Department of Microbiology & Immunology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA.
James A. Baker Institute for Animal Health, Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine, Ithaca, New York, USA.
Microbiol Spectr. 2024 Oct 3;12(10):e0006124. doi: 10.1128/spectrum.00061-24. Epub 2024 Aug 19.
Feline coronavirus (FCoV) infection normally causes mild or subclinical signs and is common in domestic cats. However, in some cats, FCoV infection can also lead to the development of feline infectious peritonitis (FIP)-a typically lethal disease. FCoV has two serotypes or genotypes, FCoV-1 and FCoV-2, both of which can cause FIP. The main difference between the genotypes is the viral spike (S) protein that determines tropism and pathogenicity, crucial mechanisms in the development of FIP. Subclinical infection and FIP have both been reported in wild felids, including in threatened species. Due to the high genetic variability of the S gene and the technical challenges to sequencing it, detection and characterization of FCoV in wild felids have mainly centered on other more conserved genes. Therefore, the genotype causing FIP in most wild felids remains unknown. Here, we report a retrospective molecular epidemiological investigation of FCoV in a zoological institution in the U.Ss. In 2008, a domestic cat () and a Pallas' cat () sharing the same room succumbed to FIP. Using hybridization, we detected FCoV RNA in different tissues of both felids. Using hybridization capture and next-generation sequencing, we detected, sequenced, and characterized the whole genome of the FCoV infecting both felids. Our data show for the first time that FCoV-1 can be transmitted between domestic and wild felids and extends the known host range of FCoV-1. Our findings highlight the importance of identifying the genotype causing FIP, to develop effective control measures.
Feline coronavirus (FCoV) is highly prevalent in domestic cats worldwide and has also been reported in wild felids, including endangered species, in which it has caused substantial population declines. Characterizing the genetic diversity of FCoV is crucial due to recent reports of novel pathogenic recombinant variants causing high mortality in feral cats in Cyprus. In this retrospective molecular epidemiology study, we used archived samples collected in a zoological institution in the U.S. in which a domestic and a wild felid succumbed to FCoV. Using hybridization capture (HC) and next-generation sequencing, we show for the first time that FCoV can be naturally transmitted between domestic and wild felids. We demonstrate the efficacy of HC for detecting and sequencing the whole genome of FCoV, which is essential to characterize its different genotypes.
猫冠状病毒 (FCoV) 感染通常会引起轻微或亚临床症状，在家猫中很常见。然而，在一些猫中，FCoV 感染也可能导致猫传染性腹膜炎 (FIP)-一种通常致命的疾病。FCoV 有两种血清型或基因型，FCoV-1 和 FCoV-2，都可以引起 FIP。基因型之间的主要区别在于决定嗜性和致病性的病毒刺突 (S) 蛋白，这是 FIP 发展的关键机制。野生猫科动物（包括受威胁物种）均有亚临床感染和 FIP 的报道。由于 S 基因的高度遗传变异性和测序的技术挑战，野生猫科动物 FCoV 的检测和特征主要集中在其他更保守的基因上。因此，大多数野生猫科动物引起 FIP 的基因型仍未知。在这里，我们报告了美国一家动物园机构中 FCoV 的回顾性分子流行病学调查。2008 年，一只家猫 () 和一只帕拉斯猫 () 同室而亡，死于 FIP。我们使用杂交技术检测到两种猫科动物不同组织中的 FCoV RNA。我们使用杂交捕获和下一代测序，检测、测序和表征了感染两种猫科动物的 FCoV 全基因组。我们的数据首次表明 FCoV-1 可在家猫和野生猫科动物之间传播，并扩展了 FCoV-1 的已知宿主范围。我们的发现强调了确定引起 FIP 的基因型的重要性，以制定有效的控制措施。
猫冠状病毒 (FCoV) 在全球范围内广泛存在于家猫中，也有报道称在野生猫科动物中存在，包括濒危物种，其中 FCoV 导致了大量种群减少。由于最近有报道称在塞浦路斯的野生猫科动物中，新型致病性重组变体导致死亡率很高，因此，对 FCoV 的遗传多样性进行特征分析至关重要。在这项回顾性分子流行病学研究中，我们使用了美国一家动物园机构收集的存档样本，其中一只家猫和一只野生猫科动物死于 FCoV。我们使用杂交捕获 (HC) 和下一代测序，首次表明 FCoV 可以在家猫和野生猫科动物之间自然传播。我们证明了 HC 检测和测序 FCoV 全基因组的有效性，这对于特征分析其不同基因型至关重要。
