Peter Rogers, [30 Oct 2024 at 09:28:32]: Good morning - anybody seen feline infectious peritonitis (FIP) and Babesia in cheetahs please ? Richard Burroughs Pete, yes. FIP was diagnosed on PM at OP, in spite of prior negative serological test. Babesia felis was found in cheetah that had an unknown Babesia - their blood was subinoculated into splenectomised cats. It has subsequently been re-classified as Babesia lengau. Adrian Tordiffe, [30 Oct 2024 at 10:14:22]: Yes, FIP was a big problem in captive cheetahs in the US a while back. Not many cases seen in SA, but it is definitely possible. Although Babesia parasites are often detected on blood smears in cheetahs they hardly ever cause clinical disease. What are the clinical signs? Peter Rogers, [30 Oct 2024 at 11:16:15]: I euthanased a cheetah that had advanced FIP clinical signs. Ascites and severe peritonitis that also involved the abdominal organs was seen and even a lesion in one of the lungs. Peter Rogers, [30 Oct 2024 at 15:14:31]: Thank you Adrian 👍🏻 Richard Burroughs 30 Oct 2024 I agree with Adrian. I had one case many years back that was positive on macropathology and histopathology. All cheetah had tested negative serologically, but this was a simple coronavirus test, and probably not as sensitive as any molecular test.
