Molecular detection using hybridization capture and next-generation sequencing reveals cross-species transmission of feline coronavirus type-1 between a domestic cat and a captive wild felid

Abstract

AbstractFeline coronavirus (FCoV) infection normally causes mild or subclinical signs and is common in domestic cats. However, in some cats, FCoV infection can also lead to the development of feline infectious peritonitis (FIP)—a typically lethal disease. FCoV has two serotypes or genotypes, FCoV-1 and FCoV-2, both of which can cause FIP. The main difference between the genotypes is the viral spike (S) protein that determines tropism and pathogenicity, crucial mechanisms in the development of FIP. Subclinical infection and FIP have both been reported in wild felids, including in threatened species. Due to the high genetic variability of the S gene and the technical challenges to sequencing it, detection and characterization of FCoV in wild felids have mainly centered on other more conserved genes. Therefore, the genotype causing FIP in most wild felids remains unknown. Here, we report a retrospective molecular epidemiological investigation of FCoV in a zoological institution in the United States. In 2008, a domestic cat (Felis catus) and a Pallas’ cat (Otocolobus manul) sharing the same room succumbed to FIP. Using hybridization capture and next-generation sequencing, we detected and sequenced the complete 3’-end of the viral genome (∼8.2 Kb), including the S gene, from both felids. Our data show for the first time that FCoV-1 can be transmitted between domestic and wild felids and extends the known host range of FCoV-1. Our findings highlight the importance of identifying the genotype causing FIP, to develop effective control measures.