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Published on: December 10, 2016
Feline Coronavirus Prevalence in 493 Cats With Chronic Diarrhea
Gary D Norsworthy1, Kristin N Miller2, Sarah M Castro1
1Alamo Feline Health Center, San Antonio, Texas, USA.
Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine
|March 2, 2026
Summary
Feline coronavirus (FCoV) was prevalent in cats with chronic diarrhea (CD), often alongside other pathogens. Its high detection rate suggests FCoV may be a significant, often overlooked, cause of CD in cats.
Area of Science:
- Veterinary Medicine
- Infectious Diseases
- Feline Health
Background:
- Chronic diarrhea (CD) is a common and often idiopathic condition in domestic cats.
- Understanding the underlying causes of CD is crucial for effective treatment and management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the prevalence of feline coronavirus (FCoV) and other enteropathogens in cats presenting with chronic diarrhea.
- To investigate potential correlations between FCoV and CD in feline populations.
Main Methods:
- A retrospective analysis of 586 fecal samples from 493 cats diagnosed with CD was conducted.
- RT-PCR and PCR-based diarrheal panels were utilized to detect various enteropathogens, including FCoV.
Main Results:
- Feline coronavirus (FCoV) was detected in 65.1% of cats with CD.
- FCoV RNA and Clostridium perfringens toxin DNA were frequently found together (35.2%).
- Younger cats (<1 year) showed a significantly higher prevalence of FCoV positivity.
Conclusions:
- The high prevalence of FCoV in cats with CD challenges the assumption of its non-pathogenicity.
- FCoV may be an underdiagnosed cause of chronic diarrhea in cats, potentially leading to missed diagnostic and therapeutic opportunities.
Keywords:
Clostridium perfringensGiardiaTritrichomonaschronic enteropathydiarrhea panelinflammatory bowel diseaseMore Related Videos
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