Prevalence of feline coronavirus in two cat populations in Malaysia

J Feline Med Surg. 2009 Dec;11(12):1031-4. doi: 10.1016/j.jfms.2009.08.005. Epub 2009 Oct 8.

Abstract

The prevalence of feline coronavirus (FCoV) was studied in two catteries in Malaysia. Rectal swabs or faecal samples were collected from a total of 44 clinically healthy Persian purebred and mix-breed cats. RNA extracted from the faecal material was subjected to a reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) using primers flanking for a conserved region of the virus genome. The overall prevalence of FCoV infection was 84% and the infection rate was higher in Persian purebred cats (96%) than mix-breed cats (70%). There was no significant association between the age or gender of tested cats and shedding the virus. This study is the first PCR-based survey for FCoV in Malaysia and showed the ubiquitous presence of FCoV in Malaysian cat colonies.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cat Diseases / diagnosis*
  • Cat Diseases / epidemiology*
  • Cat Diseases / virology
  • Cats
  • Coronavirus Infections / diagnosis
  • Coronavirus Infections / epidemiology
  • Coronavirus Infections / veterinary*
  • Coronavirus Infections / virology
  • Coronavirus, Feline / isolation & purification*
  • Feces / virology
  • Female
  • Malaysia / epidemiology
  • Male
  • Prevalence
  • RNA, Viral / analysis
  • Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction / veterinary*
  • Sensitivity and Specificity

Substances

  • RNA, Viral