Original article on dvm360.com, published 18.3.2020.
Researchers at Colorado State University want to stop the feline enteric coronavirus before it has a chance to mutate to the feline infectious peritonitis virus.
A new candidate in the fight against feline infectious peritonitis (FIP) may soon enter the scene. Researchers at Colorado State University (CSU), funded by the Morris Animal Foundation, are developing an oral vaccine to beat the disease by targeting feline enteric coronavirus (FECV) - a highly contagious and common virus that can accidentally mutate to FIPV.
“Vaccination attempts that have been made in the past have targeted FIP, but that’s too late,” Gregg Dean, DVM, PhD, chair of the Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Pathology in the College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, told dvm360. “We know that enteric coronavirus replicates at an amazing rate. So it’s likely that it will mutate into the virus that causes FIP—so there’s more going on inside the cat than is being transmitted between cats. If we can control that replication, we might be able to prevent the mutant from emerging.”
It's all about the gut
As a first step toward understanding what a vaccine would have to do to stimulate a protective immune response against FECV, Dr. Dean and his team studied cats that had been naturally infected with the disease, specifically looking at their mucosal immune responses. “Enteric virus is quite restricted in where it replicates, and that is, as we know, in the intestinal tract,” he explained. “So understanding the immune response at that site is critically important.”
The vaccine design reflects this insight. The vaccine will be administered orally and includes the bacterium Lactobacillus acidophilus, a probiotic found in some foods and in the gastrointestinal tracts of many animals. “The role of probiotics is essential,” said Dr. Dean. “Some probiotics stimulate the immune system naturally, and by combining the antigens from feline coronavirus with the natural immunostimulatory activity of the probiotic, we hope to induce a protective and lasting immune response.” He explained that the probiotic’s effect is enhanced by the fact that it is alive and replicating. “It also produces antigens – in our case, feline coronavirus antigens – so it is very economical,” continued Dr. Dean. “We don’t have to use expensive processes to produce large quantities of antigen. We are using the natural activity of the bacteria.”
Dr. Dean and his team plan to begin the first trials of the FECV vaccine this fall. “We’re going to give the vaccine to cats in a colony environment where enteric coronavirus naturally circulates. We’re going to take new kittens, vaccinate them, and then see if they get FECV,” he said. “Almost every cat, and probably every cat in that colony, is infected.”
Disease recognition
Meanwhile, Dr. Dean is leading another study funded by the Morris Animal Foundation with a different but related goal: to develop a new diagnostic test for FIP that is accessible, inexpensive, and rapid. “As we move closer to real, viable treatment options for FIP, an accurate diagnostic test will be an important part of that decision-making process,” he explained. “Early diagnosis will be important as long as effective treatment is available.”
Instead of focusing on the cat’s immune response or looking for the virus itself, Dr. Dean and his team are looking for specific biomarkers that are unique to FIP infection. They have identified 18 proteins that appear to be common in cats with FIP, and they are in the process of validating them. If the test is successful, all that will be needed is a blood sample from the patient. “We still have a lot of work to do, but it’s a top priority for us,” he said.
We have a lot of work to do
With these exciting prospects for cat health on the horizon, Dr. Dean praised the past and present work of his veterinary colleagues: "There are a lot of people who work hard to solve these important problems for cats, and it is the excellent work of this community that leads us all to a common goal."
Sarah Mouton Dowdy, a former dvm360.com editor, is a freelance writer and editor in Kansas City, Missouri.
After half a century of studying the virus, a 76-year-old doctor was able to come up with a vaccine for cats two years ago.
DAVIS, Calif. - Coronavirus is associated with COVID-19 in the minds of many people around the world, but doctors say coronaviruses have been with us for decades.
Professor Dr. Niels Pedersen of UC Davis in California studied the virus for half a century. His focus? A specific strain occurring in cats causing feline infectious preitonitis (FIP).
"At one time it was a relatively unusual disease, but highly fatal for cats, full of mysteries and therefore very interesting," Pedersen explained. "So, among other things, I made it my life's work."
After half a century of studying the virus, a 76-year-old doctor was able to come up with a vaccine that is currently being used effectively to treat cats.
It is a drug that he thinks could be used to treat coronavirus in humans, but it is not a cheap affair for pet owners.
"The treatment consists of giving an injection for 12 weeks, which can cost up to $ 10,000, but there are thousands of people who have already treated their cats," he said.
However, Pedersen says his research and work are being ignored.
"It's also strange that much of what we've already learned through FIP in cats at this time can be applied to human COVID-19, but it's overlooked," Pedersen said.
Pedersen said that if a vaccine is currently being prepared for humans, public health officials do not necessarily have to rediscover the wheel.
"Knowledge about these vaccines can be used for all vaccines that will be developed for humans in the future," Pedersen explained.
Please note that these answers were provided by Dr. Pedersen individual cat owner. Consider them as a useful guide and not as individual veterinary advice. In no case do they replace standard veterinary care.
General questions about GS-441524 injection
What if my cat doesn't respond to GS immediately or her behavior doesn't change after a few weeks on the drug?
All we can do is watch what is happening over the next few days and hope for the best. If increased pain develops at the injection site, it is possible that this is the cause of the symptoms we are seeing. If the place is sensitive to touch, it goes without saying that it bothers the cat. It is possible that the situation will worsen and an open wound will form in the painful area, or it will improve quickly. Even if no one wants severe reactions at the injection site, injection is still a better choice.
My cat is experiencing “ups and downs” during treatment. Sometimes she seems full of energy, other times she is lethargic. Is this normal?
The most dramatic improvement usually occurs in the first week, or the first two, after which the process slows down. Do these cycles show that the cat is less active after the injection and more active a few hours after the injection? During our tests, we noticed that some cats seemed a little depressed and depressed after the injection. A higher dose worsens the situation. If it is a relapse, the reaction is even more pronounced, but if it is really just a reaction to the drugs, we will have to wait and see what happens after the end of treatment.
What should I do if my cat feels increased pain at the injection site from using GS?Would lidocaine or anything else help with the pain?
We are working to change the diluent for the drug to reduce stinging and pain, but it will probably take several more months and it will only solve the problem with the diluent and the effect of the drug itself.Applying lidocaine cream to the post-injection area is like locking the barn door after the horses get out.We tried to use it at the injection sites before treatment, but the owners who tried it were not satisfied with the results and stopped using it.
Is it safe / appropriate to continue administering FIO (feline interferon omega) concurrently with GS?
It won't help, it won't hurt either.
Should my cat continue in pre-zone with GS?
Not. You can stop prednisolone after a few days.A cat with FIP should respond very quickly to treatment and no other medication is needed at this time unless clearly indicated.
What are the chances that after a cat is cured of FIP, it will become infected again with a coronavirus that mutates again to FIPV?Should I treat a cat that secretes coronavirus?
Although theoretically possible, we have not yet seen the FIP-cured cats develop the disease later.Therefore, I would focus on curing your FIP positive cat.Do not treat a cat that only secretes enteric coronavirus.This cat has a very low risk of developing FIP and treatment with enteric coronavirus carriers will only promote the occurrence of drug-resistant strains.
Should I vaccinate or neuter my cat during GS?
Vaccination or castration is not required during treatment.Healing the cat is paramount. There will be plenty of time after treatment to resolve the issue of castration.Personally, I am not a strong supporter of FVRCP vaccines (polyvalent vaccines) or the need to vaccinate cats against rabies (unless required by state or local legislation) or administering FeLV to cats that are at low risk for infection.If we treat a cat with FIP, it should be treated in accordance with standard professional care, locality (rabies) and your practice.In short, treat the cat like any other cat, but have it cured first.
Questions about what will happen after the end of GS treatment
My cat has been with GS for several weeks and she seems to be doing well, but the titer of coronavirus antibodies is still high.Does that mean she's still sick?Should I be worried?
We do not see the coronavirus antibody titer value for you, so I cannot answer your question.However, we would expect it to take many months for permanent remission to occur.The fact that the titer is still high at this early stage does not worry us, but it may be something that should be monitored to catch a possible relapse. But we are optimistic.Symptoms indicate complete remission, and just as importantly, the cat has gained weight and figure in recent weeks.These were also favorable symptoms in our other cases, which did not suffer from a neurological disease.The high titer of the coronavirus also reflects the intense response of the immune system to the FIP virus.It is desirable for this titer to remain high for a while and then slowly return to a much lower titer.
What if your cat relapses after you stop taking GS? How do I find out? (Question about a neurological cat)
We hope that your cat will remain healthy after the end of treatment, but we must also prepare for a possible relapse.Relapses can occur within 1-84 days, based on our experience with other cats we have treated.The clinical signs of relapse will be evident in neurological cases, and will be essentially a recurrence of the same problems.They get a fever, the cat stops eating, becomes less active and the neurological symptoms she had before return.It is important to document what is happening.You can also measure her temperature every day for several weeks and then every other day until we reach day 84.During this period, it will be important to monitor the cat's level of activity and weight.
What thermometer should I use to measure the temperature of a cat?
I prefer digital rectal thermometers, which are characterized by high measurement speed.Do you measure temperature during rest and not after a certain time of physical activity?Temperatures may vary. One is higher, one is higher.
I noticed that after the GS was discontinued, the cat's temperature rose sharply. Does that mean the cat has relapsed?
Cats and other small animals are not as consistent in their systemic temperature as humans, and the fluctuations you see are not uncommon.The problem is that the more you worry, the more you measure the temperature and the more of these fluctuations you will see.For this reason, we are not very afraid of these fluctuations. It is much worse when temperatures are consistently higher than 39.5 ° C.It is important to note the overall condition of the cat, its appetite, activity levels and clinical signs. In short, fluctuations like these are fine unless they become permanent and are associated with loss of appetite and activity.If your cat is otherwise well and there is no evidence of a persistent fever, we recommend that the cat be only at home, where it is possible to protect it from unnecessary stress and monitor it closely.
Questions about laboratory results during or after GS treatment
My cat is being treated with GS and her lymphocyte count is high.That's all right?
The lymphocyte count is only slightly higher than normal, but in reality it is good.A low lymphocyte count would indicate that the infection is active and severe, while a high number would indicate that it elicits an immune response.
My cat has been on GS for several weeks and laboratory reports have increased creatine kinase and phosphorus.Is this a problem?
It doesn't have to mean anything if urea and creatinine are in the normal range.High phosphorus content may not mean anything yet. I recommend checking the values in a month.
We are concerned about the seemingly rapid increase in urea and creatinine in the blood.Do you have any other recommendations, or do you just need to supplement your fluids / diet and hope that the progression of kidney disease will slow down, as it is a young cat and it seems that the FIP has been successfully cured?
Yes, there is evidence of kidney damage and given the recent change and the fact that your cat is being treated this way, I think your cat may have suffered mild kidney damage.We only observed kidney damage that was milder than this in one of the more than 30 cats we treated for a total of 12-36 weeks and even at higher doses than you used.However, this type of medicine is known to be toxic to the kidneys in some people treated for HIV / AIDS or hepatitis C. This damage is reversible if you stop treatment early enough, and I assume you have already stopped treatment.If not, and you are at the end of 12 weeks or close, quit it.It does not reduce the chance of healing.Make sure the cat has access to water, and if her appetite is affected, feed her a moist diet that she likes with added water.Cats love wet food with juice and you can still mix a little extra water.There is a commercial and domestic diet for cats with kidney disease, but it is not very tasty and does not cure the kidneys, but rather protects the remaining kidney tissue.I would also make sure that your veterinarian does a urine test to find out what the specific gravity is - the lower it is, the greater the kidney damage.The more water cats drink and the more they urinate, the greater the kidney damage.It is necessary to determine whether the urine contains any signs of bacterial infection in the urine sediment or after cultivation - if they are found, antibiotics should be used immediately.
Questions regarding the oral form of GS
Some companies produce GS in tablet form.Is this form safe / effective?
Yes, at least one company in China also produces the oral form GS-441524, which it claims will work just like injections. This is not surprising, since the modifications required to convert injectable drugs into an oral form are well known.All drugs for HIV / AIDS and hepatitis C were also transformed into an oral form.However, like many others, you may find it more difficult to give tablets to cats than to inject.They usually adapt to the injections over a short period of time, but if they don't agree with the pills, it still gets worse and worse.Therefore, if you go this route, do not invest much in it until you are sure that you will be able to give the tablets to your cat.
Companies that make the oral form recommend splitting the dose and giving it twice a day.Why?
I do not know anything more about the oral form of GS, so I cannot provide a reliable answer to this question.However, there must be a reason why this Chinese manufacturer tells people to give GS twice a day and not once a day.Maybe it's because putting it all at once is too much of a burden for the cat system.It does not make sense to think that the medicine is excreted from the blood more quickly when given orally, which is another possible reason why they want to split the dose.It is important to me that these people are pushing hard for the oral form of the medicine, but have not provided any preliminary information on the success or tolerability, nor have any clinical trials been conducted.
Is there a risk of alternating injection and oral forms of GS?
It would probably not be appropriate to alternate these forms on a daily basis. But there is probably no problem with the transition from one form to another.The diluted drug in injection form usually contains 15-16.5 mg / ml and the dose for cats is 4 mg / kg, SC.
The problems associated with adverse sexual behavior in intact cats and males during GS treatment have caught my attention. The questions often come from countries where castration is either postponed or not part of common practice. There are also frequent questions about routine vaccinations. There are concerns that stress during castration / sterilization or vaccination may affect the outcome of GS-441524 treatment. I am convinced that such fears are exaggerated. If a cat is treated and in remission, or is considered cured, it can be neutered, but preferably in the least stressful way. Cats can be neutered and returned to their homes quickly and efficiently on the day of neutering with a minimum of preoperative, surgical and postoperative treatments and restrictions (eg caging, e-collars). Such surgeries will be less stressful for cats (and owners whose behavior is reflected back on their cats) than intolerable sexual behavior alone.
I am not in favor of hormonal treatment to prevent inappropriate sexual behavior in cats, and I think that effective castration will be less stressful in the long run than such prevention. Therefore, if a permanent change in this behavior is required, surgical castration is always better than chemical castration.
Is it better to neuter cats if they still have some part of the treatment in front of them, provided they look healthy and blood test results are normal? Yes, castration during treatment makes sense. However, we do not recommend unreasonable resumption of treatment during surgical castration during the 12-week observation period after the end of treatment, the so-called post-treatment. Castration is unlikely to change the fate of a cat with FIP, as the cure for FIP is given by the very cessation of treatment. The observation period is not intended to further improve, but only to confirm the cure.
Some owners of cured cats do not want their castration for breeding purposes. We know that genetic and environmental factors also affect FIP, which has led to the recommendation that purebred cats that give birth to kittens with FIP should not be used for breeding. This should be even more true for cats that have been cured of the FIP.
When it comes to vaccines, many already know that I am not a big supporter of vaccines for cats after reaching adulthood, nor of boosted vaccines in the first year. I also think that rabies vaccines are not justified for normal use in cats, neither in terms of public health nor in cats. Nevertheless, I am aware that these views are not generally accepted and that laws in some states require rabies vaccinations against cats. In any case, we did not notice any consequences of vaccination in any of our cured cats. However, this is not something I would recommend for cats in treatment. The immune system of these cats is responsible for other things than responding to the vaccine.
When are drugs other than GS-441524 indicated for the treatment of FIP?- NC Pedersen
There are often questions about the need for complementary medicines to GS-441524. Initially, supportive (symptomatic) treatment may be needed to keep cats alive long enough for the antiviral effect to take effect. Drugs often used in this early stage usually include antibiotics (doxycycline / clindamycin), analgesics (opioids, gabapentin), anti-inflammatory drugs (corticosteroids, NSAIDS), immunostimulants (interferons, non-specific immunostimulants) and fluids. I have tried to avoid excessive use of these drugs, except for their temporary use, and only if there are legitimate reasons for their use, especially in severely ill cats during the first few days. The most important goal of FIP treatment is to stop the replication of the virus in macrophages, which immediately stops the production of numerous inflammatory and immunosuppressive cytokines that cause the symptoms of FIP. While some drugs, such as corticosteroids (prednisolone) or NSAIDS (meloxicam), can inhibit inflammatory cytokines, the only drugs that completely inhibit these harmful cytokines are antivirals, such as GS-441524 or GC376. These drugs lead to a dramatic improvement in fever, activity, appetite, etc. within 24-48 hours. This improvement will be much more pronounced than with any other medicine. Therefore, unless there are reasons to take other medicines, they should be discontinued as soon as there is a significant and stable improvement in FIP symptoms. I'm not even a supporter of the supplements that cats often take during treatment. B12 only treats B12 deficiency, not FIP anemia. This also applies to a wide range of nutritional supplements and many types of special cat food. Follow the proven commercial brands of cat food supplemented with animal meat.
Mutian, the first Chinese company to sell GS-441524 on an unapproved market, recently advertised that using its oral formulation for one (or more?) Days would stop the fecal excretion of FeCV in healthy cats. Some veterinary researchers also take this approach. The reason is to prevent the formation of a mutant virus causing FIP (FIPV), and thus to prevent FIP. Although this approach is at first sight attractive, it is a very incorrect introduction of GS441524 in cats. Until now, GS441524 has only been recommended for the treatment of cats suffering from FIP. There are many problems associated with this approach.
In his advertisements, Mutian suggests that FeCV can be easily eliminated by a simple administration of oral GS441524. However, it does not talk about possible research that led to this approach. There is currently no published field research to demonstrate whether chronic FeCV excretion can be permanently cured by healthy cats. 40% or more individuals in any population of multiple cats may be positive for this virus. Naturally occurring FeCV infection appears at an early age and is not associated with any significant symptoms of the disease. Virus shedding takes weeks, months, and in some cases indefinitely, but in most cats it eventually stops building immunity. However, once immunity is stopped, antibody levels fall and cats become susceptible to infection again. This cycle of primary and secondary infections occurs in many cats throughout their lives. GS441524 treatment is very unlikely to result in more permanent immunity than is seen in nature. It would not be important if FeCV was short-lived in the environment and would not be easy to transfer to clothing, rubbish, hair and other items. FeCV survives in the environment for up to 2 weeks and transmission by contaminated objects is well documented. Therefore, although it is possible to treat FeCV in a particular cat, the virus easily returns to the population. This has also been documented in the experience of isolating mothers and prematurely weaning their kittens, which is a slightly similar strategy to preventing FeCV infection.
Although our current knowledge of FeCV infection calls this approach into question, there may be more compelling reasons not to treat healthy cats with GS441525 or any other safe and effective antiviral drugs in the future. It is unlikely that the excretion of FeCV can be stopped for a significant period by a single or short-term treatment, as stated, and this will undoubtedly require a longer period. This approach will be extremely expensive if applied to a large number of cats in a kennel, shelter or rescue station.
The most important reason to avoid this FIP prevention approach is the problem of drug resistance. We already know that some cats with naturally occurring FIP are infected with one or more GS441524-resistant FIPV strains. Our field experiment with 31 cats found that one was infected with a virus that was highly resistant. There is laboratory research confirming that resistance can develop very easily in cell cultures. Drug resistance is also well known in viral diseases such as HIV / AIDS and in people infected with the hepatitis C virus. The fastest way to achieve resistance to any microbes, including viruses, is to overuse drugs where they are not needed. The problem of antimicrobial drug resistance is sufficiently confirmed by our experience with bacteria in animals and viruses in humans. There is no doubt that overuse of drugs such as GS441524 in large groups of healthy cats will lead to a positive selection of FeCV strains that are partially or completely drug resistant. This resistance is also manifested in the mutant FIP-causing FeCV virus (FIPV), which precludes the use of GS441524 in a larger number of cats with FIP. Unfortunately, veterinary medicine does not have the resources of human medicine or financial incentives to discover, test and obtain multiple drug licenses in order to circumvent the acquired drug resistance.
I urge cat owners and scientists to refuse to use safe and effective antivirals in this way. I have nothing to do with voracious drug manufacturers who prefer profit to serious science, common sense and the fears of cat owners suffering from FIP now or in the future. There is a saying, "Just because we can do something doesn't mean we should." NC Pedersen
Original article on facebook blog Bella doesn't want FIP; 16.1.2020; at FIP Warriors 17.1.2021 Published at FIP Warriors CZ / SK on the occasion of the first anniversary…
With today's article I will deviate a little from the daily news about Bellč from your second mother… Many of you have been asking from the beginning how we treat, what we treat, what the drug is called and so on and so forth… Since we have been tense like kshandas since October they asked, believe it or not, but hundreds of people wrote to me, asked for help, and I tried to get medicine for myself and them, was and still am in contact with a lot of foreign veterinarians, we are still trying to help others and other people to get medicine, translate conversations between people and veterinarians to make a faster and better agreement, believe me, we barely had time to eat, so there wasn't even time to write an article about medicine, treatment, etc.…
Well, as Bellča's treatment is coming to an end, I have found time to make my quarter-year effort to study as much as possible among you. In short, they start with what FIP, or infectious feline peritonitis you want, is… Fipka is a viral disease of cats that cause coronaviruses. Coronavirus is the common name for the four genera of these viruses, alpha, beta, gamma and delta.
Almost every cat has coronavirus, as it is transmitted fecally orally, it is very difficult to avoid it, in shelters, or if you bring a cat from somewhere on the street. Therefore, very little is needed for a cat to become infected with coronavirus, for example, a simple visit to a cat toilet. The virus should destroy ordinary savo, chirox, but if you do not intend to sit at home in front of the cat and disinfect it every time one of your cats visits the toilet, it is practically impossible to avoid it…
However, the fact that a cat is positive for the coronavirus does not mean that it has a tick... I think the picture below from the PhD thesis study of Els Cornelissen (Promoter: Hans J. Nauwynck) Title: "Immune evasion of feline infectious peritonitis virus-infected monocytes" describes it best. If anyone has questions about this picture, I would like to explain in the comments, but I think that even for those of you who are not English speakers, it will be clear enough. (Note: image translated)
A little more theory about fipa itself. FIP is divided into DRY (non-fusive, dry form) and WET (effusive, wet form) form. Dry FIP is further divided into:
Dry form without ocular and neurological symptoms
Dry form of ocular symptoms
Dry form of neuro symptoms
Dry form of neuro ocular symptoms
Please note that normally any Fipka is and will be a deadly disease, this treatment is a chance that it will change, but 100% is not a cure! Don't think, as some have even written to me, that you can live with fip for weeks, months, years… The wet form has an average survival of about 14 days to a month in very exceptional cases, the dry form is slower, but the kitten does not survive for more than a few months. It can't be treated with anything else, so the grandmothers of the spice jar who tried to tell us how they cured it with saffron and basil, really NO… I'm quite an alternative person who doesn't even take ibalgin, but nothing really works for this disease except GS… Let's trust American scientists once ? ? The only chance to defend against the fip and try to prevent it is to keep the cat healthy, support immunity (DO NOT SUPPORT the diagnosis of fip and subsequent treatment of Immunity! It would worsen the effect of the drug) and support its mental well-being, as immune and trampled cat…
Wet fip symptoms and diagnosis - large abdomen due to effusion in the abdominal cavity, it is usually the first thing the doctor examines, does a sono of the abdomen where he sees the wrinkled peritoneum and fluid. I recommend having the fluid removed with a puncture needle and sent to a diagnostic that will tell you with certainty whether it is a fip or not. coronavirus, which can happen in cats that will never have a fip. When taking fluid from the abdomen, the veterinarian usually sees whether it is a fip or not, because the effusion in the fip is yellow. Otherwise, the cat develops greater drowsiness, apathy, the cat eats less and less as the belly grows more and more. Furthermore, you can tell by the overall appearance of the cat, they are so disheveled, they have an elongated face, they just have such a sick dying look, but maybe I can only see it, because we already have a lot of experience with fip cats. Another symptom is a fever that does not respond to treatment.
Dry fip symptoms and diagnosis - in the dry form of fip without obvious neuro or ocular symptoms, the diagnosis is very difficult. Weight loss is the first, the cat is often anemic, for this reason it has pale mucous membranes (gums but also ears) and, as with the wet form, fever. Ocular symptoms are often added, the cat's eyes begin to water, it has narrowed, the pupils are each differently large and react differently to light, the eyes are as if foggy, gray, lifeless. Neuro symptoms include poor walking, over time the cat loses control of the limbs, sphincters. The diagnosis is made by magnetic resonance imaging, the diagnosis is not very clear from the blood, as these symptoms may have a different origin, or unfortunately only when autopsy from pieces of tissue.
But you can easily find all this information on Google… What is harder to find is a cure. At the very beginning, I will refer you to the FIP warriors group, which is an international group of people who are able and willing to find a cure, give you contacts, explain everything and advise you. Unfortunately, only in English, but it is not a problem to invite a Czech member who is willing to help with the translation, I have translated several times myself.
Many of you claim that there is no cure. Basically, you are right, there is no officially approved, studied drug, but there is an experimental drug GS 441524. These are antivirals, ie a drug for viral diseases, in this case specifically SARS, Ebola… This drug simply works by preventing the virus from penetrating through the membrane of white blood cells into their nucleus, thus simply simply preventing the mutated coronavirus from continuing to multiply and spread throughout the body. GS 441524 is the collective name for the active substance in the drug. Medicines can be obtained under the names Mutian, Shire, Curefip, SAK, Huahua, Blossom, Miner… There are many of them. The price ranges from 1800, - for a 5 ml ampoule with medicine to about 10000, - for an equally large ampoule.
You will get GS after joining the group mentioned above, so please do not ask you all of this… Don't write to me. not even write off, so I'm writing this article. If fip meets you, join the group or write to me and I will connect you with someone, I will help with the translation, but it is not in my power to explain to everyone from the basics what and how, communicate for you with drug suppliers and send money for you. It was also very difficult for me to manage it, when I knew about fipka big balls and nowhere did I find all this information about the drug kor in Czech. That's why I'm writing this mini guide on how to proceed if you're diagnosed with fip.
Join the FIP warriors group
Contact some Czech in the group, ask on the wall in the group for help, translation, connection with the Group Admin
Payment is usually made via transferwise or PayPal, so let's all see if you're ready and you don't look at owls like I looked at when they unpacked it for me. It looks complicated, but after one payment you find that there is really nothing wrong with that.
These are probably the basic three points that you have to manage, ideally on the day you are diagnosed with fip, because how many times you play for time, and the drug travels here from abroad for some time, usually it's 3-5 days, but it can happen that the package will catch you at the border, and the consignment will be delayed for another two weeks. It is ideal to try to get the so-called admins on the site. Emergency vial, which is an ampoule from someone who has a supply and is willing to sell it to you, ideally a person who lives a short distance from you, some driving distance and is able to get the medicine to you before your order arrives. While we are waiting for the package we go somewhere to get injections and needles, we have Injekt F from Braun, they have 1ml, they are thin and do not put almost any resistance when applying the drug, and we use needles brown or green from BD microlance (watch out for length, 16ml you I think it's just that, the longer ones are fart). And when we have injections at home and ideally a drug, of course, we go to open the Internet and study how the drug is administered.
GS application - we will prepare an ampoule with liquid, an injection and a needle, which we will lock by turning so that it does not come loose for us. We will calculate the dose according to the weight of the cat (I will put the link to the calculator down in the links) and we will take the required amount, but it will always take a little more, as about 0.03 ml will remain in the needle and the tip of the injection. The drug is applied subcutaneously to the hips, around the spine, roughly in places from the shoulder blades above the buttocks. We never apply the medicine to the neck or buttocks, as it is poorly absorbed and may not work properly. We change the needle, knock out the bubbles and go for it. We catch the skin fold (when you pull the skin out you make a triangle, a pyramid) and at an angle of about 45 degrees we insert an injection into a screaming cat in the middle of our pyramid. Be careful not to shoot the skin through, the needle must be nicely under the layers of skin. Then I loosen the lashes and pull back to check if I'm injecting air or blood, if the air is a teal and we can apply GS if the blood, it means we've injected a blood vessel, we pull it out and try it elsewhere. I warn you that the medicine is quite pungent, and cats don't like it at all, so get ready for the theater in the form of a roaring cat hanging on a chandelier, chopping furiously around, bitten and scratched hands, for injections with expensive medicine flying through the air the probability that you will cure yourself of Ebola when the impact stabs you in the shoulder, than that the cat will be stabbed in peace (kor in the first days, the cats are quite pr…) I recommend treating the cat in at least two people, one holds, the other stings injection, or to produce a so-called Kitten Burrito. After the third time you manage to deliver all the medicine to the cat, make sure that it doesn't leak somewhere, how many times it just happens that you shoot the medicine next to it. We try to estimate how much has leaked and give another injection immediately, but the full dose should be given again correctly. It is also a good idea to gently rinse the cat with at least a little water instead of the injection site so that you do not have scabs, but be careful! Don't massage and don't push where the medicine is or you'll push it out and you can start playing the theater again. Then we just make sure that the cats do not lick instead of taking bacteria under the skin…
This is how we last 84 days, and then we pray for another 12 weeks that there is no relapse and we do not have to start again, the longer the drug is used, the greater the chance that it will stop helping the cat, unfortunately… It is good at least at the beginning and before the end treatment, do a complete biochemistry, blood test, sono, and then consult a veterinarian in the group of FIP warriors if we can stop treatment after 84 injections or whether to continue for some time. And if you overcome 84 days after treatment without relapse, the percentage that the disease returns gradually decreases.
Now something else to treat Bellchi, as a lot of people have asked about some of the things I'll discuss below. We started healing Bellča last October, in a total panic I managed to find some information about GS and the FIP warriors group by some chance and miraculously, I joined, communicated the emergency vial and the first order. That's when I was told that Shire (my first emergency vial) is very hard to come by, and that Mutian is sure. The price difference between shire and Mutian is striking (shire about 2 thousand, mutian about 10 thousand.) No Bellinka is our baby, so of course we ordered a few bottles of mutian, which we had and launched the collection with Fousek. A lot of money was raised in total, and after 14 days on mutian we found a supplier of shire. At that time we were diagnosed with a second fip (yes, we also thought that the disease was ultimately contagious, but the opposite is true, both fipes are different mutations, hence two independent fipp) at our Taystee. We were really down mentally, what now, one to treat, one to die? Since there was a lot of money in the account, we decided to go to Shire, with the proviso that for the money we would put in the mutian, we could treat other cats. And so it happened, we treat two, we study, we read studies and laboratory tests, we can basically be a stateswoman when we started noticing that our Zoe has a shaggy tail .. We thought it was nothing, but if after Fever started in 14 days, it was clear to us and we went to the vet only to puncture the fluid and confirm the predetermined diagnosis. So we have a third piece. Same mutation as Taystee. To heal or not? Well, we squeezed our wallets to the bottom, and we continued with Zoe. Bellcha and I are now at the end of treatment, Zoe I Taystee is ending in February, all three are still alive, and neither of them should have been here. Throughout the hustle and bustle, we said we wouldn't publish anything about them yet, as we barely had the strength to answer questions and news about what had been going on until then.
We are currently in a phase where I am trying to study the fact that Bella has one mutation (I don't know the name from her head), sister Bunny Knock Knock doesn't have a flip, and Zoe and Taystee have a second mutation, but they are not related. All cats were tested for the presence of coronavirus before coming to our house, they were all negative, probably a mystery or something…
I hope that I wrote everything that was needed, in case of any questions I will add info to the article, excuse us that we did not inform about all the circumstances in the pre-Christmas rush, but when one hears this diagnosis in one cat that is a family member for him, he collapses the world, let alone when they gradually tell him the diagnosis of the other two, when a person refuses to give up, looks for possibilities, ways, works 20 hours 7 days a week, tries to take care of animals, household, goes to work, communicates with foreign suppliers, veterinarians, still calculates in his head, money, how much to order medicines, where, from whom, for how long it comes, for how long we have a supply, he goes to the vet a hundred km from home, measures and weighs kittens… I would give a million for some a similar article in October, when we were diagnosed with the first FIP. And now a few statistics about mothers in the end, let's not always just about Belle… We have written about 4 hours a day, in the last three months we ate about as much as an ordinary person in about two weeks, last time we sat quietly on TV about in mid-October, we celebrated the holidays with injections at the tree, New Year's Eve as if, the circumference of my belly decreased by about ten numbers, but unfortunately it's not as cheeky for me as for kittens at the beginning of treatment, at home the mess is probably still from Christmas (and one really tries) but after the whole carousel we fall to the mouth with forgiveness and one is glad that he is able to work in a car at all.
This would probably close me for the time being, I apologize for any diacritical, grammatical or other mistakes, after all we are just people and I would like to listen to any additional information that is inaccurate or untrue in the article, in the evening Bellča, ciao adios warriors and NEVER GIVE UP ?
I have studied all the information in various ways, people, the Internet, from Dr. Pedersen and his studies, everything can be found in the FIP warriors group…
One of the common and very serious diseases in cats called FIP - feline infectious peritonitis (feline peritonitis), which is considered an incurable disease with high mortality, is experiencing new hope for successful and safe treatment.
FIP is an immune-mediated disease caused by feline coronavirus, which belongs to the group of enveloped RNA viruses (RNA is a type of nucleic acid that encodes the genetic material of several viruses) and has the abbreviation FCoV (feline coronavirus). The transmission of this viral disease takes place via the faecal-oral route (infectious particles are present in the faeces of an infected individual and can enter the digestive tract of another susceptible individual through the oral cavity) and are not transmissible to other animal species, including humans. The common FCoV infects the intestinal cells within which it multiplies, and in the process it can mutate (alter its RNA genetic information) within a particular cat. This new mutation allows FCoV to multiply in cells of the immune system called macrophages, a point that is becoming crucial for the development of FIP. If feline immunity cannot prevent this, a systemic immune response soon occurs, which is fatal for the cat. Factors that increase the likelihood of mutation are the potency of the virus and the weakened immunity of the cat.
FIP is always a diagnostic challenge for veterinarians around the world. Why is that so? This disease has very non-specific and variable clinical symptoms, has no specific changes in routine laboratory diagnostics, and in practice there is no available and sufficiently sensitive and reliable test to detect it.
Diagnosis is a jigsaw puzzle of several hints.
Clinical signs of the disease, which are very often non-specific and present in varying intensity. In practice, 3 forms of the disease are described - wet form, dry form and form transient between wet and dry form. The imaginary is a clean dry and clean wet form at the opposite end of a wide range of symptoms. The development of a specific form of the disease depends on the immune response of the cat and the intensity of the production of antibodies, which, however, do not have a protective effect. The development of the so-called granulomatous inflammation of individual organs (granulomatous inflammation is one of the subtypes of the body's inflammatory response) is the cause of a variety of symptoms, because one specific organ is not always affected, but the whole amount and in different severity. As a result, the dry form of FIP is difficult to distinguish from other diseases by clinical examination. Increased production of antibodies leads to inflammation of the blood vessels, which leads to their disrupted integrity and the formation of effusion in the body cavities or the heart. Commonly observed symptoms include fever that does not respond to antibiotics, drowsiness, decreased food intake, wasting. Depending on the degree of involvement of the internal organs, symptoms of kidney damage (enlargement and pain), vomiting and diarrhea in case of digestive system involvement, enlargement of the lymph nodes in the abdominal cavity, pneumonia accompanied by difficulty breathing, changes in the eyes (changes in the iris) may be added. , blood in the anterior chamber, uneven pupil size, sudden loss of vision), eye examination reveals inflammation of the retina. 10% patients with FIP experience central nervous system disorders, such as gait disorders, convulsions, spontaneous eye movements, increased sensitivity to pain on normal touch, and behavioral changes. Rare symptoms such as inflammatory skin changes have also been reported. When the blood vessels are broken, an inflammatory effusion occurs, which is very important to examine thoroughly. There are transient forms of FIP that combine different dry and wet symptoms.
Presence of inflammatory effusion. According to statistics, only 10% feline cats have FIP disease, so it is extremely important to rule out other causes such as heart disease, lymphoma, biliary tract infections and inflammation of the lining of the body cavities from other causes. It is often stated that the effusion is characteristic, this is not the case, and there are several variants of the effusion in cats with FIP. The most common is a yellowish, viscous effusion rich in protein and fibrin, which contains relatively few cells.
Changes in the image of white blood cells. This can be changed in terms of an increase in the number and types of white blood cells, but also in terms of their decrease.
Serum protein changes. There is an increase in total protein in the blood serum (this may be due to the production of inflammatory proteins and antibodies). The ratio of proteins changes and is accompanied by ratio changes of individual proteins such as albumin to antibodies called globulin. Albumin is one of the proteins in the blood serum and is formed in the liver. The albumin / globulin ratio drops below 0.8. Decreased albumin is aware of its leakage through damaged blood vessels, as well as reduced production in liver damage.
Serum protein electrophoresis. This is a special test that reveals the amount of individual types of protein in the blood serum, which is not determined in a routine test.
Other changes in the blood test called biochemical examination, which tells about the metabolic processes of some organs. This test is not specific, but can help us consider the severity of the patient's condition.
Examination of cerebrospinal fluid in cats with symptoms of central nervous system damage.
However, by determining antibodies whose interpretation has its limitations and pitfalls. The fact that a cat has antibodies against the FCoV virus does not mean that it has been mutated and thus that FIP is behind the symptoms of the disease. Most cats have antibodies to the harmless form of the virus. However, the absence of antibodies does not mean that the cat does not have FIP. Their formation depends very much on the patient's immune status. Sometimes high levels, along with other contexts, can help us diagnose.
Detection of virus particles in tissues or effusions. These more complicated but available immunological laboratory methods also capture mutations in the virus itself and can distinguish the mutated from the harmless form. The problem with this method is that this test is most often performed on the cat's life and it is impossible to detect whether the virus is also present in the blood at a given stage of the disease. There is a so-called false negative result. Cats that have an effusion should always be referred for this examination when considering FIP.
Based on diagnostics, which can be costly but absolutely important, we should take a responsible view in such a serious case as FIP. The prognosis is very unfavorable, cats die on average within 16 days of the disease developing, with an average survival of 8 days. However, longer survival periods have also been described, e.g. several months with mild clinical signs. Adverse conditions include reduced quality of life, wasting, ingestion of food or only small amounts, a reduction in the number of white blood cells and a large amount of effusion. It can be said that if a cat stops eating and starts to wither in FIP, it will soon die.
Efforts have been made for a long time to develop effective vaccinations to prevent the disease, but its suffering is impossible. Vaccination does not protect against individual mutations in the virus and, in addition, dramatically worsens its course. It is not available at all today. Today, FIP treatment includes several possible treatment protocols using drugs that alter immune responses and supportive drugs. These protocols, however, do not cure the disease.
New hope?
In the February 2019 study, the study of Dr. Niels C. Pedersen in The Highly Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery, which tested probably the first truly successful therapy for the disease. The development of the drug was inspired by the treatment of Ebola virus and similar diseases, which are caused by viruses also belonging to the group of RNA viruses. So far, this drug is called GS-441524 and it is called nucleoside analog. The nucleoside is one of the building blocks of the genetic information of the RNA virus, this analogue can be included in its construction in exchange for the original building blocks and thus prevent its application and multiplication. It is a very small particle that can freely enter the cells of the body where the virus multiplies. A safe and curative amount of the drug was injected once daily into the cat's subcutaneous tissue for 12 weeks. In the vast majority of treated cats, there was a significant and rapid response to treatment. This treatment test was properly accompanied by regular blood tests and possible effusions, eye examinations and daily clinical examinations. In the dead animals, or animals where euthanasia was necessary due to severe deterioration in the first 2-3 days of treatment, a post-mortem examination was performed in connection with the detection of viral particles by a special examination. The result of this study was more than surprising. The treated animals improved their health and the amount of virus particles in the effluent and their amount decreased within a few hours. All cats that underwent a 12-week treatment, survived and had a good quality of life long after the end of treatment will continue to be carefully monitored for any recurrence of the disease. No systemic toxicity was observed during treatment. So far, this drug is only available in studies, but we hope that it will soon become available to ordinary patients, for whom it means a completely new hope for survival and perhaps a cure for the disease, which is still commonly fatal today.
Is it possible that GS-441524 will lose its effectiveness, leading to relapses?
In particular, GS-441524 is extremely stable in the highly acidic solution used by its suppliers. We stored it in the fridge for months. The more likely reasons for relapses are inadequate treatment (poor injection, poor medicine), inability to get enough medicine in places with inflammation (such as the brain), or drug resistance (we saw this in 1 cat in both our GC376 and GS studies). -441524).
Are secondary infections such as toxoplasma or infectious anemia associated with relapse?
This is very unlikely for secondary infections that lead to relapse. Cats are the ultimate host for Toxoplasma gondii and the infection is rarely systemic. In fact, the systemic form is so unusual compared to FIP that there is no good clinical reason for its routine testing in cats suspected of having FIP. In addition, toxoplasmosis would be much more likely to occur in outdoor cats that hunt than in shelter or indoor cats that are fed commercial feed. Infectious feline anemia, which is caused by a common and largely overt blood infection with one or more types of hemotropic mycoplasma or hemoplasm, could break into clinical form upon immunosuppression by another infectious agent. However, I cannot recall the case of FIP, which was complicated by these organisms. However, feline leukemia virus, and not coronavirus, is strongly associated with hemotropic mycoplasma. Nevertheless, I suspect that this is one of the reasons why so many veterinarians include doxycycline in the cocktail of drugs they used to "treat" the FIP.
Should cats receive Virbagen omega after GS treatment to strengthen the immune system?
Published double-blind, placebo-controlled studies of feline interferon omega in FIP have shown that it has no therapeutic benefit. I also perceive this with other immunomodulators such as PI.
Should I try to eliminate feline enteric coronavirus (FECV) from my cat's environment after the cat is no longer treated with GS-441524?
This virus is so ubiquitous, difficult to eliminate, and easily reinfected that I have come to the conclusion that attempting to eliminate it will be very costly and largely unproductive. Although it is possible to eliminate FECV in a small group of cats that are kept in strict isolation and by faecal testing, in reality it is easier said than done. In the end, even if you succeed with great effort and cost, what will you do then ?! The only way to maintain the situation is to observe an extremely strict quarantine of cats and people moving in and out of your premises, which greatly complicates the ability to maintain a functional shelter or rescue or kennel.
How useful is the AGP test to find out if my cat is cured?
The AGP test is popular in Europe, but I can't figure out why. The test measures what we call the "phase reactant" and is a measure of inflammation in the body. It is completely non-specific and has no added value compared to routine examinations, such as general health, weight loss, fever, abnormalities in white blood cell parameters, albumin and globulin levels, A: G ratio, etc.
Feline peritonitis (FIP) is a relatively rare disease that usually occurs in cats less than two years of age or if they have lived or are living in a group with multiple cats. FIP is caused by an inadequate immune response to a common virus called feline coronavirus. Most cats that get the virus can eliminate it without any lasting consequences, but some cats have a virus mutation that leads to the development of this devastating disease. There are two forms, wet and dry. If a cat develops FIP, it is almost always fatal. Learn to recognize the symptoms of FIP, take your cat to a veterinarian and have it tested. If the diagnosis is confirmed, there is no official treatment, but you can provide supportive care to the cat.
This procedure was written before the GS441524 FIP treatment boom. So one last point could be added here - the real cure and the mention that FIP may not always end in death.
Recognition of FIP symptoms
1. Notice the change in appetite. Cats can stop eating or reduce the amount of food they consume each day. Because of this, the cat may begin to lose weight. In kittens, this may slow their growth. These symptoms are characteristic of wet FIP.
Despite poor food intake and weight loss, the abdomen may swell and the cat may look like a balloon.
A cat can also have diarrhea.
2. Monitor for breathing problems. Infectious feline peritonitis can affect the cat's respiratory system. The cat may have difficulty breathing and wheezing. He can also sneeze and have a cold. These symptoms are also characteristic of wet FIP.
These respiratory symptoms may be associated with the formation of fluids in the chest cavity.
3. Pay attention to the health of the cat. The second type of FIP is the dry (non-effluent) non-effluent form. If the cat has this form, it will be in poor health. Kittens may have slow growth and do not develop as they should. Cats may also show symptoms of jaundice (yellow inner eyelids) and anemia. Matte coat is also common.
A cat may have a fever.
Cats with FIP may show symptoms of depression or lethargy.
4. Watch for eye problems. The dry version of FIP can affect the eyes. The eye may be inflamed and swollen. You may notice redness in the whites and in some cases the eyes may even bleed. Cats' eyes can change color, usually to a brown hue.
The cat can go blind.
Eye problems may be the only manifestation of this disease.
5. Watch for neurological symptoms. FIP can affect the nervous system. The cat may have coordination problems, so it may fluctuate, have balance or gait problems. He may also have tremors or seizures.
FIP diagnosis
1. Find out if your cat has been at risk of infection. The disease usually affects cats under 2 years of age. It occurs more often in larger feline communities. The most common mode of infection is contact with infected feces. People can transmit the virus on their clothes. If an infected cat comes in contact with an object, the virus can be transmitted to the object.
The virus is often excreted in the faeces. The virus will live up to 36 hours, although in colder climates it may last longer.
In most cats, the virus causes diarrhea and then the body gets rid of it itself.
Feline coronavirus is not transmissible to humans and dogs.
2. Take the cat to the vet. FIP is difficult to diagnose, so see a veterinarian as soon as you suspect a problem, which can help with diagnosis. Make sure you tell your veterinarian about all the symptoms to help him get all the facts. Sometimes FIP can only be diagnosed by excluding other diseases.
3. Have blood tested. The first thing a veterinarian is likely to do is a blood test. Anti-coronavirus antibodies are detected. However, these antibodies only mean that the cat has been exposed to the virus, not that it has FIP. The veterinarian can make a diagnosis based on the blood test and the symptoms that the cat has.
There may be certain abnormalities in the blood test that may indicate FIP. The veterinarian may also perform a titration test on the FIP.
The blood veterinarian will also assess the function of the liver and kidneys.
4. Have the thoracic and abdominal cavities examined. The veterinarian may perform an X-ray to determine if there is fluid in the abdomen or chest. If the X-ray shows fluid, the veterinarian may take a sample for further testing.
This is often enough for a diagnosis, but in some cases it is not yet possible to make a definitive diagnosis.
5. Have a biopsy done. Diagnosing the dry form of FIP is difficult because it is not present in the fluid in the organs. If the differential diagnosis does not lead to a diagnosis, the veterinarian may biopsy the affected organs.
FIP Treatment
1. When the FIP is dry, provide support for the cat. There is no cure for both types of FIP. However, dry cats can live for several months if they are still eating, have not developed neurological symptoms and do not have anemia. Providing quality nutritious food to a cat can help survive for several months.
If a cat develops anemia, she may need a blood transfusion.
2. When the FIP is wet, you can aspirate some of the liquid. Wet form cats generally do not live as long as dry form ones. To prolong the life of the cat at least a little, you can suck some of the fluid out of your chest and abdomen.
Fluid aspiration can cause significant protein loss, which can make the condition worse.
3. Give the cat medication. The veterinarian may give the cat antibiotics if it develops an infection. Immunosuppressants are sometimes given to reduce antibodies. If cats have eye problems, they may be prescribed corticosteroids.
4. Decide when it is time for euthanasia. Almost every case of FIP is fatal and the virus is incurable. Most treatments are only supportive to improve a cat's quality of life for weeks or months. Many veterinarians suggest that cats diagnosed with FIP be killed.
If your cat is diagnosed, you and your family must decide on the most humane and appropriate treatment.
Many entities, mainly in China, produce GS-441524 (GS) and GC374 (GC) intended mainly for desperate owners of cats with FIP. Some of these products come from non-veterinarians, while some are synthesized with the direct or indirect involvement of people with veterinary or human medical education. People in China have a big problem with FIP because of their growing ability to keep pets. There is a particularly high demand for expensive kittens with pedigrees, which are at increased risk of FIP. Therefore, the Chinese interest in drugs such as GS-441524 (GS) and G376 (GC) is not entirely financial and opportunistic. Although their first efforts were focused on GC, the emphasis of this black market quickly shifted to GS. Although this type of marketing and use of GS and GC is technically illegal, the companies holding the GC and GS patents have no effective means of stopping this black market. Reputable pharmaceutical companies offering GS and GC usually use a disclaimer limiting their use to research purposes only and not to human or veterinary treatment. This disclaimer, if issued, has no legal weight for law enforcement against the owners and is largely ignored. Medicines offered by individuals are often packaged and labeled as nutritional supplements, making it easier for customs to pass through customs in other countries. Fortunately, this mislabeled drug usually contains accurate information about the drug concentration, for example 15 or 16.5 mg / ml. The recommended GS dose for cats with non-neurological FIP is 4 mg / kg, SC once daily, for 12 weeks. Cats with neurological FIP may require a gradually higher dose of 5-10 mg / kg.
Veterinarians, who are more bound by legal and ethical restrictions, may look at the black market in a completely different way than owners of cats suffering from FIP. Some may refuse to participate beyond the initial diagnosis of FIP, others may assist in administering and monitoring treatment if cat owners provide medication, and some may require signing exemptions that relieve them of any legal or ethical obligations. I respect any procedure that veterinarians may use in interpreting their personal oaths to "use their scientific knowledge and skills for the benefit of society through the protection of animal health and welfare, the prevention and alleviation of animal suffering, the protection of animal resources, the promotion of public health and progress. in medicine. "
We already know about the problems of black market drugs in human medicine. Although suppliers declare high purity, biological activities (ie antiviral effect) are not tested. We already know that GC and GS produce more and more individuals and that quality in mg / kg or molar dosage may vary. We also know that the price of GC and GS can also vary widely and that owners can expect to pay thousands of dollars for enough medicine to complete treatment.
Buying enough medicine and fast enough to help you is just the first step. The drug can be purchased in powder form, which requires more than average knowledge for successful conversion to a stable and injectable form. In response to this problem, most suppliers offer GC or GS in pre-form. The oral form GS-441524 has recently started to be produced in China and is starting to appear on the market. Chemical modifications for oral absorption are well known in the development of drugs for HIV / AIDS and HCV. However, owners and veterinarians who buy GS or GC on the black market, usually at a very high price, would normally expect from the supplier some information on biological (antiviral) activity on a molar basis, diluent used and information on storage conditions and shelf life. If the antiviral activity is the same as for the drugs described in the research publications, the published information can be used directly. If this is not the case, the published information will not be applied. Remember to be very careful in such situations.
Information on where and how to get GC376 and GS-441524 can be easily found on social websites. This website was developed from groups of cat owners who have personal experience with the FIP and are familiar with the black market. Although Chinese retailers provide advice on the FIP and how these drugs are used, many claim to have veterinary contacts, and groups of cat owners are much more helpful. We now know that hundreds, if not thousands, of cats around the world are currently being successfully treated with FIP using drugs obtained on the black market. These favorable reactions appear to confirm our own published research on both GC376 and GS-441524. Owning groups have become very adept at identifying the most biologically active and economical GC and GS resources based on personal experience.
It is also very important that the diagnosis of FIP be as accurate as possible, as the disease is still often misdiagnosed. We therefore hope that owners have access to the veterinary expertise needed to properly diagnose FIP and monitor treatment with this level of emotional involvement, duration, cost, and monitoring. Information on how to administer these medicines has been provided in the form of published scientific publications listed in our supplement on "treatment of FIP". There is still a lack of knowledge on how to properly treat cats with neurological and ocular / neurological forms of FIP. GC and GS penetrate the brain with some difficulty, which is explained in the second appendix on neurological FIP. The only way to increase the level of the drug in the brain is to increase the level in the blood using higher and higher dosing regimens. It has been shown that higher doses, especially in GS, can lead to complete or almost complete remission of clinical symptoms. However, it is still uncertain whether every cat with neurological FIP can be cured. For this reason, cats with FIP with neurological disabilities should be treated much more cautiously than other forms of FIP. We are also aware of the potential problem of drug resistance, which is present either at the start of treatment or which develops during treatment. We observed primary drug resistance in 1 of 20 GC376-treated cats and 1 of 31 GS-441524-treated cats. Therefore, drug resistance should always be considered in any cat that does not respond rapidly to initial treatment or has relapsed after a period of positive response. Although this has not been adequately investigated, it is reasonable to assume that resistance to one drug will not apply to other drugs, as their mechanisms of virus inhibition are completely different.
I will continue to give the best possible advice to owners and veterinarians who use or are considering the use of GS and GC from the black market in the treatment of cats with FIP. Fortunately, extremely active and knowledgeable owner groups have emerged in several countries, serving as the main channel between GS and GC owners and suppliers. These groups are active in social media forums and desperate owners have relatively easy access to them and receive timely and critical assistance.
I must make it clear that I would have preferred these medicines to be approved and commercially available in the usual way. I am sure that will happen in the next few years, and if it does, black market demand for drugs like GS and GC will fall. In the meantime, UC Davis will continue to research new antiviral drugs for diseases such as FIP and share our findings in a conventional manner in peer-reviewed scientific publications. It is our sole responsibility to assure owners and veterinarians that our published findings are accurate, reproducible and applicable.
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