Dong Hieu Van, Tran Giang Thi Huong, Nguyen Yen Hoang Thi, Ngo Thiet Chi, Rattanasrisomporn Amonpun, Boonkaewwan Chaiwat, Bui Dao Anh Tran, Rattanasrisomporn Jatuporn
Department of Veterinary Public Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Vietnam National University of Agriculture, Trau Quy Town, Gia Lam District, Hanoi, Vietnam.
Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Vietnam National University of Agriculture, Trau Quy Town, Gia Lam District, Hanoi, Vietnam.
Vet World. 2025 Jun;18(6):1590-1598. doi: 10.14202/vetworld.2025.1590-1598. Epub 2025 Jun 16.
Feline bocavirus (FBoV), a member of the family, has been implicated in gastrointestinal and respiratory conditions in domestic cats. Despite increasing global recognition, the molecular epidemiology of FBoV in Vietnamese animal populations remains largely unexplored. This study aimed to detect and genetically characterize FBoV strains circulating among domestic cats in Northern Vietnam to better understand their genotypic diversity and potential clinical relevance.
A total of 166 fecal samples were collected from domestic cats of varying age, sex, and clinical status across four provinces in Northern Vietnam between 2022 and 2023. DNA was extracted and screened for FBoV using conventional polymerase chain reaction targeting the non-structural (NS)-1 gene. Positive samples were subjected to Sanger sequencing, and partial NS1 sequences were analyzed using MEGA X for phylogenetic inference. Recombination analysis was performed using RDP 4.0, and statistical significance was assessed using Fisher's exact test.
FBoV DNA was detected in 4 of 166 samples (2.41%), including one from a diarrheic cat and three from healthy cats. Phylogenetic analysis of the partial NS1 gene revealed that three strains belonged to genotype I and one to genotype II, all showing close genetic similarity to Chinese strains. Nucleotide identities among Vietnamese strains ranged from 64.68% to 99.57%. No recombination events were observed among the detected strains. FBoV was detected across age groups and both sexes, without significant associations. Co-infections with other enteric viruses (feline coronavirus, feline panleukopenia virus, feline astrovirus, and feline kobuvirus) were not observed in the FBoV-positive samples.
This study provides the first molecular evidence of co-circulating FBoV genotypes I and II in domestic cats in Vietnam, indicating viral genetic diversity and suggesting possible regional transmission routes linked to neighboring countries. While FBoV was present in both symptomatic and asymptomatic cats, its clinical significance remains inconclusive. The findings underscore the need for expanded surveillance, complete genome analyses, and investigation into FBoV's pathogenic potential and co-infection dynamics in the feline population. These data will be instrumental in shaping future diagnostic and control strategies for feline viral enteritis in Vietnam.
猫博卡病毒（FBoV）是细小病毒科的成员之一，与家猫的胃肠道和呼吸道疾病有关。尽管全球对此的认识不断提高，但越南动物群体中FBoV的分子流行病学在很大程度上仍未得到探索。本研究旨在检测和基因特征化在越南北部家猫中传播的FBoV毒株，以更好地了解其基因型多样性和潜在的临床相关性。
2022年至2023年期间，从越南北部四个省份不同年龄、性别和临床状态的家猫中总共采集了166份粪便样本。提取DNA，并使用针对非结构（NS）-1基因的常规聚合酶链反应筛选FBoV。对阳性样本进行桑格测序，并使用MEGA X对部分NS1序列进行系统发育推断。使用RDP 4.0进行重组分析，并使用费舍尔精确检验评估统计学意义。
在166份样本中的4份（2.41%）检测到FBoV DNA，其中1份来自腹泻猫，3份来自健康猫。对部分NS1基因的系统发育分析表明，3个毒株属于基因型I，1个属于基因型II，所有毒株均与中国毒株显示出密切的遗传相似性。越南毒株之间的核苷酸同一性范围为64.68%至99.57%。在检测到的毒株中未观察到重组事件。FBoV在各个年龄组和两性中均有检测到，无显著关联。在FBoV阳性样本中未观察到与其他肠道病毒（猫冠状病毒、猫泛白细胞减少症病毒、猫星状病毒和猫杯状病毒）的共感染。
本研究提供了越南家猫中基因型I和II的FBoV共同传播的首个分子证据，表明了病毒的遗传多样性，并暗示了与邻国可能的区域传播途径。虽然FBoV在有症状和无症状的猫中均存在，但其临床意义仍不确定。这些发现强调了扩大监测、进行全基因组分析以及调查FBoV在猫群体中的致病潜力和共感染动态的必要性。这些数据将有助于制定越南猫病毒性肠炎的未来诊断和控制策略。
