Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Rapid simple tests to detect feline coronavirus RNA for diagnosing
By Doki, Tomoyoshi et al.·Published in Journal of virological methods·2025·School of Veterinary Medicine, Japan·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Development of rapid and simple FCoV RNA detection systems using RT-PCR and RT-RPA combined with STH-PAS to diagnose FIP in cats.
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
A cat suspected of having feline infectious peritonitis (FIP) was tested using two new, simpler methods for detecting feline coronavirus (FCoV) RNA. These methods aim to make diagnosis quicker and easier without needing expensive lab equipment. The tests showed a good level of accuracy, with one method being 66.7% sensitive and 100% specific, meaning it correctly identified most cases without false positives. These new testing systems could help veterinarians diagnose FIP more efficiently in their clinics.
People also search for: cat FIP symptoms · feline coronavirus test · how to diagnose FIP in cats
Abstract
Feline infectious peritonitis (FIP) is a fatal disease in cats that is caused by feline coronavirus (FCoV). FCoV RT-qPCR is widely used to diagnose FIP due to its high sensitivity and ability to quantify FCoV RNA. However, its convenience is limited by the need for expensive equipment and/or processing at external laboratories. We herein developed two rapid and simple FCoV RNA detection systems: one combining conventional RT-PCR with the Single Tag Hybridization-Printed Array Strip (STH-PAS) method (the RT-PCR and STH-PAS system) and the other combining RT-RPA, an isothermal nucleic acid amplification method, with STH-PAS (the RT-RPA and STH-PAS system). Evaluations using FCoV RNA standards showed that the limit of detection for the RT-PCR and STH-PAS system was 10copies/reaction, while that for the RT-RPA and STH-PAS system was 10copies/reaction. The clinical performance of these systems was also examined using clinical samples from cats suspected of having FIP and compared to the conventional FCoV RT-qPCR genetic test. The results obtained showed a sensitivity of 66.7 % (95 % CI: 41.0-86.7) and specificity of 100 % (95 %CI: 9.4-100). These systems are a faster and simpler alternative to conventional methods, suggesting their potential in point-of-care testing in veterinary clinics.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40588064/