FATAL ENTERITIS ASSOCIATED WITH CORONAVIRUS INFECTION IN CATS

This report describes five cases of naturally occurring feline coronav irus enteritis. The affected animals, aged 2 months to 7 years, had a clinical history of intestinal symptoms, including diarrhoea or vomiti ng, or both. They exhibited variable histological changes in the epith elium of the small intestine, ranging from degeneration of single cell s and detachment of groups of cells from the villous tips to regenerat ive processes of the crypt epithelia. Post-mortem diagnosis was based on the immunohistochemical demonstration of coronavirus antigen within intestinal epithelial cells and on the electron microscopical demonst ration of coronavirus particles in the faeces. In addition, one animal was immunohistochemically positive for antigens of feline leukaemia v irus (FeLV) and exhibited intestinal changes consistent with FeLV-asso ciated enteritis. Two cats were tested serologically for feline immuno deficiency antibodies, with negative results. The findings indicate ch at natural coronavirus infection is a potential cause of severe enteri tis in juvenile and adult cats. (C) 1998 W.B. Saunders Company Limited .