Detection and Characterization of Feline Calicivirus Associated with Paw and Mouth Disease

Abstract

Feline calicivirus (FCV) infection in cats can led to several diverse clinical presentations, ranging from mild upper respiratory signs to virulent systemic disease. Herein, we report a paw and mouth disease case in a 7-year-old household cat due to an FCV infection. An asymptomatic cat living in the same household was also infected with FCV. Clinical and pathological investigations were combined with the molecular and phenotypical characterization of the FCV strains. The RNA of the FCV was detected using qualitative and quantitative reverse transcription (RT)-PCR assays, and FCV antigen was confirmed by immunohistochemistry. After the whole genome analysis, the strains detected in the two cats appeared to be genetically diverse from FCVs previously detected in association with paw and mouth disease and with virulent systemic disease. Interestingly, the isolates obtained in this study were resistant to low pH conditions and slightly susceptible to bile salts, but they were susceptible to a trypsin treatment, revealing a phenotype pattern that is different from that which has been observed for respiratory FCVs.

Outbreaks of nosocomial feline calicivirus-associated virulent systemic disease in Korea

“…Forty-six percent of patients with limb edema had edema in all four legs, but no trend toward a specific leg was found. In some patients with limb edema, progression to skin lesions, such as erosions, ulcers, or crusts, was observed, which was similar to the progression observed in a previous study [ 4 ]. However, unlike in the previous study, lesions on footpads were not clearly observed in the patients in the present study.…”

“…Lymphopenia is observed in several viral infections, including FCV-VSD, and is associated with disease severity, although the exact mechanism is unknown [ 4 26 ]. In previous studies, lymphopenia, neutrophilia, and thrombocytopenia were observed on CBC in some cats with FCV-VSD [ 8 27 ].…”

“…FCV infection typically causes mild, acute, and self-limiting URTD characterized by sneezing, nasal discharge, dyspnea, and conjunctivitis. However, severe pneumonia, limping syndrome, paw and mouth disease, and enteritis due to FCV infection have also been reported [ 2 3 4 5 ]. Although asymptomatic carriers are often identified, FCV is isolated more frequently in individuals with URTD than in those without it [ 6 ].…”

Drug screening identified that handelin inhibits feline calicivirus infection by inhibiting HSP70 expression in vitro

“…Feline calicivirus (FCV) is considered one of the major pathogens that infects cats worldwide [1][2][3]. The virus causes an upper respiratory tract disease with typical clinical symptoms such as acute respiratory disease and oral ulceration [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11]. The small number of cats infected by a highly virulent strain of FCV (vs.-FCV) suffer severe and fatal systemic disease symptoms, including subcutaneous oedema, multiple necrosis events, severe pneumonia, feline chronic gingivostomatitis and acute arthritis and limping [10,12,13].…”