the fetus is protected from maternal infections through a placental barrier. However, the barrier allows infectious agents to pass through while excluding most drugs.
FIP in pregnant cats usually presents in its subclinical or pre-clinical stages, progressing to a clinical stage during the last trimester due to the immunosuppressive effects of pregnancy. The most common clinical form of FIP in pregnant cats is abdominal and wet, with signs appearing late in pregnancy or shortly after parturition. FIP can also affect kittens, causing early resorptions, abortions, or illness shortly after birth.
The advent of GS-441524 treatment for FIP has had a significant impact on FIP in pregnancy. Early treatment of affected queens can result in healthy kitten births, and GS-441524 is presumed to pass from queens to kittens through colostrum and milk without negative effects on fetal development. Current recommendations suggest treating pregnant queens as if they were not pregnant and monitoring fetal development through ultrasound exams. Most queens respond well to GS-441524 treatment and can care for their kittens after birth without the need for individual treatment. In cases where kittens are born healthy but not nursed, they can be fostered or handfed, with GS-441524 treatment considered if lack of weight gain and inactivity are observed. A summary of Dr Niels C. Pedersen article, Feline Infectious Peritonitis in Pregnant Cats.
Comments