Julia Trost

IR I/10 GT/2
Annotated Source List

Doenges, Stephen, et al. "Detection of Feline Coronavirus in Cerebrospinal Fluid

for Diagnosis of Feline Infectious Peritonitis in Cats with and without
Neurological Signs."

This article focused on analyzing cerebrospinal fluid and its effectiveness. The
cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in a cat is produced by the ventricles in a cell. CSF is a colorless body
fluid found in the brain and spinal cord. Vets can use this fluid as a tool to diagnose FIP by
analyzing the cells in the fluid for ​real-time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction
(real-time RT-PCR​) which has the ability to detect feline coronavirus (FCoV) RNA in
cerebrospinal fluid in cats with or without wet or dry form symptoms of FIP. However, looking
at CSF for cats who have the neurological form of FIP has been proven ineffective. Due to the
blood to brain barrier in cats with the neurological form, proteins and other substances may leak
into the CSF, meaning there won’t be an accurate reading of the fluid in the first place. This
study proves that CSF is effective and is considered a reliable tool for diagnosing FIP.
This source is a reliable source because it is from a government website, or the U.S.
National Library of Medicine. This study really helped to eliminate other methods of diagnosing
FIP that may or may not be effective. The author did a good job of providing evidence and
explaining key terms such as RT-PCR. However, this paper would not be understood by the
average person without a class of biology and or chemistry. Overall, this article served as a
reliable source that provided necessary information on a research study.

Fagan, Abigail. "Bypassing the Blood-Brain Barrier." ​Psychology Today​,

Nov.-Dec. 2018, p. 38+. ​Gale In Context: High School

This article explains methods on how get past the blood-brain barrier in order to get drugs
directly to the brain. In FIP, it is incredibly hard to treat the dry form of the disease compared to
the wet form. The dry form is characterized by neurological and ocular disease; unlike the wet
form which mainly affects the abdomen. Because of this, researchers are finding it hard to
effectively provide treatment to cats with FIP due to difficulty in passing the blood-brain barrier.
The blood-brain barrier is a protective boundary made up of endothelial cells that line blood
vessels, which are packed close together in the brain. Oxygen can slip through gaps in the cells,
sugars are escorted past via proteins, but large molecules such as drugs are too big to get
through. The current methods to gain access to the brain include surgery, and inserting a catheter
to infuse medication directly into blood vessels. Scientists have been looking for less intrusive
methods in order to possibly develop ways to treat Alzheimers, stroke, and brain cancer. Some

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possible ideas that have been researched include focused ultrasound (using air bubbles to pull
apart cells), trojan horse (sneaks drugs into brain by tricking transporters and receptors that
permit passage), engineered viruses (altered pep tides on surface of virus so they can connect
with receptors), and nanotechnology (using synthetic DNA) .
Overall, this article was a very interesting read and provided great information on the
blood-brain barrier. This article is a credible source because it comes from GALE, which is a
database provided by Howard County School Systems. The author included plenty of
background and information regarding the blood-brain barrier. It is fascinating how the
implications of these studies could be very beneficial to curing the dry form the FIP.

“Feline Immunodeficiency (FIV).” ​University of California Davis Koret Shelter

Medicine Program

This information sheet provides useful information to shelters, rescue groups, and foster
homes about Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV). FIV is similar to HIV/AIDS in humans, as a
cat can be infected with FIV and can enjoy a good quality of life for a long period of time before
potentially contracting FIP. A cat can be infected with FIV, but never contract FIP depending on
their immune response. The suppressed immune system created by FIP makes cats more prone to
receiving secondary infections from this disease. FIV is mainly spread through bites, which are
likely to occur when a cat is introduced to a new home or shelter with new cats. Blood tests and
the most common test called ELISA is used to detect FIV in cats. Results from prior studies
suggest that crowding and stress increase mortality from the FIV infection. There is currently a
vaccination available to treat FIV, but the results are not promising. Since FIV is rarely spread
and affects so little cats, it is hard to determine when to treat cats with the vaccine. This
information sheet is used to inform the public about FIV, and how it can develop into the deadly
FIP virus.
This source is credible, as it is from the University of California Davis Shelter Medicine
Program, run by Dr. Niels Pedersen, a well established veterinarian who tested treatments first
hand at UC Davis. This article was well organized, and explained everything clearly in
chronological order. Additionally, the author did a nice job of listing examples of studies, and
naming the current tests and vaccines along with their effectiveness. Identifying the feline
coronavirus in cats is a key part of making a diagnosis; veterinarians use methods such as
immunohistochemistry to detect this virus in order to identify FIP. Overall, the article provided
appropriate background on specifically the virus that causes FIP itself.

"Feline Infectious Peritonitis." ​Cornell University College of Veterinary

​Medicine
This article mainly gives an overview of FIP, providing risk factors, symptoms, treatment
and prevention. The symptoms part of the article is important when diagnosing FIP. Initially,

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cats who are exposed to feline coronavirus show no clear symptoms. Some cats may develop
sneezing, watery eyes or discharge, or diarrhea. Only a very small percentage of cats who are
infected with the coronavirus get FIP. After being exposed to the coronavirus, cats may develop
FIP weeks, months, or even years after. Once cats contract FIP, symptoms may appear out of the
blue, as cats mask the disease until it starts getting serious. Cats may start to hide under the bed,
avoid contact with humans, lose their appetite, or lose weight. The symptoms usually increase in
severity, with cats who develop the dry form having the worst symptoms, eventually ending in
death.
This article is very credible, as it is from Cornell University, one of the leading veterinary
schools in the country. The authors explain everything well, and include details that are needed
for a complete understanding of this topic. Also, it is a good resource for people with cats who
may have been diagnosed with FIP. Overall, this article provided background information and
key signs to look for when observing symptoms in cats.

"Feline Infectious Peritonitis (FIP) Risk Factors, Causes of FIP." ​Remedy's

Health Communities​, 1 Oct. 2001, Accessed Dec. 2014.

This article provides essential background and basics of FIP that are necessary to include
in a background of a research paper. While communicating the risk factors and causes of FIP, it
also helps to deepen one’s knowledge of FIP. Additionally, this serves as a source for people
who may have cats that might have FIP, who would be able to use this resource to learn more
about FIP and possibly make a diagnosis of their own. The article says that cats more susceptible
to FIP include purebred cats, those with Feline Leukemia Virus or Feline Immunodeficiency
virus, poor nutrition, and stress. These risk factors allow veterinarians to make an accurate
diagnosis using important information relating to the cat’s medical history.
Health communities is a reliable source because it provides articles on health topics,
healthy living guides, and also newsletters. It also has source information on the bottom, helping
the reader to identify the source correctly. The author included necessary information for the
reader to completely understand FIP, with no background knowledge needed. They defined key
terms and also talked about the causes. Overall, this article was a great read and provided great
information on the basics of FIP.

"Feline Infectious Peritonitis: Strategies for Diagnosing and Treating This

Deadly Disease in Cats." ​DVM 360,​ 1 Sept. 2013

In this article, the methods for treating and diagnosing FIP are explained in great detail
along with prevention and the common prognosis. Although no vaccines or cures have been
released yet, this article identifies possible therapies. For example, there is a therapy called

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pentoxifylline therapy, which inhibits tumors, but a study failed to confirm its effectiveness in
cats with FIP. The prevention section is also highly important, as it is necessary to prevent young
cats from catching this disease. The virus can survive in an environment for several weeks, so it
is essential that a new cat is not introduced to the home until three months after the death of the
cat with FIP. If the owner introduces a new cat, it is better to introduce an adult cat instead of a
kitten, as adults have better built up immunity compared to kittens. Also, fecal PCR testing has
been proposed as a way to identify Feline Coronavirus, which causes FIP, but these tests do not
have great accuracy rates. Clearly, there are many methods proposed to solve FIP, but most of
them are unfortunately not accurate or need further testing.
This article is a reliable source, as it is written by two veterinarians. This website is
designed to be a resource to all vets where they can communicate their research. The authors did
a great job of wording the article in a way that would make sense to anyone who decides to read
it. Additionally, an overview and conclusion are provided, effectively starting and ending the
article with information about FIP. The prognosis provided offers valuable information to
owners who may have a cat diagnosed with FIP. This article served as a detailed source with
plenty of background knowledge relating to FIP.

Foley, Janet, et al. "Diagnostic Features of Clinical Neurologic Feline

Infectious Peritonitis." ​Wiley Online Library

In this paper, cats (control and non control) underwent a physical examination,
inoculation, diagnostic imaging, molecular techniques and more. Researchers did this to find out
how cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) would look in cats with either the wet and dry form of FIP and see
if it was effective in diagnosing FIP. They mainly compared the CSF of cats with the
neurological form, which is much harder to treat, to cats with the wet form. In other studies, the
CSF of cats with the neurological form has not been helpful due to foriegn substances leaking
into the CSF from the blood to brain barrier and thus interfering with the reading. Along with
this, researchers also observed immunohistochemistry’s effect on accurately diagnosing FIP.
Overall, this research study really focused on the controls that were created by the researchers in
order to guarantee that the cats would all be under the same circumstances.
This research paper is a reliable source because it is co-written by Dr. Niels Pedersen, the
researcher’s advisor, and is from a medical journal. The authors did a good job of listing every
specific aspect of their research and providing abbreviations for everything. However, they could
include more graphs and pictures to communicate their research. The diagnosing methods helped
the researcher to rule out inaccurate tests and vaccines. Overall, this research study provided
important information on both the implementation of CSF and immunohistochemistry in cats
who may have FIP.

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Foley, J.E., et al. "Risk Factors for Feline Infectious Peritonitis among Cats
in Multiple-Cat Environments with Endemic Feline Enteric Coronavirus."
National Center for Biotechnology Information​, U.S. National Library of
Medicine

The objective of this study was to identify other risk factors of FIP besides genetic
predisposition. Cats from 7 different catteries and one shelter were observed for a year. Their
feces were collected to observe feline coronavirus shedding, and their blood was analyzed to
determine coronavirus antibody titers. The study concluded that risk factors included frequency
of feline coronavirus shedding, individual cat age and coronavirus antibody titer. Deaths from
FIP occurred more frequently in the fall and winter. In order to completely eliminate FIP from a
cattery, cats who shed feline coronavirus itself have to be eliminated, which is clearly not
feasible. FIP development was not connected to the type of cattery, caging and breeding
practices, quarantine practices, or prevalence of other diseases. Overall, the study showcased risk
factors and eliminated factors that may be considered to be connected to FIP in the first place.
This source is reliable because it is from a scientific journal through the United States
government. The study allowed the researcher to identify specific risk factors that vets should
look for when diagnosing cats. They defined all of their terms and included an objective, design,
results and conclusion to organize their information. Additionally, this study made it clear that
certain factors that may be assumed to contribute to FIP actually don’t contribute at all. In the
end, this study was a great read and the authors provided pictures and graphs to support both
their reasoning and evidence.

Giori, L., et al. "Performances of Different Diagnostic Tests for Feline

Infectious Peritonitis in Challenging Clinical Cases." ​National Center for
Biotechnology Information​, U.S. National Library of Medicine

This paper evaluated the performance of clinical and molecular tests when it comes to
diagnosing FIP. The researchers used 16 FIP infected cats and 14 non-infected cats to look at
sensitivity, specificity, and likelihood ratios of specific molecules and proteins in the blood. They
used tables to communicate the results of each test and analyzed the overall effectiveness. One
important piece of information is if the blood tests negative for acid glycoproteins (AGP), this
means that the cat cannot have FIP. This is the only negative test result out of all the different
tests that will confirm that cat does not have FIP in the first place. This is important to note
because it is one definitive test that will allow the vet to rule out FIP. The results showed that
combining one specific test with another can significantly improve diagnostic power.
This is an accurate source because it comes from the Journal of Veterinary Diagnostic
Investigation, an official publication of the American Association of Veterinary Laboratory
Diagnosticians. The article provides plenty of graphs, tables and pictures, and also includes key

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words, which helps the reader to understand the commonly used words. In the end, this
evaluation served as a key factor in ruling out specific methods that have been proven ineffective
countless times.

"How to Recognize the Signs of FIP in Shelter Cats." ​Maddie's Fund.​

Analyzing signs of FIP in shelter cats is incredibly important, as shelter cats are more at
risk of contracting FIP. Additionally, if these symptoms are ignored in shelters, this will lead to a
painful death for the cat. This article provides a helpful infographic explaining the steps of
diagnosing FIP in shelter cats. Shelter cats are more at risk of developing feline coronavirus and
thus FIP due to them constantly being in an environment with other cat’s feces. Additionally,
many shelter cats are highly stressed, which is another risk factor for contracting FIP due to a
weaker immune system. The infographic identifies signs of lethargy, abdominal mass, and
jaundus/icterus, or yellow pigment in the blood and tissues that can mean a diagnosis of FIP. It is
also necessary to look at the cat’s age, as cats 6 months-2 years in age are more prone to
developing FIP.
Maddie’s Fund is a nationwide research organization that provides research grants while
trying to help others feel the same love that Maddie, a miniature schnauzer, gave to one lucky
family. This source is a reliable source because its primary goal is to provide information to
guarantee the public treats their animals appropriately and experiences unconditional love from
their animals. The author of this article did a great job of including pictures of cats and making a
handy, easy to read infographic that can be understood by everyone.

"Human Antiviral 'GS-441524' Shows Great Promise against Infectious Disease

in Cats." ​Science Daily​, 19 Feb. 2019.

This article talks about how concepts applied to finding a cure for diseases such as Ebola
and SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome) have been researched and experimented on in
order to find a cure fighting FIP in cats. FIP kills 1.4% of cats around the world, and is caused by
a mutant coronavirus that is very difficult to control. One of the emerging treatments for humans
targeting ebola is GS-5734. This is an antiviral that attacks certain proteins involved in RNA
virus replication. Researchers from UC Davis used a less complex form called GS-441524 in a
field trial for cats with FIP. Thirty one cats were involved in the study, but five died from natural
causes. For the twenty six cats that survived, the results were amazing; their fever was gone in
one to two days, and they experience a full recovery afterwards. Although the majority suffered
relapses, they were successfully treated with a higher dose of treatment. The results of the trial
were remarkable, as the drug may be used someday as a cure for FIP.
The article was well written, and explained the background of both FIP, SARS, and
ebola. ScienceDaily is a reliable source, as it is used across the world to communicate

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improvements and discoveries across the science field. The article was also from a database,
SAGE, which is a database widely used and available in the HCPSS system. Overall, the article
did a great job of communicating the results of the field study and future implications of the new
treatment.

"Legal Treatment for Cat Disease Known as FIP Still Years Away." ​VinNews
Service​, 22 Aug. 2019.

This article talks about clinical trials that have taken place, personal stories, and
implications for certain treatments in the future. Newt Gingrich, who was the former speaker of
the House of Representatives, happened to have a Birman cat who passed away from FIP. His
wife Susan, has dedicated her life to finding a cure for FIP, and founded the Bria Foundation as a
result. This foundation was created to fund research for treatments for FIP such as ​GS-441524
and GC376. Although the FDA has not approved these drugs in the U.S. yet, clinical trials in
China have produced copycat drugs. This has caused owners with cats who are diagnosed with
FIP from around the world to try to recieve black market drugs from China. Although these
treatments have been effective for some cats, there are always risks with illegal drugs. It has been
Susan Gingrich’s goal to ban unlicensed treatments from China circulating among Facebook
groups such as FIP Fighters. These drugs cost between $10,000 and $30,000, which is
outrageous, especially if the cat experiences relapses after treatment. The ethical question also
comes into question, is it right for cats to keep suffering injection after injection? Both the Winn
Feline Foundation and Dr. Niels Pedersen do not support the “pay or die” choice that illegal
drugs currently pose.
This source is credible because it was recommended by Dr. Niels Pedersen, a leading
expert in the FIP field and who has also received multiple prestigious awards for his work. The
author included personal stories, pictures of cats, and background information in order to explain
FIP thoroughly. The personal stories of owners with cats diagnosed with FIP really help to
explain why people may want to buy black market drugs in the first place, due to their
desperation. Overall, this article was very detailed and offered important information on FIP and
treatments.

Levy, Julie K., and Staci Hutsell. "Overview of Feline Infectious Peritonitis."
MERK Manual Veterinary Manual

This veterinary manual provided very detailed information on FIP, as it included nearly
every aspect of FIP. It included subjects such as geographic distribution, etiology and
pathogenesis, epidemiology and transmission, and more. Along with this, it provided clinical
findings and methods of diagnosis. This offered detailed information for people who already

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have knowledge of FIP and its extent. The diagnosis section allowed the researcher to focus on
certain treatment methods, and eliminate methods that aren’t as effective. It allowed the
researcher to narrow down her controls into three main methods that are proven to work and help
to accurately diagnose FIP. Also, information on the vaccine was provided, but the vaccine has
countlessly been proven ineffective in treating FIP. Lastly, the article included information about
management of exposed cats and multicat households, allowing an owner of a cat who may have
FIP to look at their options.
This article is a reliable source because it is from Merck Manual, a journal that provides
veterinary manuals to help owners ensure that their pet has a healthy, long life. Although the
manual has a couple of pictures, it could add more visuals to appropriately show information to
the public. However, the author does a great job of including every possible aspect of FIP, along
with explanations for each subject. This article provided much needed information on FIP, and
would add greatly to the content of a research paper.

Murphy, Brian. Telephone interview. 23 Dec. 2019.

The researcher conducted an interview with Dr. Brian Murphy, DVM and Professor at
the University of California Davis. In this interview, she asked questions relating to treatment of
FIP, the biology behind FIP, and about unknowns relating to the blood to brain barrier. The
information that Dr. Murphy provided served as new insight that wasn’t already published in a
research paper. One important point that he told her had to do with the blood to brain barrier.
Cats with the dry form, or neurological form of FIP, are harder to treat due to the blood to brain
barrier blocks drugs from entering the brain where they are needed. Dr. Murphy informed her
that a colleague of his in Arizona is working on a compound that will be able to cross the blood
to brain barrier and provide adequate treatment to the brain. The researcher found this very
interesting, as she had researched the blood to brain barrier in depth and had found no specific
information on how researchers were trying to overcome the blood to brain barrier. Along with
this, he also informed her about the patents behind Gillette Sciences, and why the treatment
proven to be effective hasn’t been released to the American public yet.
The answers provided by Dr. Murphy were very detailed and spoken in an easy way to
understand for the interviewer. He is a credible source, as he was recommended to the researcher
by her advisor, Dr. Niels Pedersen, a professor at the University of California, Davis. Dr.
Murphy is a Professor of Pathology, Microbiology, and Immunology who has worked with Dr.
Pedersen for over 20 years. Along with providing new information not explained by Dr.
Pedersen, Dr. Murphy served as a reliable source who completely answered all of the
researcher’s questions.

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"Neurological and Ocular FIP." ​UC Davis Veterinary School of Medicine​, 29 Apr. 2019,
ccah.vetmed.ucdavis.edu/sites/g/files/dgvnsk4586/files/inline-files/Neurological%20FIP
%20v5%281%29.pdf.

This article mainly talks about the dry form of FIP, or the neurological version, which is
harder to treat compared to the wet version. This is because of the blood to brain and blood to
eye barriers, which protect the nervous system from harmful substances. The blood to brain
barrier in cats excludes 80% of most drugs, while the blood to eye barrier will exclude 70% of
most drugs. There is no safe or effective way to decrease these barriers. As a result, the only way
to increase drug levels in the brain or eyes is to increase the overall dosage. When a cat is
diagnosed with the neurological form of FIP, the virus escapes into the brain and is shielded
from the cat’s immune system by the blood-brain barrier. Both neurological and/or ocular
disease are the main clinical sign in 70% of cats with the dry form of FIP. These forms can often
be confused with feline systemic toxoplasmosis, which is even rarer than FIP. Currently, it is not
known if cats with the neurological form of FIP can be cured since it is so hard to treat in the
first place. It was found that ocular disease can be eliminated more easily, but increasing the
blood levels maybe a possible solution to cure the neurological disease.
This article was very helpful in providing information on the neurological and ocular
form of the disease. It is a credible source, as it was written by Dr. Niels Pedersen, a well
distinguished professor at the University of California Davis. Along with providing information
on possible treatments for the dry form of FIP, the article also provided charts highlighting
different symptoms and the amount of cats that are diagnosed with the ocular and/or neurological
form of FIP.

"Overview of Immunohistochemistry (IHC)." Thermo​Scientific

This article in ThermoScientific Journal provides information on immunohistochemistry,

or staining of tissue. Immunohistochemistry is a difficult subject to understand, but this article
offers a clear explanation. Veterinarians use immunohistochemistry to examine cells in tissues
that may be infected with foreign agents. By using immunohistochemistry as a tool to diagnose
FIP, vets can locate cells in the macrophage, the tissue that is affected in FIP, and see if the RNA
in the cells is Feline Coronavirus RNA. If it is Feline Coronavirus RNA, then vets can rule out
other diseases as Feline Coronavirus causes FIP. This helps vets to identify that the cat has FIP,
but not exactly which form: either the wet form or the dry form. In countless studies,
immunohistochemistry has been proved successful and mandatory for properly diagnosing FIP.
This article was helpful in explaining the complex concept of immunohistochemistry.
After reading this article, the reader can confidently say that they understand the topic of
immunohistochemistry and how it is related to FIP. This is a reliable source because it is from a

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science journal with thousands of research publications. In the end, this article provided a
concrete definition of immunohistochemistry along with evidence and studies supporting it.

Pedersen, Niels. Letter interview. By Nancy L. Reeves.

In this interview, Dr. Pedersen answered several key questions on complex concepts
behind FIP. One major subject of this interview was how exactly the feline coronavirus (FECV)
turns into FIP. Due to a set of mutations commonly affecting the 3c gene, FIP manifests in a very
low percentage of cats. The FECV to FIP genetic change is called internal mutation theory. This
theory is characterized by two ideas: each cat that develops FIP has a different mutation in the 3c
gene, and cat to cat transmission of FIP is uncommon. The first part of this theory has been
confirmed, but the second part has not been factually confirmed. Researchers devised this theory
after studying three kittens in a litter of Scottish folds and a half sibling from a second litter.
Although cats with FIP shed FIP in their feces, the disease is not highly contagious. Another
major point that is covered is how to take care of a cat with FIP, and when the cat should be
euthanized. Dr. Pedersen says that certain steroids can increase appetite and reduce
inflammation, but when the cat no longer takes pleasure in life, the best decision is to euthanize
them.
This source is a credible source because it is from University of California Davis, a well
established university and was carried out by the researcher’s advisor, Dr. Niels Pedersen. Dr.
Pedersen’s answers allowed the researcher to gather information on how FECV transforms into
FIP, although this is still highly researched today. The expert point of view served as support for
controls, such as the effectiveness of immunohistochemistry. Dr. Pedersen also worded his
statements in a way that was both clear and detailed. Anyone would be able to understand what
he was talking about, and pictures were used to provide a visual effect.

Pedersen, Niels. Interview. Conducted by Julia Trost, 19 November 2019.

The researcher conducted an interview with her advisor, Dr. Niels Pedersen, where she
was able to greatly add to her knowledge of FIP. The main points had to do with the genetics of
FIP, when treatment would be available, the black market, and the effectiveness of GS-441524
vs. GC376. Dr. Pedersen has conducted clinical trials with these treatments firsthand, and has a
good idea of when the treatments will be released to the public. He said that although he was
able to prove that the treatments are effective in curing FIP, they will most likely be available
within the next 2-3 years for GC376, and longer for GS-441524, as the company who owns this
drug is refusing to grant animal rights. Although GC376 should be available soon, GS-441524
has constantly been proven to be more successful in countless studies. In terms of the genetics of
FIP, Dr. Pedersen said that the heritable component in pedigreed cats is estimated to be around

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50%, and other studies have shown that pedigreed cats are three times more likely to develop FIP
than random bred cats.
Dr. Pedersen is a reliable source, as he is from the University of California Davis
Veterinary School, and has multiple publications and awards in the field of veterinary medicine.
This interview allowed the researcher to gather more background information on treatments, and
also examine the genetics of FIP, which is still widely unknown. It also allowed the researcher to
gather important information on the blood to brain barrier and why the dry form of FIP is much
harder to treat than the wet form .

"An Update on Feline Infectious Peritonitis: Diagnostics and Therapeutics."

The Veterinary Journal​, vol. 201, no. 2, 27 Apr. 2014, pp. 133-141.

This veterinary journal provides essential information on the diagnosis and overall
biology behind FIP. Written by Dr. Niels Pedersen, the researcher’s advisor, it provides an
expert’s view on how an accurate diagnosis should be made. It includes and analyzes all of the
tests that can be used to make a diagnosis, specifically saying whether each test is effective or
not, and what to do for each test to ensure that it is effective. Tests include analysis of effusion,
ultrasonography, feline coronavirus antibody titers, and more. Each explanation of the tests
include a definition and research studies to back up whether the test is effective or not. In
addition, the article identifies the most promising therapies, saying that drugs that specifically
target viral proteins in virus replication will be the most effective. These treatments can be
developed from vaccines that are used for HIV and ebola in humans, as FIP is similar to these
diseases in a sense.
This journal is a reliable source, as it provides published research by experts. The
Veterinary Journal serves to evaluate research and diseases, while informing the public of how
these diseases can be solved. The author does a great job of citing evidence for each treatment
option and explaining the treatment in detail. He makes it clear that obtaining a definitive
diagnosis is very difficult and has been a problem for the last century. This article was very
helpful and provided important information on different tests that can be used to diagnose cats
with FIP.

Wogan, Lisa. "Hope, Despair Fuel Black Market for Drugs in Fatal Cat Disease."
Vin News Service,​ 21 Aug. 2019.

This article focuses on the black market for illegal drugs available to treat FIP in cats.
There are two treatments, nicknamed GS and GC, that have been proven to be successful in
treating FIP. These treatments make their way into the infected cells via the bloodstream, and
target proteins that control virus replication. So far, GS has shown to be more effective although
the neurological form of FIP is overall harder to treat. However, it will still take many years for

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these drugs to be available in the U.S. due to the strict rules and regulations that need to be met
in order for the FDA to verify the drugs. In China, where cases of FIP are on the rise,
entrepreneurs have been producing versions of these drugs. The antivirals from China have made
their way to owners across the world via online, and are adding fuel to the black market in terms
of owners turning to black market drugs to cure their cats. Although there are some success
stories with the black market drugs, there will always be suppliers who sell drugs that aren’t pure
or active to desperate consumers. Owners often rely on the internet when they get the diagnosis
of FIP. There are Facebook groups such as FIP Warriors and FIP Fighters who supply
information and access to black market drugs. This article was very interesting, as the idea of a
black market of drugs for FIP was highly surprising yet intriguing.
Overall, this article was a great read. VIN News Service is a reliable source, as it was
recommended by Dr. Niels Pedersen, one of the leading researchers in FIP. This article
explained the background of FIP, the black market of drugs, and how online resources helped to
promote all of this. At the same time, it offered examples of people who had bought drugs for
their cats, and the stories of their cats who were diagnosed with FIP. This article also identifies
future implications of FIP treatment and black market drugs.

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