Novel feline viruses: Emerging significance of gammaherpesvirus and morbillivirus infections

Abstract

Practical relevance: New technologies capable of sequencing the genetic material in any given biological sample, combined with computer-based algorithms for sequence assembly and analysis, have revolutionised infectious disease research. The rate at which novel viruses are being discovered now exceeds our understanding of their clinical relevance. Novel viruses may contribute to diseases that are major causes of feline morbidity and mortality, including cancer and chronic kidney disease. The identification of new viral pathogens raises the prospect of not only improved patient outcomes through specific treatment but even disease prevention through viral control measures. Clinical challenges: It can be difficult to determine the role of a novel virus in disease development. Disease may be an occasional outcome, often years after infection. A high prevalence of infection in the general population can make disease associations harder to identify and almost impossible to rule out. Host cofactors such as immune dysfunction, genetic background or coinfections may be required for manifestation of disease, and one virus species may be linked to a range of pathological sequelae. Establishing causality relies on evaluating accumulating evidence from multiple investigations, which is often hard to access by practitioners. Global importance: The worldwide distribution of gammaherpesvirus and morbillivirus infections in domestic cats underlines the potential of these viruses to negatively impact feline health and welfare globally. Evidence base: This review relies on grade Ia-III evidence.

Early Renal Involvement in Cats with Natural Feline Morbillivirus Infection

“…As previously suggested, it is important to interpret with caution serological results. Moreover, combining the results of RT-PCR with serology could be useful to understand the length of exposure in infected cats [33]. Indeed, the seronegativity herein observed in a PCR-positive cat may suggests an acute infection that could have been confirmed by serology only using a convalescent titer in this case.…”

Prevalence, Geographic Distribution, Risk Factors and Co-Infections of Feline Gammaherpesvirus Infections in Domestic Cats in Switzerland

“…Male cats were also more likely to be seropositive than female cats, using the newly developed serological assay for FcaGHV1 [29]. It has been speculated that male cats may be at higher risk of viral exposure due to their strong territorial behavior, which often leads to aggressive interactions among cats [20,23,27,28]. Biological factors such as hormonal differences between male and female cats could also potentially influence host immunity or viral replication [20,66].…”

“…Differences in prevalence may reflect variations in the studied cat population, the study inclusion criteria (such as feral free-roaming cats captured for neutering programs, feral cats housed in animal shelters or privately-owned cats) and the health status of the sampled cats. In addition, it is important to remember that the identification of FcaGHV1 DNA material does not provide information on the infection status of the animal and cannot differentiate between virus-infected cells, virion particles or free DNA [28]. More recently, a serological assay was developed to assess the exposure rate to FcaGHV1 within a cat population [29].…”

Effects of Mustelid gammaherpesvirus 1 (MusGHV-1) Reactivation in European Badger (Meles meles) Genital Tracts on Reproductive Fitness

“…Gammaherpesviruses are of increasing concern in humans [51,58] and animals (livestock: [15], pets: [84], wild [28,31,48,69], and captive wildlife populations: [26]). EBV is prevalent in 90% of the human population, and is associated with diseases such as infectious mononucleosis, childhood leukaemia from maternal infection and, more rarely, lymphoma [51,85,86].…”