Recently, the Companion Animal Biosafety Risk Warning and Prevention Team of SHVRI, CAAS successfully isolated a novel Type I feline coronavirus (FCoV) strain from a pet cat with feline infectious peritonitis (FIP). The team conducted an in-depth analysis of its genomic characteristics and pathogenicity, with their findings published in Transboundary and Emerging Diseases.
Background
Feline coronavirus (FCoV) is an enveloped RNA virus prevalent among feline populations, especially in high-density environments, and exists in two genotypes: Type I and Type II. Type I is more commonly found in cat populations, although it is difficult to isolate and culture. Both genotypes can cause fatal FIP across various age groups of cats, and there is currently no effective preventive measure for the disease.
Research Progress
The research team isolated a novel Type I FCoV strain, designated HL2019, from a suspected FCoV-infected cat sample collected from an animal hospital in Anhui Province. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that the HL2019 strain clusters with Type I FCoV and is closely related to human coronaviruses 229E (HCoV-229E) and NL63 (HCoV-NL63), while being more distantly related to Type II FCoV strains. Recombinant analysis showed that HL2019 is a recombinant of the Chinese Type I FCoV strain ZJU1709 and the Dutch strain UU16. Pathogenicity experiments indicated that two out of three cats infected with HL2019 developed severe FIP symptoms and succumbed 28 days post-infection. The study also found that HL2019 displays broad tissue tropism, with the highest viral load observed in the duodenum. This research provides insights into the potential cross-species transmission risks of FCoV and offers a scientific basis for the development of FIP vaccines and antiviral treatments.
Phylogenetic Analysis of FCoV
Results of Animal Challenge Experiment Analysis
Funding
Wang Yuanhong, a doctoral graduate of SHVRI, CAAS, is the first author of this paper, with Professors Liu Guangqing and Li Guoxin serving as co-corresponding authors. This research was supported by the Shanghai Science and Technology Major Project (ZD2021CY001) and the National Natural Science Foundation of China (32172832, 32000109).
Link to Original Article
https://doi.org/10.1155/2024/4162458.
