Detection of feline coronavirus in cerebrospinal fluid for diagnosis of feline infectious peritonitis in cats with and without neurological signs.
OBJECTIVE
The objective of this study was to evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of a real-time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (real-time RT-PCR) detecting feline coronavirus (FCoV) RNA in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of cats with and without neurological and/or ocular signs for the diagnosis of feline infectious peritonitis (FIP).


METHODS
This prospective case-control study included 34 cats. Nineteen cats had a definitive histopathological diagnosis of FIP (seven of these with neurological and/or ocular signs), and 15 cats had other diseases but similar clinical signs (three of these with neurological and/or ocular signs). Real-time RT-PCR was performed on the CSF of all cats, and sensitivity, specificity, and positive (PPV) and negative predictive values (NPV) were calculated.


RESULTS
Real-time RT-PCR of CSF showed a specificity of 100% in diagnosing FIP, a sensitivity of 42.1%, a PPV of 100% and an NPV of 57.7%. The sensitivity of the real-time RT-PCR of CSF in cats with neurological and/or ocular signs was 85.7%.


CONCLUSIONS
Although it is known that RT-PCR can give false positive results, especially if performed using serum or plasma, this real-time RT-PCR detecting FCoV RNA in CSF can be considered a reliable specific tool for the diagnosis of FIP. If only cats with neurological involvement are evaluated, the sensitivity of this real-time RT-PCR in CSF is also high.
Clinic of Small Animal Medicine, LMU University of Munich, Munich, Germany steffi@doenges.at.
Stephanie J
SJ
Doenges
Clinic of Small Animal Medicine, LMU University of Munich, Munich, Germany.
Karin
K
Weber
Clinic of Small Animal Medicine, LMU University of Munich, Munich, Germany.
Roswitha
R
Dorsch
Institute for Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, LMU University of Munich, Munich, Germany.
Robert
R
Fux
Clinic of Small Animal Medicine, LMU University of Munich, Munich, Germany.
Andrea
A
Fischer
Clinic of Small Animal Medicine, LMU University of Munich, Munich, Germany.
Lara A
LA
Matiasek
Institute of Veterinary Pathology, LMU University of Munich, Munich, Germany.
Kaspar
K
Matiasek
Clinic of Small Animal Medicine, LMU University of Munich, Munich, Germany.
Katrin
K
Hartmann
D000818:Animals; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002415:Cats; D016765:Coronavirus, Feline / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D016766:Feline Infectious Peritonitis / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid* / Q000175:diagnosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis*; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000662:veterinary; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013047:Specific Pathogen-Free Organisms
D012367:RNA, Viral