Increased proportion of apoptotic cells in cat kidney tissues infected with feline morbillivirus

Area of Science:

• Veterinary Virology
• Cellular Pathology
• Infectious Diseases

Background:

• Feline morbillivirus (FeMV) is an emerging viral pathogen affecting domestic cats.
• Understanding FeMV's pathogenic mechanisms is crucial for feline health and disease management.
• Kidney tissues are a target for FeMV, but the cellular impact remains unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the pathogenic mechanisms of FeMV in infected feline kidney cells.
• To determine if FeMV infection induces apoptosis in kidney tissues.
• To correlate FeMV presence with apoptotic cell markers.

Main Methods:

• Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) assay to detect apoptosis.
• Immunofluorescence assay (IFA) using an anti-FeMV P protein antibody.
• Analysis of 38 cat kidney tissues, including 12 FeMV-positive samples.

Main Results:

• FeMV-positive kidney tissues showed significantly higher numbers of apoptotic cells compared to FeMV-negative tissues.
• A substantial percentage (mean 37.4%) of TUNEL-positive cells in infected tissues contained the FeMV P protein.
• This indicates a direct link between FeMV infection and cellular apoptosis.

Conclusions:

• Apoptosis induction is a significant pathological mechanism in FeMV-infected cat kidneys.
• FeMV P protein is associated with apoptotic cells, supporting its role in inducing cell death.
• These findings advance our understanding of FeMV pathogenesis and its impact on feline renal health.