title: Molecular characterization of a novel coronavirus associated with epizootic catarrhal enteritis (ECE) in ferrets.
abstract: A novel coronavirus, designated as ferret enteric coronavirus (FECV), was identified in feces of domestic ferrets clinically diagnosed with epizootic catarrhal enteritis (ECE). Initially, partial sequences of the polymerase, spike, membrane protein, and nucleocapsid genes were generated using coronavirus consensus PCR assays. Subsequently, the complete sequences of the nucleocapsid gene and the last two open reading frames at the 3' terminus of the FECV genome were obtained. Phylogenetic analyses based on predicted partial amino acid sequences of the polymerase, spike, and membrane proteins, and full sequence of the nucleocapsid protein showed that FECV is genetically most closely related to group 1 coronaviruses. FECV is more similar to feline coronavirus, porcine transmissible gastroenteritis virus, and canine coronavirus than to porcine epidemic diarrhea virus and human coronavirus 229E. Molecular data presented in this study provide the first genetic evidence for a new coronavirus associated with clinical cases of ECE.
authors.affiliation: Diagnostic Center for Population and Animal Health, Lansing, MI 48909, USA. wise@dcpah.msu.edu
authors.forename: Annabel G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Wise
authors.forename: Matti
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kiupel
authors.forename: Roger K
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Maes
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D017934:Coronavirus / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D018352:Coronavirus Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary* / Q000821:virology; D017939:Coronavirus, Canine / Q000235:genetics; D016765:Coronavirus, Feline / Q000235:genetics; D004751:Enteritis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary* / Q000821:virology; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000821:virology; D005243:Feces / Q000821:virology; D005289:Ferrets / Q000821:virology*; D005814:Genes, Viral; D015751:Genes, pol; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000235:genetics; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D019590:Nucleocapsid Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D016366:Open Reading Frames / Q000235:genetics; D010802:Phylogeny; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000235:genetics; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; D064370:Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus; D005760:Transmissible gastroenteritis virus / Q000235:genetics; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D014763:Viral Matrix Proteins / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D019590:Nucleocapsid Proteins; D012367:RNA, Viral; D064370:Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins; D014763:Viral Matrix Proteins