Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
New type of norovirus found in cats with diarrhea
By Di Martino, Barbara et al.·Published in Infection, genetics and evolution : journal of molecular epidemiology and evolutionary genetics in infectious diseases·2016·Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Italy·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: A novel feline norovirus in diarrheic cats.
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
A group of young cats in shelters in South Italy were found to have diarrhea, and tests showed that 6.2% of them were infected with a new type of norovirus. This virus was not present in healthy cats, indicating it may be linked to their illness. The researchers discovered that this feline norovirus is genetically similar to strains found in dogs, suggesting that these viruses can spread between different species of pets. Understanding this connection is important for managing outbreaks of diarrhea in cats and dogs.
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Abstract
By screening a collection of fecal samples from young cats housed in three different shelters in South Italy, noroviruses (NoVs) were found in 3/48 (6.2%) specimens of animals with enteritis signs while they were not detected in samples collected from healthy cats (0/57). Upon sequence analysis of the short RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) region, the three strains displayed the highest nucleotide (nt) and amino acid (aa) identities to the prototype GIV.2 strain lion/Pistoia/387/06/ITA (91.0-93.0% nt and 97.0-98.0% aa). The sequence of ~3.4-kb portion at the 3' end of the genome of a NoV strain, TE/77-13/ITA, was determined. In the full-length ORF2, encoding the VP1 capsid protein, the virus was genetically closest to the canine GVI.2 NoV strains C33/Viseu/2007/PRT and FD53/2007/ITA (81.0-84.0% nt and 93.0-94.0% aa identities), suggesting a recombination nature, with the cross-over site being mapped to the ORF1-ORF2 junction. Based on the full-length VP1 amino acid sequence, we classified the novel feline NoV, together with the canine strains Viseu and FD53, as a genotype 2, within the genogroup GVI. These findings indicate that, as observed for GIV NoV, GVI strains may infect both the canine and feline host. Unrestricted circulation of NoV strains in small carnivores may provide the basis for quick genetic diversification of these viruses by recombination. Interspecies circulation of NoVs in pets must also be considered when facing outbreaks of enteric diseases in these animals.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26739218/