title: A retrospective clinical and epidemiological study on feline coronavirus (FCoV) in cats in Istanbul, Turkey.
abstract: The presence of antibodies to feline coronavirus (FCoV) and feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV), together with feline leukemia virus (FeLV) antigen was investigated in 169 ill household and stray cats attending a veterinary surgery in Istanbul in 2009-14. The estimated FCoV and FIV seroprevalence (95% confidence intervals) were 37% (30-45%) and 11% (6-16%), respectively and FeLV prevalence was 1% (0-3%). FCoV seroprevalence increased until 2 years of age, was highest in 2014 and among household cats living with other cats and with outdoor access, and was lower in FIV seropositive compared to seronegative cats. Symptoms typically associated with wet feline infectious peritonitis (FIP) including ascites, abdominal distention or pleural effusion, coupled in many cases with non-antibiotic responsive fever, were observed in 19% (32/169) of cats, and 75% (24/32) of these cats were FCoV seropositive. FCoV seropositivity was also associated with a high white blood cell count, high plasma globulin, low plasma albumin and low blood urea nitrogen. The percentage of FCoV seropositive and seronegative cats that died in spite of supportive veterinary treatment was 33% (21/63) and 12% (13/106), respectively. These results indicate that FCoV is widespread and has a severe clinical impact in cats from Istanbul. Moreover, the incidence of FCoV infections could be rising, and in the absence of effective vaccination cat owners need to be made aware of ways to minimize the spread of this virus.
authors: Macka Veterinary Clinic, Besiktas, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors: B K
authors: BK
authors: Tekelioglu
authors: Animal Health Department, Regional Campus of International Excellence "Campus Mare Nostrum", Universidad de Murcia, Murcia, Spain. Electronic address: berriatu@um.es.
authors: E
authors: E
authors: Berriatua
authors: University of Istanbul, Veterinary Faculty, Department of Virology, Avcilar, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors: N
authors: N
authors: Turan
authors: University of Bristol, Langford Veterinary Services, Churchill Building, Langford House, Langford, Bristol, UK.
authors: C R
authors: CR
authors: Helps
authors: Macka Veterinary Clinic, Besiktas, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Kocak
authors: University of Istanbul, Veterinary Faculty, Department of Virology, Avcilar, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors: H
authors: H
authors: Yilmaz
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood; D002371:Cat Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology; D002415:Cats; D018352:Coronavirus Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary* / Q000821:virology; D016765:Coronavirus, Feline / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D016181:Feline Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000821:virology; D016766:Feline Infectious Peritonitis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology; D005260:Female; D016089:Immunodeficiency Virus, Feline / Q000302:isolation & purification; D005256:Leukemia Virus, Feline / Q000302:isolation & purification; D016582:Leukemia, Feline / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000821:virology; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D014421:Turkey / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral
keywords: Antibody; Cat; Clinical; Epidemiology; Feline coronavirus; Istanbul; Turkey