**Edinburgh, UK –** After a harrowing epidemic that decimated feline populations, a team of UK-based researchers has finally elucidated the cause of the devastating 2023 outbreak, colloquially termed 'cat Covid'. Scientists at the University of Edinburgh have identified a novel, mutated strain of a commonplace feline coronavirus as the culprit behind the highly contagious and lethal feline infectious peritonitis (FIP) that swept through Cyprus. This breakthrough, published in the esteemed journal *Nature*, offers crucial insights into a veterinary mystery that plagued animal welfare organisations and pet owners alike.
The alarming surge in FIP cases, which began in 2023, saw an unprecedented number of cats succumbing to the aggressive disease. Veterinarians on the ground in Cyprus described a desperate situation, with animals perishing at an alarming rate. Kyriakos Kyriakides, a veterinarian at the V3ts veterinary clinic in Larnaca, recounted the grim reality: "We were losing animals, one after the other." The scale of the crisis was unlike anything experienced before. Dinos Ayiomamitis, head of Cat P.A.W.S. Cyprus, a prominent animal welfare group, echoed this sentiment, stating, "I’ve been dealing with strays for 30-35 years. We’ve never had such an epidemic before, on such a scale." The sheer mortality rate and rapid spread of the disease prompted widespread concern and significant media coverage, including reports in The Telegraph and Sky News, highlighting the urgent need for answers.
The investigation, spearheaded by lead scientist Dr. Charalampos Attipa and his colleagues at the University of Edinburgh, delved into the genetic makeup of the virus responsible. Their findings reveal that the epidemic was triggered by a significant mutation in a feline coronavirus that, until then, had been largely benign. This genetic alteration transformed the virus into a virulent pathogen capable of causing FIP, a condition typically associated with a less transmissible form of the disease. Crucially, the mutated strain identified was entirely new, a recombinant variant that had not been previously documented anywhere in the world. This unprecedented nature of the pathogen underscored the scientific community's deep interest in understanding its origins and behaviour.
The implications of this research are substantial, not only for veterinary science but also for animal welfare. The epidemic is estimated to have claimed the lives of approximately 300,000 cats in Cyprus, a devastating blow to the island's feline population. The publication in *Nature* marks a significant milestone, being the first paper concerning a companion animal disease to be featured in the prestigious journal in nearly four decades. This underscores the exceptional nature and scientific import of the research. By pinpointing the specific genetic alteration responsible for the virus's increased pathogenicity and transmissibility, the study opens avenues for developing more effective diagnostic tools and potentially therapeutic interventions for future outbreaks. Understanding how a previously mild virus could mutate into such a formidable threat is vital for proactive disease surveillance and preparedness within the global veterinary community, ensuring that such a tragic epidemic does not unfold again.