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Genetic diversity of feline morbilliviruses isolated in Japan

Shoichi Sakaguchi1, So Nakagawa2, Rokusuke Yoshikawa1

  • 1Laboratory of Signal Transduction, Department of Cell Biology, Institute for Virus Research, Kyoto University, 53 Shogoin-Kawaharacho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8507, Japan.

The Journal of General Virology
|April 15, 2014
PubMed

Insights

Feline morbillivirus (FmoPV), a virus linked to kidney disease in cats, has been isolated in Japan for the first time. This discovery expands our understanding of FmoPV

Area of Science:

  • Veterinary Virology
  • Emerging Infectious Diseases
  • Feline Pathology

Background:

  • Feline morbillivirus (FmoPV) is an emerging virus implicated in tubulointerstitial nephritis in domestic cats.
  • First identified in China in 2012, FmoPV has not been previously reported in other countries.
  • Understanding the geographic spread and characteristics of FmoPV is crucial for feline health.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To report the first isolation and characterization of FmoPV from domestic cats in Japan.
  • To investigate the genetic diversity of FmoPV strains circulating in Japan.
  • To confirm the association of FmoPV with clinical signs in affected cats.

Main Methods:

  • Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was used to detect FmoPV in feline urine samples.
  • Feline morbillivirus (FmoPV) strains were isolated from positive urine samples and cultured in Crandell-Rees feline kidney (CRFK) cells.
  • Cytopathic effects, viral protein expression (N protein via immunofluorescence), and virus particle morphology (electron microscopy) were analyzed.
  • Sequence analysis of FmoPV H and L genes was performed to assess genetic diversity.

Main Results:

  • Feline morbillivirus (FmoPV) was detected in three of 13 feline urine samples from Japan using RT-PCR.
  • Three distinct FmoPV strains (SS1-SS3) were successfully isolated from the positive samples.
  • In vitro studies confirmed FmoPV's ability to induce syncytia formation in CRFK cells and demonstrated the presence of the N protein.
  • Electron microscopy revealed pleomorphic virus particles with characteristic envelope spikes.
  • Sequence analysis indicated genetic diversity among the Japanese FmoPV isolates, but no positive selection signatures were found.

Conclusions:

  • This study reports the first successful isolation and characterization of FmoPV in Japan, expanding its known geographic distribution.
  • The findings confirm the presence of genetically diverse FmoPV strains in Japan, potentially contributing to feline kidney disease.
  • Further research is warranted to understand the full impact and transmission dynamics of FmoPV in feline populations globally.

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