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Etiology of Feline Coronavirus
Feline coronavirus (FCoV) is a single positive-stranded enveloped RNA virus that is infectious to felids (not contagious to other species) commonly found worldwide and is typically shed in feces by healthy cats and transmitted by the fecal-oral route to other cats, via sharing litter trays and cat litter fomites. The transmission rate is much higher in multiple cat environments especially in those where cats are housed indoors.
Virus Classification:
- Order: Nidovirales
- Family: Coronaviridae
- Genus: Alphacoronavirus
- Species: Alphacoronavirus 1
- Subspecies: Feline Coronavirus (FCoV) – RNA enveloped virus
- Fragile virus but resistant in the environment for 3 to 7 weeks when protected by protein (fecal matter)
- Susceptible to sodium hypochlorite (common household bleach)
There are two serotypes of FCoV: Serotype I predominates in Europe and North America, while Serotype II predominates in Asia.
Type I FCoV:
- Purely feline
- Difficult to grow in cell culture
- Possibly cell associated
- Most prevalent in the field
Type II FCoV:
- Arises from a recombination event between type I FCoV and CCoV (canine coronavirus)
- Grows in cell culture
- Less than 10% of field isolates but most laboratory isolates
EndFIP®
Kaynak: http://www.endfip.com/etiology/
