[en] Feline morbillivirus (FeMV) was first isolated in 2012 from stray cats in Hong Kong. It has been found in association with tubulointerstitial nephritis (TIN), the most common cause of feline chronic kidney disease (CKD). However, viral host spectrum and virus tropism go beyond the domestic cat and kidney tissues. The viral genetic diversity of FeMV is extensive, but it is not known if this is clinically relevant. Urine and kidney tissues have been widely tested in attempts to confirm associations between FeMV infection and renal disease, but samples from both healthy and sick cats can test positive and some cross-sectional studies have not found associations between FeMV infection and CKD. There is also evidence for acute kidney injury following infection with FeMV. The results of prevalence studies differ greatly depending on the population tested and methodologies used for detection, but worldwide distribution of FeMV has been shown. Experimental studies have confirmed previous field observations that higher viral loads are present in the urine compared to other tissues, and renal TIN lesions associated with FeMV antigen have been demonstrated, alongside virus lymphotropism and viraemia-associated lymphopenia. Longitudinal field studies have revealed persistent viral shedding in urine, although infection can be cleared spontaneously.
Disciplines :
Veterinary medicine & animal health
Author, co-author :
Pennisi, Maria Grazia ; Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Messina, 98168 Messina, Italy
Belák, Sándor ; Department of Biomedical Sciences and Veterinary Public Health (BVF), Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU), P.O. Box 7036, 750 07 Uppsala, Sweden
Tasker, Séverine ; Bristol Veterinary School, University of Bristol, Bristol BS40 5DU, UK ; Linnaeus Veterinary Limited, Shirley, Solihull B90 4BN, UK
Addie, Diane D ; Independent Researcher, 64000 Pyrénées Aquitaine, France
Boucraut-Baralon, Corine; Scanelis Laboratory, 31770 Colomiers, France
Egberink, Herman ; Department of Biomolecular Health Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Utrecht, 3584 CL Utrecht, The Netherlands
Frymus, Tadeusz ; Department of Small Animal Diseases with Clinic, Institute of Veterinary Medicine, Warsaw University of Life Sciences-SGWW, 02-787 Warsaw, Poland
Hartmann, Katrin ; LMU Small Animal Clinic, Centre for Clinical Veterinary Medicine, LMU Munich, 80539 Munich, Germany
Hofmann-Lehmann, Regina ; Clinical Laboratory, Department of Clinical Diagnostics and Services, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland
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