PhD student International Institute for Zoonosis Control, Hokkaido University Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan
Abstract:
Background: Feline coronavirus (FCoV) is the causative agent of feline infectious peritonitis (FIP). Despite its clinical significance, the molecular mechanisms underlying FIP pathogenesis remain poorly understood due to the limited availability of complete genomes. Advances in genome sequencing methods of FCoV are, therefore, essential to expand the landscape of viral pathogenicity.
Objectives: To develop and validate a protocol for obtaining complete FCoV genomes directly from clinical samples, enabling routine genomic analysis in clinical settings. Animals: Ten client-owned cats diagnosed with effusive FIP.
Methods: Viral RNA extracted from peritoneal and pleural effusions underwent targeted enrichment using multiplex PCR. Sequencing was performed on the Illumina platform. Sequence reads were trimmed, mapped to reference genomes, and assembled into consensus sequences using CLC Genomics Workbench.
Results: Nearly complete FCoV genomes with ≥80% coverage were successfully obtained from 9 out of 10 clinical samples. Notably, key genes associated with pathogenicity (3c, 7b, and Spike) and drug resistance (RdRp) were reliably sequenced. Conclusions and Clinical Importance: We present a robust, clinically applicable protocol for whole-genome sequencing of FCoV from effusive FIP cases. This method improves the availability of FCoV genome sequences that can be used for clinical diagnosis and offers a valuable tool for advancing our understanding of FIP pathogenesis and tracking drug resistance in FCoV.
.jpg "Izumi Kida, DVM (she/her/hers) photo")
