In a groundbreaking study, researchers at the College of Veterinary Medicine have provided the first genetic proof of feline coronavirus (FCoV) transmission between a domestic cat and a captive wild cat. This finding, achieved through advanced genetic sequencing techniques, holds significant implications for understanding and combating this virus, which remains poorly understood.
The study, published on August 14 in *Microbiology Spectrum*, was led by Dr. Gary Whittaker, the James Law Professor of Virology in the departments of Microbiology and Immunology, and Public and Ecosystem Health. Dr. Whittaker emphasized the importance of this discovery, stating, “We still don’t fully understand the capabilities of FCoV or its transmission mechanisms.”
The research team employed a novel method known as hybridization-capture next-generation genetic sequencing to analyze the virus. This technique allowed them to sequence the entire genome of FCoV-1 from frozen tissue samples of both a domestic cat and a Pallas’ cat, a wild species native to Central and Western Asia. Both animals, housed in the same enclosure at a U.S. zoo in 2008, died from feline infectious peritonitis (FIP), a severe and often lethal disease caused by certain strains of FCoV.
Ximena Olarte Castillo, a postdoctoral associate in the lab of co-author Laura Goodman, Ph.D. ’07, served as the study’s first author. Castillo explained the significance of their approach, noting that previous attempts to identify FCoV genotypes in wild felids were hindered by the variability of the virus’s spike (S) protein. The new sequencing method, however, allowed the team to overcome these challenges and differentiate between the FCoV-1 and FCoV-2 genotypes.
The study’s findings are particularly concerning given that wild felids are genetically close to domestic cats, making them highly susceptible to FCoV and, consequently, FIP. The risk of transmission is exacerbated by human activities, such as feeding stray cats, which can attract wild felids and facilitate the spread of the virus.
The study also has broader implications for managing and preventing outbreaks of FCoV. In a recent outbreak of FCoV-2 in Cyprus, there was a 40-fold increase in virus-related deaths among feral and free-roaming cats. Dr. Whittaker and his team hope that the sequencing technology used in this study will be instrumental in responding to future outbreaks.
Thanks to funding from the Cornell Feline Health Center (FHC), the team now has access to a state-of-the-art NextSeq 1000 sequencer, enabling rapid analysis of viral strains in the event of new outbreaks. “The FHC’s investment ensures that we can quickly identify and respond to emerging FCoV strains,” said Dr. Laura Goodman.
Bruce Kornreich, D.V.M. ’92, Ph.D. ’05, and director of the FHC, praised the study for its dual impact: providing the first evidence of FCoV-1 transmission between domestic and wild cats and utilizing cutting-edge technology that can improve global surveillance efforts for FCoV and other pathogens affecting feline species.
Looking ahead, the researchers aim to use their findings to better understand the potential for drug resistance in FCoV, especially as antiviral treatments for FIP become more widespread. They also hope to develop effective management practices for the conservation of wild felids.
“We need to establish a baseline understanding to guide our stewardship of both domestic and wild feline populations in the future,” said Dr. Whittaker.
Related Topics
