Virological and Serological Investigation of Feline Coronavirus Infection in Cats

Abstract

Feline coronavirus infection is an important viral disease affecting feline health. In this study, feline coronavirus infection (FCoV) in cats was investigated using virological and serological methods. For this purpose, both blood and stool samples were taken from 60 cats aged six months or older with or without clinical signs in different races, sexes, ages and social environments, which were not vaccinated against the aforementioned infection, which were kept as pets at home. Collected blood samples were checked for FCoV antibodies by applying FCoV rapid test-antibody (Ab) and indirect Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) methods. Similarly, stool samples taken from the same cats were checked for the presence of FCoV antigen using the FCoV rapid test-antigen (Ag) method. Of the 60 cat blood serum samples analyzed, 21 (35%) were determined to be seropositive by rapid test-Ab method and 41 (68.33%) by indirect ELISA method. The difference between the antibody positivity rates determined as a result of the indirect ELISA method and the rapid test-Ab method was found to be statistically significant (P˂0.001). The presence of FCoV in 60 stool samples collected was investigated by rapid test-Ag method and 1 sample (1.67%) was found to be antigen positive. As a result of this research, the presence/prevalence of FCoV infection in owned cats was revealed both virologically and serologically. In addition, the indirect ELISA method was found to be more sensitive and reliable than the rapid test-Ab method in the serological diagnosis of FCoV infection.

Keywords

• Antigen
• Antibody
• ELISA
• Feline
• Feline Coronavirus
• Rapid Test

Kedilerde Feline Coronavirus Enfeksiyonunun Virolojik ve Serolojik Araştırılması

Abstract

Feline coronavirus enfeksyonu kedi sağlığını etkileyen önemli viral bir hastalıktır. Bu çalışmada, kedilerde feline coronavirus enfeksiyonunun varlığı (FCoV) virolojik ve serolojik yöntemler kullanılarak araştırıldı. Bu amaçla söz konusu enfeksiyona karşı aşılanmamış farklı ırk, cinsiyet, yaş ve sosyal çevrede bulunan klinik bulgu gösteren veya göstermeyen altı ay yaştan büyük sahipli 60 kediden hem kan hem de dışkı örneklemesi yapıldı. Toplanan kan numunelerine FCoV antikor (Ab) rapid test ve indirekt Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) yöntemleri uygulanarak FCoV antikorları yönünden kontrol edildi. Benzer şekilde aynı kedilerden alınan dışkı numuneleri de FCoV antijen (Ag) rapid test yöntemi kullanılarak FCoV antijen varlığı yönünden kontrol edildi. Analizleri yapılan 60 kedi kan serumu numunesinin rapid test-Ab yöntemi ile 21’i (%35), indirekt ELISA yöntemiyle ise 41’i (%68,33) seropozitif olarak belirlendi. İndirekt ELISA yöntemi ile rapid test-Ab yöntemi sonucunda belirlenen antikor pozitiflik oranları arasındaki farklılığın istatistiksel olarak önemli (P˂0.001) olduğu tespit edildi. Toplanan 60 adet dışkı örneğinde de FCoV varlığı rapid test-Ag yöntemi ile araştırıldı ve bir numunede (%1,67) antijen pozitifliği belirlendi. Bu araştırma sonucunda sahipli kedilerde FCoV enfeksiyonunun varlığı/yaygınlığı hem virolojik hem de serolojik olarak ortaya koyulmuştur. Ayrıca FCoV enfeksiyonunun serolojik tanısında indirekt ELISA yönteminin rapid test-Ab yöntemine göre çok daha duyarlı ve güvenilir olduğu tespit edilmiştir.

Keywords

• Antijen
• Antikor
• ELISA
• Feline Coronavirus
• Kedi
• Rapid Test

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