Detection of Feline Coronavirus RNA in Cats with Feline Infectious Peritonitis and Their Housemates
Feline coronavirus (FCoV), the causative agent behind feline infectious peritonitis (FIP), is one of the biggest infectious threats to feline health. Despite this threat, the tissue distribution and viral RNA levels in cats infected with feline coronaviruses are poorly understood in the context of n...
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| Format: | Article |
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MDPI AG
2025-07-01
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| Series: | Viruses |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4915/17/7/948 |
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| author | Phoenix M. Shepherd Amy Elbe Brianna M. Lynch Erin Lashnits Robert N. Kirchdoerfer |
| author_facet | Phoenix M. Shepherd Amy Elbe Brianna M. Lynch Erin Lashnits Robert N. Kirchdoerfer |
| author_sort | Phoenix M. Shepherd |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Feline coronavirus (FCoV), the causative agent behind feline infectious peritonitis (FIP), is one of the biggest infectious threats to feline health. Despite this threat, the tissue distribution and viral RNA levels in cats infected with feline coronaviruses are poorly understood in the context of natural infection. Here, we used a two-step reverse-transcription quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) to examine viral RNA levels from different sampling sites in both cats that have been clinically suspected of FIP and their feline housemates. We show that the distribution and amount of FCoV viral RNA does not differ between FCoV-infected cats with FIP and their feline housemates in blood, conjunctiva, or feces. Furthermore, in all FIP and non-FIP cases, viral RNA levels were higher in fecal samples than the blood. Taken together, these results show that amount of viral RNA does not differ between FCoV-infected cats with FIP and their healthy housemates in several sample types. Our results indicate a need for closer examination of FCoV pathogenesis independent of viral dissemination, including an assessment of intrahost evolution of FCoVs and FCoVs’ interactions with the feline immune system. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-04fcc87b21994d4e939fd94b0ba551a1 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 1999-4915 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Viruses |
| spelling | doaj-art-04fcc87b21994d4e939fd94b0ba551a12025-08-20T03:14:00ZengMDPI AGViruses1999-49152025-07-0117794810.3390/v17070948Detection of Feline Coronavirus RNA in Cats with Feline Infectious Peritonitis and Their HousematesPhoenix M. Shepherd0Amy Elbe1Brianna M. Lynch2Erin Lashnits3Robert N. Kirchdoerfer4Biochemistry Department, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USADepartment of Medical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USADepartment of Medical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USADepartment of Medical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USABiochemistry Department, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USAFeline coronavirus (FCoV), the causative agent behind feline infectious peritonitis (FIP), is one of the biggest infectious threats to feline health. Despite this threat, the tissue distribution and viral RNA levels in cats infected with feline coronaviruses are poorly understood in the context of natural infection. Here, we used a two-step reverse-transcription quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) to examine viral RNA levels from different sampling sites in both cats that have been clinically suspected of FIP and their feline housemates. We show that the distribution and amount of FCoV viral RNA does not differ between FCoV-infected cats with FIP and their feline housemates in blood, conjunctiva, or feces. Furthermore, in all FIP and non-FIP cases, viral RNA levels were higher in fecal samples than the blood. Taken together, these results show that amount of viral RNA does not differ between FCoV-infected cats with FIP and their healthy housemates in several sample types. Our results indicate a need for closer examination of FCoV pathogenesis independent of viral dissemination, including an assessment of intrahost evolution of FCoVs and FCoVs’ interactions with the feline immune system.https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4915/17/7/948feline coronavirusFECVFIPVfeline infectious peritonitis |
| spellingShingle | Phoenix M. Shepherd Amy Elbe Brianna M. Lynch Erin Lashnits Robert N. Kirchdoerfer Detection of Feline Coronavirus RNA in Cats with Feline Infectious Peritonitis and Their Housemates Viruses feline coronavirus FECV FIPV feline infectious peritonitis |
| title | Detection of Feline Coronavirus RNA in Cats with Feline Infectious Peritonitis and Their Housemates |
| title_full | Detection of Feline Coronavirus RNA in Cats with Feline Infectious Peritonitis and Their Housemates |
| title_fullStr | Detection of Feline Coronavirus RNA in Cats with Feline Infectious Peritonitis and Their Housemates |
| title_full_unstemmed | Detection of Feline Coronavirus RNA in Cats with Feline Infectious Peritonitis and Their Housemates |
| title_short | Detection of Feline Coronavirus RNA in Cats with Feline Infectious Peritonitis and Their Housemates |
| title_sort | detection of feline coronavirus rna in cats with feline infectious peritonitis and their housemates |
| topic | feline coronavirus FECV FIPV feline infectious peritonitis |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4915/17/7/948 |
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