Detection of anti-fesavirus 4 antibodies in plasma samples from cats in Japan

Fesaviruses, members of the group of picorna-like viruses, were discovered in 2014 in stool samples from cats in an animal shelter in the United States. In this study, we investigated the serological evidence of fesavirus 4 infection in domestic cats in Japan using a purified recombinant antigen corresponding to a portion of the large open reading frame of fesavirus 4. An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was developed and used to test 100 cat plasma samples to detect specific antibodies against the fesavirus 4 antigen and Western blotting confirmed presence of specific antibodies against the fesavirus 4 antigen in 12 samples. These findings highlight the importance of investigating newly discovered viruses circulating in companion animals in Japanese animal shelters.