MegaELISA® FCoV is an enzyme immunoassay for the qualitative detection of IgG antibodies against Feline Coronavirus (FCoV) in plasma, serum or effusion of the cat.

Feline infectious peritonitis (FIP) is a world-wide spread chronic progressive virus infection, often with a fatal end. To latest studies, FIP is not an infection transmitted from cat to cat. FIP occurs sporadic in domestic cats and wildcats infected oronasally with the apathogenic Feline Coronavirus (FCoV). Due to stress the apathogenic FCoV mutates into the pathogenic FIP virus. FCoV antibody prevalences vary depending to the way of housing: in cat breedings with multiple cat households from 50 up to 80%, in private households only 15%.

Clinically, FIP varies due to progression and manifestation in organs. Usually there is a smooth transition between the FIP forms, so FIP can be more “wet” or more “effusive”. Therefore, all cats showing unclear symptoms like recurrent fever resistant of antibiotic therapy, unclear organ alterations, chronic weight loss, pleural and/or peritoneal effusion should be considered as suspicious for FIP.

Due to the fact that actually no test method exists which can differentiate between FIP virus and FCoV, FCoV antibody detection is a very important diagnostic tool. Healthy cats with a negative antibody test are most likely neither carriers nor excretors of FCoV. Therefore, MegaELISA® FCoV, based on highly specific, recombinant FCoV antigens, is an optimal screening test for the reliable detection of antibodies against FCoV in plasma, serum or effusion of the cat.