Diagnostic methods for feline coronavirus: a review

Area of Science:

• Veterinary Virology
• Infectious Diseases
• Diagnostic Pathology

Background:

• Feline coronaviruses (FCoVs) cause a spectrum of disease, from mild to fatal feline infectious peritonitis (FIP).
• FIP is a significant and severe viral disease in cats, lacking effective vaccines or treatments.
• Current diagnostic methods for FCoV and FIP have limitations in specificity and sensitivity.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe and compare various diagnostic methods for feline coronaviruses (FCoVs).
• To provide insights into FCoV biology, epidemiology, and pathogenesis to improve diagnosis.
• To highlight the need for improved diagnostic protocols for FCoV and FIP management.

Main Methods:

• Review of existing literature on FCoV diagnostic techniques.
• Comparison of serological tests, RT-PCR, and histopathology for FCoV detection.
• Analysis of clinical, haematological, and biochemical findings in FIP cases.

Main Results:

• Clinical and routine laboratory findings for FIP are non-specific.
• Existing serological tests for FCoV suffer from low specificity and sensitivity, cross-reacting with feline enteric coronaviruses (FECV).
• Reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) offers rapid and sensitive FCoV detection but requires clinical correlation; histopathology remains definitive for FIP diagnosis.

Conclusions:

• Accurate diagnosis of FCoV infection and FIP remains a significant challenge in veterinary medicine.
• Improved diagnostic strategies are crucial for effective management and control of FCoV and FIP.
• Histopathological examination of biopsies is currently the gold standard for definitive FIP diagnosis.