Determination of Renal Dysfunction in Cats with Feline Infectious Peritonitis

The aim of this study is to investigate kidney damage and dysfunction in cats with Feline Infectious Peritonitis (FIP). Feline infectious peritonitis is a highly contagious and fatal Coronavirus infection in cats. It causes lesions in various organs such as the brain, liver, kidneys, and eyes. Therefore, in this study, kidney damage and dysfunction in cats with FIP were investigated using renal biomarkers. Nested-PCR was used to identify Feline Coronavirus (FCoV) positive and negative cats. Twenty cats showing clinical symptoms of either the wet or dry form of FIP, and testing positive for FCoV, were considered to have FIP and used as the study group. Additionally, 10 clinically healthy and FCoV-negative cats were used as a control group. Serum (s) and urine (u) samples were collected from all cats, and concentrations of symmetric dimethylarginine (SDMA), neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL), and kidney injury molecule 1 (KIM-1) were determined using cat-specific ELISA kits. In the study, sSDMA, sKIM-1, and uSDMA, uKIM-1, and uNGAL values were significantly higher in cats with FIP compared to healthy cats. High NGAL, KIM-1, and SDMA levels indicate that acute tubular damage develops in 65-75% and decreased glomerular filtration rate in 40-50% of cats with FIP, respectively. Furthermore, it reveals that SDMA, KIM-1, and NGAL are more sensitive than creatinine in the early diagnosis of kidney damage in cats with FIP.