The Detection of Feline Morbillivirus and Its Disease Correlation in Taiwan

• Main Authors: Yih-Shuang Lin, 林懿雙
• Other Authors: Ya-Jane Lee
• Format: Others
• Language: en_US
• Published: 2017
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/62933436679024884657

碩士 === 國立臺灣大學 === 臨床動物醫學研究所 === 105 === Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is the most common renal disease in cats and tubulointerstitial fibrosis is the most common finding. However, the evidence to demonstrate a cause-and-effect etiology of tubulointerstitial fibrosis was limited. Infections might play a causal role in some cases of CKD, like feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) and feline leukemia virus (FeLV). Recently, Woo et al. (2012) reported the isolation of feline morbillivirus (FmoPV) in domestic cats in Hong Kong and Main China. The histological findings from the infected cats suggested that there might be a correlation between FmoPV infection and tubulointerstitial nephritis (TIN). During 2013-2016, the studies from Japan, Europe and America also demonstrated evidence for the presence of FmoPV in domestic cats. Except TIN, renal inflammation and feline lower urinary tract disease (FLUTD) may also relate to FmoPV infection. Thus, it is essential to confirm the presence of FmoPV in Taiwan and identify its pathogenicity. The aim of this study is to detect FmoPV from urine samples in Taiwan by RT-PCR. Phylogenetic analysis was used to determine sequence divergences. Furthermore, laboratory parameters and clinical signs from the cats suffered from infection were statistically analyzed for the correlation between FmoPV and urinary disease. Based on our results, partial sequence of FmoPV L gene was detected by RT-PCR from 9 out of 339 urine samples (2.65%) of cats brought to National Taiwan University Veterinary Hospital (NTUVH) during 2014-2016. Two different strains of FmoPV similar with the strains from Hong Kong and Japan respectively were found via phylogenetic analysis. Additionally, by using positive plasmid, quantitative PCR was established with new primers designed by our group. Among nine positive cats, urinary disease with mild increased renal index concentration was significantly correlated to FmoPV infected cats (p =0.034). Nevertheless, there was no significant difference of renal values (BUN, Creatinine and urinary specific gravity) of the number of CKD or FLUTD between infected and non-infected cats. Moreover, target viral genomic fragments of FmoPV still could be detected in urine of one positive cat during two years of follow-up. It’s interesting that two virus positive cats had neurological signs and which was never reported. In conclusion, our findings support that the existence of FmoPV infection in Taiwan. Additionally, FmoPV may relate to urinary disease and is still detected from urine of infected cats after two year.