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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MDPI AG
2020-07-01
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| Series: | Pathogens |
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| 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. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T18:15:18Z |
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| id | doaj.art-b44ec15aa6634e75bd6a9055971a89b9 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-0817 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T18:15:18Z |
| publishDate | 2020-07-01 |
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| record_format | Article |
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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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