Feline Infectious Peritonitis in a Manul(Felis manul)

A case of feline infectious peritonitis (FIP) in a manul (Fells manul)was studied. The manul was referred because of sudden depression and anorexia. The hematologic and biochemical findings revealed anemia, severe lymphopenia, neutrophil left shift, increased levels of total protein, blood urea nitrogen and creatinine. Serum electrophoresis revealed hypergammaglobulinemia. Urinalysis showed proteinuria and occult blood. Serologically, high FIPV antibody titre was present (1:25,600), but feline leukemia virus (FLV) antigen and feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) antibody were not present. At necropsy, kidneys were enlarged and had multifocal to coalescing white nodules in the cortex. The liver showed several necrotic foci in the parenchyma. Effusion in the body cavities were absent. Histologically, varying degrees of necrosis and pyogranulomatous inflammation accomopanied by vasculitis were observed in the renal cortex, liver, lymph nodes and pleura. FIPV antigens were detected in macrophages of pyogranulomatous lesions by direct fluorescent antibody technique. The present case was diagnosed as non-effusive form FIP, and should alert zoo veterinarians to the possibility of FIP infection in wild Felidae maintained in zoos.