Streptococcus equi subsp. zooepidemicus finding in confirmed feline infectious peritonitis cat patient

Feline infectious peritonitis (FIP) is a fatal immune-mediated disease in cat, caused by mutated feline coronavirus (FCoV). Due to its difficulties in diagnosis, FIP is sometimes underdiagnosed. Therefore, several laboratory procedures were performed to gain high index suspicion of FIP. However, through several laboratory findings, not only FIP but also SEZ infection was confirmed in this case.

A-year-old male, domestic cat was admitted to Veterinary Medicine Clinical Pathology Laboratory, Universitas Gadjah Mada, for further effusion examination due to its high suspicion of feline infectious peritonitis (FIP). Further examination using molecular and post-mortem analysis resulted on confirmed SEZ infection and FIP. This study informed the manifestation and pathological changes in patient with SEZ and FIP in the same time.

This study showed that viral infection followed by bacterial infection could be fatal and untreatable. After these findings, clinicians may consider SEZ infection in cat with respiratory disorder followed by thoracic effusion besides FIP. Companion animal, especially outdoor-kept animal, possibly become infected from its contact to another human or animal in the environment.