Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 16, 2026
A Fluorogenic Peptide Cleavage Assay to Screen for Proteolytic Activity: Applications for coronavirus spike protein activation
Published on: January 9, 2019
Isolation and molecular characterization of type I and type II feline coronavirus in Malaysia
Alazawy Amer1, Arshad Siti Suri, Omar Abdul Rahman
1Department of Veterinary Pathology and Microbiology, Universiti Putra Malaysia, UPM Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia.
Background:
Feline infectious peritonitis virus (FIPV) and feline enteric coronavirus (FECV) are two important coronaviruses of domestic cat worldwide. Although FCoV is prevalent among cats; the fastidious nature of type I FCoV to grow on cell culture has limited further studies on tissue tropism and pathogenesis of FCoV. While several studies reported serological evidence for FCoV in Malaysia, neither the circulating FCoV isolated nor its biotypes determined. This study for the first time, describes the isolation and biotypes determination of type I and type II FCoV from naturally infected cats in Malaysia.
Findings:
Of the total number of cats sampled, 95% (40/42) were RT-PCR positive for FCoV. Inoculation of clinical samples into Crandell feline kidney cells (CrFK), and Feline catus whole fetus-4 cells (Fcwf-4), show cytopathic effect (CPE) characterized by syncytial cells formation and later cell detachment. Differentiation of FCoV biotypes using RT-PCR assay revealed that, 97.5% and 2.5% of local isolates were type I and type II FCoV, respectively. These isolates had high sequence homology and phylogenetic similarity with several FCoV isolates from Europe, South East Asia and USA.
Conclusions:
This study reported the successful isolation of local type I and type II FCoV evident with formation of cytopathic effects in two types of cell cultures namely the CrFK and Fcwf-4 , where the later cells being more permissive. However, the RT-PCR assay is more sensitive in detecting the antigen in suspected samples as compared to virus isolation in cell culture. The present study indicated that type I FCoV is more prevalent among cats in Malaysia.
Insights
This study successfully isolated feline coronavirus (FCoV) types I and II from Malaysian cats, with type I being more prevalent. Feline enteric coronavirus (FECV) and feline infectious peritonitis virus (FIPV) are significant feline pathogens.
Area of Science:
- Veterinary Virology
- Feline Pathology
- Molecular Epidemiology
Background:
- Feline infectious peritonitis virus (FIPV) and feline enteric coronavirus (FECV) are significant global feline pathogens.
- Type I feline coronavirus (FCoV) is difficult to culture, limiting research on its tropism and pathogenesis.
- Previous studies in Malaysia showed serological evidence of FCoV, but no isolates or biotypes were identified.
Purpose of the Study:
- To isolate and determine the biotypes of FCoV (type I and type II) from naturally infected cats in Malaysia.
- To characterize the cytopathic effects of FCoV in cell cultures.
- To compare the sensitivity of RT-PCR and virus isolation for FCoV detection.
Main Methods:
- Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was used to detect FCoV in cat samples.
- Clinical samples were inoculated into Crandell feline kidney (CrFK) and Feline catus whole fetus-4 (Fcwf-4) cell lines.
- RT-PCR assays were employed to differentiate between FCoV type I and type II isolates.
Main Results:
- 95% of sampled cats (40/42) tested positive for FCoV via RT-PCR.
- Cytopathic effects, including syncytial cell formation, were observed in CrFK and Fcwf-4 cell lines.
- RT-PCR analysis revealed 97.5% type I and 2.5% type II FCoV isolates, showing high sequence homology with international strains.
Conclusions:
- Successful isolation of local type I and type II FCoV was achieved, with Fcwf-4 cells being more permissive.
- RT-PCR demonstrated higher sensitivity for FCoV detection compared to virus isolation.
- Type I FCoV is the predominant biotype circulating among cats in Malaysia.
