DETECTION OF FELINE CORONAVIRUS RNA USING RT-PCR - BASIS FOR THE STUDY OF THE PATHOGENESIS OF FELINE INFECTIOUS PERITONITIS (FIP)

The aim of this study was to further investigate the pathogenesis and epidemiology of feline coronavirus (FCoV)-infections and among others to determine the prognostic value of a positive result in the RT-PCR f or FCoV in serum samples collected from cats with abdominal signs. Vir al RNA was isolated from 100 mu l of serum and subsequently amplified by a nearest RT-PCR using primers binding to a highly conserved region of the 3'-end of the FCoV-genome. Sixty-three serum samples collected from 62 cats with abdominal signs were examined by RT-PCR and the cli nical outcome was followed up. Four of these cats with a positive PCR- result are healthy more than 70 months after the collection of the blo od samples. It can be concluded that viremia with FCoV-RT-PCR is of lo w prognostic and diagnostic value. It can not be recommended to use th is assay as sole indication to euthanize cats. Further studies will ha ve to be carried out to demonstrate if the prognostic and diagnostic v alue of this PCR-assay in other samples such as peripheral blood monon uclear cells is more reliable. However, this method was found to be an important tool to further study the pathogenesis and epidemiology of FIP.