FCoV Viral Sequences of Systemically Infected Healthy Cats Lack Gene Mutations Previously Linked to the Development of FIP

Feline Infectious Peritonitis (FIP)—the deadliest infectious disease of young cats in shelters or catteries—is induced by highly virulent feline coronaviruses (FCoVs) emerging in infected hosts after mutations of less virulent FCoVs. Previous studies have shown that some mutations in the open readin...

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Main Authors: Mirjam Lutz, Aline R. Steiner, Valentino Cattori, Regina Hofmann-Lehmann, Hans Lutz, Anja Kipar, Marina L. Meli
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2020-07-01
Series:Pathogens
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0817/9/8/603
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author Mirjam Lutz
Aline R. Steiner
Valentino Cattori
Regina Hofmann-Lehmann
Hans Lutz
Anja Kipar
Marina L. Meli
author_facet Mirjam Lutz
Aline R. Steiner
Valentino Cattori
Regina Hofmann-Lehmann
Hans Lutz
Anja Kipar
Marina L. Meli
author_sort Mirjam Lutz
collection DOAJ
description Feline Infectious Peritonitis (FIP)—the deadliest infectious disease of young cats in shelters or catteries—is induced by highly virulent feline coronaviruses (FCoVs) emerging in infected hosts after mutations of less virulent FCoVs. Previous studies have shown that some mutations in the open reading frames (ORF) 3c and 7b and the spike (S) gene have implications for the development of FIP, but mainly indirectly, likely also due to their association with systemic spread. The aim of the present study was to determine whether FCoV detected in organs of experimentally FCoV infected healthy cats carry some of these mutations. Viral RNA isolated from different tissues of seven asymptomatic cats infected with the field strains FCoV Zu1 or FCoV Zu3 was sequenced. Deletions in the 3c gene and mutations in the 7b and S genes that have been shown to have implications for the development of FIP were not detected, suggesting that these are not essential for systemic viral dissemination. However, deletions and single nucleotide polymorphisms leading to truncations were detected in all nonstructural proteins. These were found across all analyzed ORFs, but with significantly higher frequency in ORF 7b than ORF 3a. Additionally, a previously unknown homologous recombination site was detected in FCoV Zu1.
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spelling doaj.art-b44ec15aa6634e75bd6a9055971a89b92023-11-20T07:47:59ZengMDPI AGPathogens2076-08172020-07-019860310.3390/pathogens9080603FCoV Viral Sequences of Systemically Infected Healthy Cats Lack Gene Mutations Previously Linked to the Development of FIPMirjam Lutz0Aline R. Steiner1Valentino Cattori2Regina Hofmann-Lehmann3Hans Lutz4Anja Kipar5Marina L. Meli6Clinical Laboratory, Department of Clinical Diagnostics and Services and Center for Clinical Studies, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, CH 8057 Zurich, SwitzerlandClinical Laboratory, Department of Clinical Diagnostics and Services and Center for Clinical Studies, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, CH 8057 Zurich, SwitzerlandClinical Laboratory, Department of Clinical Diagnostics and Services and Center for Clinical Studies, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, CH 8057 Zurich, SwitzerlandClinical Laboratory, Department of Clinical Diagnostics and Services and Center for Clinical Studies, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, CH 8057 Zurich, SwitzerlandClinical Laboratory, Department of Clinical Diagnostics and Services and Center for Clinical Studies, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, CH 8057 Zurich, SwitzerlandInstitute of Veterinary Pathology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, CH 8057 Zurich, SwitzerlandClinical Laboratory, Department of Clinical Diagnostics and Services and Center for Clinical Studies, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, CH 8057 Zurich, SwitzerlandFeline Infectious Peritonitis (FIP)—the deadliest infectious disease of young cats in shelters or catteries—is induced by highly virulent feline coronaviruses (FCoVs) emerging in infected hosts after mutations of less virulent FCoVs. Previous studies have shown that some mutations in the open reading frames (ORF) 3c and 7b and the spike (S) gene have implications for the development of FIP, but mainly indirectly, likely also due to their association with systemic spread. The aim of the present study was to determine whether FCoV detected in organs of experimentally FCoV infected healthy cats carry some of these mutations. Viral RNA isolated from different tissues of seven asymptomatic cats infected with the field strains FCoV Zu1 or FCoV Zu3 was sequenced. Deletions in the 3c gene and mutations in the 7b and S genes that have been shown to have implications for the development of FIP were not detected, suggesting that these are not essential for systemic viral dissemination. However, deletions and single nucleotide polymorphisms leading to truncations were detected in all nonstructural proteins. These were found across all analyzed ORFs, but with significantly higher frequency in ORF 7b than ORF 3a. Additionally, a previously unknown homologous recombination site was detected in FCoV Zu1.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0817/9/8/603healthy FCoV carriersFIPmutationsS geneORF3ORF7
spellingShingle Mirjam Lutz
Aline R. Steiner
Valentino Cattori
Regina Hofmann-Lehmann
Hans Lutz
Anja Kipar
Marina L. Meli
FCoV Viral Sequences of Systemically Infected Healthy Cats Lack Gene Mutations Previously Linked to the Development of FIP
Pathogens
healthy FCoV carriers
FIP
mutations
S gene
ORF3
ORF7
title FCoV Viral Sequences of Systemically Infected Healthy Cats Lack Gene Mutations Previously Linked to the Development of FIP
title_full FCoV Viral Sequences of Systemically Infected Healthy Cats Lack Gene Mutations Previously Linked to the Development of FIP
title_fullStr FCoV Viral Sequences of Systemically Infected Healthy Cats Lack Gene Mutations Previously Linked to the Development of FIP
title_full_unstemmed FCoV Viral Sequences of Systemically Infected Healthy Cats Lack Gene Mutations Previously Linked to the Development of FIP
title_short FCoV Viral Sequences of Systemically Infected Healthy Cats Lack Gene Mutations Previously Linked to the Development of FIP
title_sort fcov viral sequences of systemically infected healthy cats lack gene mutations previously linked to the development of fip
topic healthy FCoV carriers
FIP
mutations
S gene
ORF3
ORF7
url https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0817/9/8/603
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