Genetic Diversity and Phylogenetic Analysis of Feline Coronavirus Sequences from Portugal

A. Duarte , I. Veiga , L. Tavares

The distribution of FCoV Type I and II in a Portuguese cat population was studied by a RT-PCR assay targeting the 3′ end of the viral RNA. For a period of three years, 120 samples were collected and 57 were found positive for FCoV RNA. Within the positive samples the presence of FCoV Type I was found in 79%. Type II was only detected in 3,5% in animals with Feline Infectious Peritonitis. The remaining 17,5% could not be differentiated. These viral sequences, comprising a region within gene S were further subjected to a Heteroduplex Mobility Assay (HMA) detecting the presence of viral quasispecies in 17% of the samples. Phylogenetic analysis for FCoV Type I revealed high genetic diversity between the Portuguese sequences and other previously characterized strains, while Type II tree showed a higher genetic homogeneity. This study confirmed the presence of FCoV Type I and II circulating in Portugal and detected high genetic diversity between circulating strains suggesting that the virus persists within the host as mixed viral populations.

Mots clés: FCoV; Genetic diversity; Heteroduplex mobility assay

A. Duarte, I. Veiga, L. Tavares. Genetic Diversity and Phylogenetic Analysis of Feline Coronavirus Sequences from Portugal. Veterinary Microbiology, 2009, 138 (1-2), pp.163. ⟨10.1016/j.vetmic.2009.03.009⟩. ⟨hal-00490552⟩