Molecular characterization of Feline coronavirus in Shandong from 2017 to 2019, China

Abstract Feline coronavirus (FCoV) is the causative agent of feline infectious peritonitis and diarrhoea in kittens worldwide. In this study, a total of 73 feline diarrhoeal faecal samples were collected from veterinary hospitals in ShanDong province from 2017 to 2019. FCoV was detected in 58.23% (46/79) of the samples using the RT-nPCR method. The results showed that the detection rate of FCoV in healthy cats and sick cats were 41.7% (10/24) and 81.6% (40/49), respectively. Full gene amplification and sequencing of N, M and S2 of positive FCoV isolates were performed. There was an amino acid mutation site (M1058L) in the S gene, which could be predicted to be used as a marker for Feline enteric coronavirus (FECV) and Feline infectious peritonitis virus (FIPV). These results enriched the epidemiological information of FCoV and provided an important reference for the prevention of FCoV in Shandong.