Cyprus: Thousands of Cats Dying
Alarming reports of a sudden rise in feline infectious peritonitis suggest a more virulent strain.
Feline Coronavirus in Cyprus
Experts warn that a more virulent strain of the feline coronavirus is causing severe illness.
The reports have raised the question of whether there is a connection between the rise in deaths and whether, given that many people own domestic cats, there are signs of an increased risk for humans.
The outbreak in Cyprus involves a feline coronavirus – which is not associated with Covid-19 and does not infect humans. The virus normally causes only a mild stomach upset, but can lead to feline infectious peritonitis (FIP), in which white blood cells become infected, causing the virus to spread throughout the cat's body and triggering an often fatal inflammatory response in the abdomen, kidneys and brain.
Earlier this year, veterinarians reported a sudden surge in the number of cats contracting FIP across Cyprus, from three and four PCR-confirmed cases in 2021 and 2022 respectively, to suddenly 98 cases in January.
Last week, Dinos Ayiomamitis, the head of the Cat Protection and Welfare Society (PAWS) Cyprus, made the dramatic claim that an estimated 300’000 cats had died from FIP since January, although he later clarified that this was an estimate based on an estimated mortality rate of 20-30% among the approximately 1 million cats on the island.
Mutation and Spread
«We have not yet confirmed these figures,» said Dr. Charalampos Attipa, a senior lecturer in clinical veterinary pathology at the University of Edinburgh in England and one of the scientists investigating the outbreak. He said the latest figures showed that cases had risen manifold compared to the previous year. «The number certainly runs into the thousands, but the exact figure is difficult to say.»
In any case, Attipa described the development as “very alarming” and pointed out that a more virulent strain was in circulation. The team in Edinburgh has conducted genome sequencing to determine whether the virus has mutated. Should this be the case, the pandemic could have indirectly contributed to the emergence of a new strain: since cats can be infected with Covid-19, many of them carry new antibodies that may have driven the evolution of existing feline coronaviruses.
Veterinarians in Lebanon, Turkey and Israel, which also have large populations of stray cats, reported anecdotally according to Attipa a similar increase, although there is no evidence of a similar pattern in Europe. The spread of the virus in England, for example, would likely proceed more slowly, as there are fewer stray cats there and FIP is treatable, although treatment with antiviral medications can cost around 5’000 pounds.
The British Veterinary Association (BVA) advises testing cats imported from Cyprus before travel and not relocating them if they test positive.
Dr. Justine Shotton, a senior vice president of the BVA, said: “The reported cases of feline infectious peritonitis (FIP) in Cyprus are understandably concerning. However, FIP is a condition that also occurs in cats in the United Kingdom. While testing is still ongoing to determine whether this is a new virus strain, we advise cat owners to contact their veterinarian if they have concerns about the health or welfare of their animal and to discuss all preventive healthcare options.”
Meanwhile, Polish authorities are investigating an outbreak of highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza in domestic cats. By July 11, 29 cats from 13 regions of the country had tested positive for H5N1 influenza. Symptoms included respiratory distress, bloody diarrhoea and neurological symptoms. Eleven of the cats have died and a further 14 were euthanised.
Although sporadic infections with H5N1 influenza in cats had been reported previously, this is the first report of a large number of infected cats across a wide geographic area within a single country, according to the World Health Organization. More on the topic of animal welfare.
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