title: Emerging viruses in the Felidae: shifting paradigms.
abstract: The domestic cat is afflicted with multiple viruses that serve as powerful models for human disease including cancers, SARS and HIV/AIDS. Cat viruses that cause these diseases have been studied for decades revealing detailed insight concerning transmission, virulence, origins and pathogenesis. Here we review recent genetic advances that have questioned traditional wisdom regarding the origins of virulent Feline infectious peritonitis (FIP) diseases, the pathogenic potential of Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV) in wild non-domestic Felidae species, and the restriction of Feline Leukemia Virus (FeLV) mediated immune impairment to domestic cats rather than other Felidae species. The most recent interpretations indicate important new evolutionary conclusions implicating these deadly infectious agents in domestic and non-domestic felids.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Genomic Diversity, National Cancer Institute-Frederick, Frederick, MD 21702, USA. lgdchief@gmail.com
authors.forename: Stephen J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: O'Brien
authors.forename: Jennifer L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Troyer
authors.forename: Meredith A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.forename: Warren E
authors.initials: WE
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.forename: Agostinho
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Antunes
authors.forename: Melody E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Roelke
authors.forename: Jill
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pecon-Slattery
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002371:Cat Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology*; D002415:Cats; D021821:Communicable Diseases, Emerging / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary* / Q000821:virology; D016765:Coronavirus, Feline / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D016089:Immunodeficiency Virus, Feline / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D005256:Leukemia Virus, Feline / Q000472:pathogenicity*