Feline infectious peritonitis virus with a large deletion in the 5'-terminal region of the spike gene retains its virulence for cats.
In this study, the Japanese strain of type I feline infectious peritonitis virus (FIPV), C3663, was found to have a large deletion of 735 bp within the gene encoding the spike (S) protein, with a deduced loss of 245 aa of the N-terminal region of the S protein. This deletion is similar to that observed in porcine respiratory coronavirus (PRCoV) when compared to transmissible gastroenteritis virus, which correlates with reduced virulence. By analogy to PRCoV, we expected that the pathogenicity of C3663 may be attenuated in cats. However, two of four cats inoculated with C3663 died of FIP, and a third C3663-inoculated cat showed FIP lesions at 91 days after challenge. These results indicate that the 5'-terminal region of the S gene is not essential for the development of FIP.
Laboratories of Veterinary Microbiology, Faculty of Agriculture, Yamaguchi University, 1677-1 Yoshida, Yamaguchi 753-8515, Japan.
Yutaka
Y
Terada
Laboratories of Veterinary Microbiology, Faculty of Agriculture, Yamaguchi University, 1677-1 Yoshida, Yamaguchi 753-8515, Japan.
Yuto
Y
Shiozaki
Laboratories of Veterinary Microbiology, Faculty of Agriculture, Yamaguchi University, 1677-1 Yoshida, Yamaguchi 753-8515, Japan.
Hiroshi
H
Shimoda
Laboratories of Veterinary Microbiology, Faculty of Agriculture, Yamaguchi University, 1677-1 Yoshida, Yamaguchi 753-8515, Japan.
Hassan Youssef Abdel Hamid
HYAH
Mahmoud
Laboratories of Veterinary Microbiology, Faculty of Agriculture, Yamaguchi University, 1677-1 Yoshida, Yamaguchi 753-8515, Japan.
Keita
K
Noguchi
Laboratories of Veterinary Microbiology, Faculty of Agriculture, Yamaguchi University, 1677-1 Yoshida, Yamaguchi 753-8515, Japan.
Yumiko
Y
Nagao
Laboratories of Veterinary Microbiology, Faculty of Agriculture, Yamaguchi University, 1677-1 Yoshida, Yamaguchi 753-8515, Japan.
Masayuki
M
Shimojima
Veterinary Hygiene, Faculty of Agriculture, Yamaguchi University, 1677-1 Yoshida, Yamaguchi 753-8515, Japan.
Hiroyuki
H
Iwata
Veterinary Internal Medicine, Faculty of Agriculture, Yamaguchi University, 1677-1 Yoshida, Yamaguchi 753-8515, Japan.
Takuya
T
Mizuno
Veterinary Internal Medicine, Faculty of Agriculture, Yamaguchi University, 1677-1 Yoshida, Yamaguchi 753-8515, Japan.
Masaru
M
Okuda
Veterinary Pathology, Faculty of Agriculture, Yamaguchi University, 1677-1 Yoshida, Yamaguchi 753-8515, Japan.
Masahiro
M
Morimoto
Veterinary Pathology, Faculty of Agriculture, Yamaguchi University, 1677-1 Yoshida, Yamaguchi 753-8515, Japan.
Toshiharu
T
Hayashi
Department of Veterinary Hygiene, Veterinary School, Nippon Veterinary and Life Science University, 1-7-1 Kyounan, Musashino, Tokyo 180-8602, Japan.
Yoshikazu
Y
Tanaka
Food Safety Commission, Cabinet Office, Government of Japan, Akasaka Park Bld. 22nd F. Akasaka 5-2-20, Minato-ku, Tokyo 107-6122, Japan.
Masami
M
Mochizuki
Laboratories of Veterinary Microbiology, Faculty of Agriculture, Yamaguchi University, 1677-1 Yoshida, Yamaguchi 753-8515, Japan.
Ken
K
Maeda
D020816:Amino Acid Motifs; D000818:Animals; D002415:Cats; D016765:Coronavirus, Feline / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D016766:Feline Infectious Peritonitis / Q000821:virology*; D008297:Male; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D017384:Sequence Deletion; D064370:Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D014774:Virulence
D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D064370:Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins; C578557:spike glycoprotein, SARS-CoV; C578553:spike protein, mouse hepatitis virus