Diagnosis, Virus Isolation and Molecular Characterization of Circulating FIPV Strains from Two Shelter Cats of Long Island
Faculty Mentor
Maged Gomaa Hemida, Oscar Illanes and Blanca Esparza
Area of Research
Pathology and Virology
Major
Veterinary Medicine
Description
Feline infectious peritonitis virus (FIPV) remains as one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality in young cats from shelters and catteries worldwide. Since little is known about the molecular characteristics of currently circulating FIPV strains in Long Island, New York, as part of a major study, samples from two shelter cats (A15 and A37) with gross and microscopic lesions consistent with those of FIP were processed for virus isolation, molecular characterization and full-length genome decoding. The younger shelter cat, a 1-year-old male (A15) was found dead without previous signs of illness. Postmortem examination revealed gross and microscopic lesions characterized by vasculitis, necrosis, hemorrhage and pyogranulomatous inflammation confined to the colon and associated lymph nodes. The second cat, a 7-year-old spayed female (A37) had an identical clinical history and similar but widespread lesions, including peritoneal effusion, cecal, colonic, renal and hepatic involvement. The gross and microscopic diagnosis of FIP in these cats was confirmed by immunohistochemistry (IHC) demonstration of coronavirus antigen using mouse anti-FIPV3-70 monoclonal antibody. Virus isolation from saved frozen tissue was performed through several subsequent blind passages in MDCK and Vero cell lines. Confirmation of the FIPV isolation was done through qRT-PCR, IFA, western blot using N protein antibodies, and NGS of the full-length genome sequencing. Diagnostic surveillance, molecular characterization and sequencing analysis of circulating FIPV strains within animal shelters may help to identify unique evolving clinical and pathological manifestations of the disease and the development of more targeted prophylactic and therapeutic approaches to control it.
Diagnosis, Virus Isolation and Molecular Characterization of Circulating FIPV Strains from Two Shelter Cats of Long Island
Feline infectious peritonitis virus (FIPV) remains as one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality in young cats from shelters and catteries worldwide. Since little is known about the molecular characteristics of currently circulating FIPV strains in Long Island, New York, as part of a major study, samples from two shelter cats (A15 and A37) with gross and microscopic lesions consistent with those of FIP were processed for virus isolation, molecular characterization and full-length genome decoding. The younger shelter cat, a 1-year-old male (A15) was found dead without previous signs of illness. Postmortem examination revealed gross and microscopic lesions characterized by vasculitis, necrosis, hemorrhage and pyogranulomatous inflammation confined to the colon and associated lymph nodes. The second cat, a 7-year-old spayed female (A37) had an identical clinical history and similar but widespread lesions, including peritoneal effusion, cecal, colonic, renal and hepatic involvement. The gross and microscopic diagnosis of FIP in these cats was confirmed by immunohistochemistry (IHC) demonstration of coronavirus antigen using mouse anti-FIPV3-70 monoclonal antibody. Virus isolation from saved frozen tissue was performed through several subsequent blind passages in MDCK and Vero cell lines. Confirmation of the FIPV isolation was done through qRT-PCR, IFA, western blot using N protein antibodies, and NGS of the full-length genome sequencing. Diagnostic surveillance, molecular characterization and sequencing analysis of circulating FIPV strains within animal shelters may help to identify unique evolving clinical and pathological manifestations of the disease and the development of more targeted prophylactic and therapeutic approaches to control it.