Shedding persistency and intensity patterns of feline coronavirus (FCoV) in feces of cats living in breeding catteries in the Czech Republic

• Published in: Research in veterinary science 2022-12, Vol.152, p.524-529
• Main Authors: Cerna Petra Černá, Lobova, Dana Lobová, Bubenikova, Jana Bubeníková, Vrabelova, Jana Vrábelová, Molinkova, Dobromila Molínková, Horin, Petr Hořín
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Breeding; Cats; Coronaviruses; E coli; FCoV; Feces; FECV; FIP; Households; Infections; Multi-cat household; Pathogens; Polymerase chain reaction; Sampling; Shedding; Shelters; Veterinary medicine; Viruses
• ISSN: 0034-5288; 1532-2661
• DOI: 10.1016/j.rvsc.2022.09.010

Infection with feline coronavirus (FCoV) is a major problem in multiple-cat households, where many cats are kept together in a small space such as catteries and shelters. Sixty cats from 19 breeding catteries included in the study were evaluated for their shedding persistency and intensity patterns using qPCR identification of FCoV in feces. Cats were identified based on shedding persistency as non-shedders (NS) if all four samples negative, intermittent shedders (IS) when at least one positive and one negative sampling followed by another positive sampling, persistent shedders (PS) if all four samples positive and shedders with unclear status (US) if the shedding patterns could not be determined based on only 4 samples. There were 11 NS (18%), 15 IS (25%) and 15 PS (25%) and in 19/60 cats (32%), the shedding patterns could not be determined based only on four samplings. The intensity of shedding was evaluated based on the total number of FCoV particles shed during the 12 months of the study. There were 11 non-shedders (18%), 2 very low intensity shedders (3%), 9 low intensity shedders (15%), 25 medium intensity shedders (42%) and 13 high intensity shedders (22%). Intermittent shedders were shedding significantly lower FCoV particles compared to the persistent shedders (p = 0.0082). Permanent shedders represent the most important source of FCoV infection in multi-cat households and identifying permanent shedders in is the key to minimize the viral load in the environment to control FCoV in a shelters and breeding catteries. •Variation in FCoV fecal shedding persistency were observed in cats from breeding catteries.•Non-shedders, intermittent shedders and persistent shedders could be identified.•In one third of cats the shedding patter remained unclear.•Variation in shedding intensity ranged from no shedding up to high intensity shedding.•Intermittent shedders were shedding significantly lower numbers of FCoV particles compared to the persistent shedders.•In the persistent shedder group, 60% of cats were high intensity shedders and 40% were medium intensity shedders.•Persistent shedders represent the most important source of FCoV infection/reinfection in multi-cat households.•British Shorthairs were shedding significantly higher amounts of FCoV compared to Maine Coon cats.•A weak correlation was observed between the age of the cats and the intensity of shedding.