Research overview: feline coronavirus and infectious peritonitis in captive felid collections

Feline coronavirus circulates widely and usually harmlessly, but can mutate within a host into the lethal feline infectious peritonitis (FIP) virus, a particular danger in crowded captive felid collections. This overview surveys coronavirus dynamics in zoos and breeding facilities, including the catastrophic cheetah FIP outbreak that highlighted the role of genetic uniformity in disease severity. It examines transmission via shared litter and fecal-oral routes, the difficulty of diagnosing FIP, and management through hygiene, reduced crowding and group structuring. The synthesis distinguishes the common, mild enteric coronavirus from its deadly mutant form and explains why captive conditions amplify risk. It aims to help readers understand why FIP remains a persistent threat in managed felid populations and why husbandry choices strongly influence outbreaks.