Seroepidemiological study of feline coronavirus (FCoV) infection in domiciled cats from Botucatu, São Paulo, Brazil

Abstract

Feline coronavirus (FCoV) is responsible for causing one of the most important infectious diseases of domestic and wild felids, the feline infectious peritonitis (FIP), which is an immune-mediated, systemic, progressive and fatal disease. FCoV is highly contagious, and infection is common in domestic feline populations worldwide. The present study aimed to determine the seropositivity of FCoV infection and its associated epidemiological variables (risk factors) in domiciled cats in Botucatu, São Paulo, Brazil. Whole blood samples (0.5-1mL) were collected from 151 cats, and sera were extracted by centrifugation. These sera were tested by an commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for the detection of IgG anti-FCoV antibodies. The assessed risk factors were age range, breed, gender, reproductive status, outdoor access and rearing mode (living alone or in a group). The seropositivity was 64.2% (97/151). There was no statistical significance for risk factors related to breed, gender or rearing mode. There were significant differences in seropositivity (p-values ≤0.05) for age range (p=0.0157), reproductive status (p=0.0074) and outdoor access (p=0.0001). This study verified a wide dissemination of FCoV in the studied population, with a higher than expected seropositivity for indoor cats. Among the risk factors, age range, reproductive status and outdoor access presented statistically significant differences, thus helping to establish an epidemiological profile of this population.

Detection and semi-quantification of antibodies to the feline infectious peritonitis virus in cats from the Ilhéus-Itabuna microregion, Bahia, Brazil

“…The seropositivity rate in the animals described in this study (4.4%) is important because it demonstrates that there was circulation of FCoV in the feline population in the region studied. This is the third serological investigation of FCoV in Brazil; the two previous studies reported seropositivities > 60% (Johann et al, 2009;Almeida et al, 2019). The fact that all animals in the present study were domiciled may contribute to the lower rate of positivity compared with the other studies cited, which included non-domiciled and domiciled animals that lived with multiple cats in the same residence.…”

“…The fact that all animals in the present study were domiciled may contribute to the lower rate of positivity compared with the other studies cited, which included non-domiciled and domiciled animals that lived with multiple cats in the same residence. Researchers have concluded that environments with multiple cats confer a higher risk for infection, which applies to non-domiciled cats that live on streets in contact with others, and to homes with > 2 cats (Almeida et al, 2019). Animals, when living in groups, are more susceptible to infectious diseases and, in the case of FIP, in which the virus is mainly eliminated in the feces, the sharing of hygienic sands or even, in the streets from the places where they defecate, expose these animals to possibly contaminated feces.…”

“…In Brazil, Johann et al (2009) investigated the presence of anti-FCoV serum antibodies of 97 domiciled and non-domiciled cats in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, using the serum neutralization test, with positive results in 75.2% of the animals evaluated. Furthermore, a sero-epidemiological study involving 151 cats was conducted in the city of Botucatu, which reported 64.2% seropositivity according to ELISA, and was greater than the expected global average (Almeida, Galdino, & Araújo, 2019).…”

A Finitude Humana E a Dor De Não Poder Dizer Adeus: O Século Xxi Em Tempos De Covid-19

“…A infecção por coronavírus felino (FCoV) é amplamente distribuída em gatos domésticos causando a peritonite infecciosa felina (PIF), que é uma doença imunomediada, sistêmica, progressiva e fatal (ALMEIDA et al 2019). Os sinais dessa enfermidade variam com a distribuição das lesões e extensão da efusão peritoneal e/ou pleural, pois muitos órgãos podem estar envolvidos, como fígado, rins, pâncreas, olhos e sistema nervoso central (ADDIE e JARRETT, 2006).…”

Prevalence of feline coronavirus, feline leukemia virus, and feline immunodeficiency virus in client-owned cats in Croatia

“…Feline coronavirus (FCoV) belongs to the family of Coronaviridae within the order Nidovirales [1,2,3]. Infection with FCoV is prevalent in pet cats [4].…”