DENVER , Sept. 25, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Morris Animal Foundation, a global leader in funding research to benefit animal health, and EveryCat Health Foundation, a leading nonprofit organization promoting feline health through research and education, are teaming up to address an outbreak in Cyprus of a new form of feline infectious peritonitis, a deadly disease caused by coronavirus.
“Collaborating with Morris Animal Foundation on this urgent issue is beneficial in benefiting the lives of cats and cat lovers around the world. Each foundation brings complementary strengths and together we are stronger and faster. We are grateful for this opportunity and the entire community’s support of this effort,” said Jackie Ott-Yakola, Executive Director of EveryCat Health Foundation.
An international coalition of researchers, led by Dr. Greg Dean of Colorado State University, is collaborating on a multifaceted program to diagnose, treat and prevent this deadly viral disease. EveryCat Health Foundation and Morris Animal Foundation are co-funding the $1 million program, which is the first of its kind.
“It is important to thank the veterinarians and researchers in Cyprus who recognized this unusual FIP outbreak and launched a preliminary investigation,” said Dr. Dean. “Similarly, the collaboration between the Morris Animal Foundation and the EveryCat Health Foundation is unprecedented. Their support will enable our international consortium to understand and mitigate the outbreak in Cyprus, as well as provide the knowledge, tools and resources to address FIP worldwide.”
In early 2023, reports emerged of a FIP-like illness in a large number of cats in Cyprus. Given what is known about FIP, this was unusual and alarming.
Over the past year, researchers from around the world have been working together to investigate the outbreak in Cyprus and determine its impact on cat populations around the world.
“We are pleased to partner with the EveryCat Health Foundation and our outstanding international research team to take on this deadly feline virus,” said Dr. Cathy Tietje, chief program officer at Morris Animal Foundation. “Our organizations each bring unique strengths and a shared mission to improve feline health through innovative science. By working together, we can make a greater impact against this serious health threat.”
Feline infectious peritonitis is a disease caused by a coronavirus that mutates frequently. Typically, FIP infection causes severe illness in only a small percentage of cats, but a mutation discovered in Cyprus in 2023 appears to increase severe illness and mortality.
“This partnership has brought together experts from around the world and provided the resources we need to address this health crisis,” Tietje added.
About Everycat Health Foundation
The EveryCat Health Foundation is a nonprofit organization founded in 1968 to support research to improve the health of cats. Since its founding, the Foundation has committed nearly $10 million to feline health research at more than 30 partner institutions around the world. For more information or to support feline health research, visit www.everycat.org.
About the Morris Animal Foundation
The Morris Animal Foundation’s mission is to connect science and resources to advance animal health. Founded in 1948 and headquartered in Denver, the foundation has invested more than $167 million in more than 3,000 studies to advance the health and welfare of animals around the world.
Source: Morris Animal Foundation (MAF)
