FIP Rivalta test.wmv

Feline infectious peritonitis (FIP) is a leading infectious cause of death in the cat, especially affecting purebred cats and cats in rescue environments anywhere a lot of cats are kept indoors. No matter what any laboratory or manufacturer of test kits claims, there is no single test for FIP diagnosis is a challenge to even the most competent veterinary clinician and involves following a series of steps on an algorithm (free to download from www.catvirus.com). FIP can present as effusive (wet) or non-effusive (dry). This film shows one step in the work up of an effusion in a suspect wet FIP case. To perform a Rivalta test, take 10 mls of water (must be at room temperature), add 2-3 drops of 8% acetic acid (ordinary clear/white vinegar) and carefully layer a drop of the effusion into it. If the effusion dissipates like a wisp of smoke in air the Rivalta test is negative and the cat is 97% not likely to have FIP. If, however, the effusion hangs from the surface in a globule, then slowly floats down like a jellyfish, the Rivalta test is positive. A positive Rivalta test means that the cat is 86% likely to have FIP (i.e. 5 of 6 cats with a positive Rivalta test do have FIP, so clearly other tests need to be performed to be more certain of the diagnosis).

Dr Diane D. Addie is a veterinary virologist with two dreams: to eradicate feline infectious peritonitis (FIP) from the face of the earth, and to find a cure for feline chronic gingivostomatitis. You can read more about her work and these cat diseases on her website www.catvirus.com. The catvirus.com You Tube channel is mainly aimed at postgraduate and undergraduate veterinary students, to supply them with information which is difficult to source elsewhere. However, at catvirus.com there are resources suitable for all cat lovers.

Category:

Pets & Animals

Tags:

• Feline infectious peritonitis
• FIP
• Rivalta test
• catvirus
• pedigree
• purebred
• cat
• shelter
• Dr Addie

[DrDianeDAddie]

Daniloqw - sorry to take so long to reply to you, I've finally uploaded the paper onto my site catvirus.com on the What is FIP page (sorry the comment box wouldn't let me post the link.)

And thank you to Heatherk9 and Tataqufa for your encouraging comments!

[DrDianeDAddie]

THANK YOU Wendy Hand - what a lovely comment!

[danilogw]

@DrDianeDAddie Thank you very much. I'm currently working with a necropsy case of which one of the clinician's suspicions was FIP. My Rivalta test was negative (performed post-mortem). That paper will come in handy in this case!

Best Regards!

[mw2186]

This video is invaluable. Not to mention that I could listen to your voice for hours. Thank you, Dr. Addie! ~Wendy Hand, RVT

[danilogw]

Very nice and informative video!

I would like to know what is the reference for the sensitivity and specificity values, I would like to read them.

tks

[heatherk9]

Thank you, Dr. Addie! I've been carrying around a scary little bottle of glacial acetic acid for several years so I could run Rivalta's test. I'm very happy to know I can use regular vinegar, and the demonstration in the video was excellent.

[tatagufa]

Anybody who had a cat with FIP problem will definitely appreciate this video...thank you Dr. Daddie!!