Feline infectious peritonitis epizootic caused by a recombinant coronavirus

Charalampos Attipa (), Amanda S. Warr (), Demetris Epaminondas, Marie O’Shea, Andrew J. Hanton, Sarah Fletcher, Alexandra Malbon, Maria Lyraki, Rachael Hammond, Alexandros Hardas, Antria Zanti, Stavroula Loukaidou, Michaela Gentil, Danielle Gunn-Moore, Samantha J. Lycett, Stella Mazeri and Christine Tait-Burkard ()
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Charalampos Attipa: Easter Bush
Amanda S. Warr: Easter Bush
Demetris Epaminondas: Natural Resources and Environment
Marie O’Shea: Easter Bush
Andrew J. Hanton: Easter Bush
Sarah Fletcher: Easter Bush
Alexandra Malbon: Easter Bush
Maria Lyraki: Plakentia Veterinary Clinic
Rachael Hammond: Easter Bush
Alexandros Hardas: Royal Veterinary College
Antria Zanti: Vet Dia Gnosis
Stavroula Loukaidou: Vet Dia Gnosis
Michaela Gentil: Laboklin
Danielle Gunn-Moore: Easter Bush
Samantha J. Lycett: Easter Bush
Stella Mazeri: Easter Bush
Christine Tait-Burkard: Easter Bush

Nature, 2025, vol. 645, issue 8079, 228-234

Abstract: Abstract Cross-species transmission of coronaviruses (CoVs) poses a serious threat to both animal and human health1–3. While the large RNA genome of CoVs shows relatively low mutation rates, recombination within genera is frequently observed4–7. Companion animals are often overlooked in the transmission cycle of viral diseases; however, the close relationship of feline (FCoV) and canine CoV (CCoV) to human hCoV-229E5,8, as well as the susceptibility of these animals to SARS-CoV-29, highlight their importance in potential transmission cycles. While recombination between CCoV and FCoV of a large fragment spanning orf1b to M has been previously described5,10, here we report the emergence of a highly pathogenic FCoV–CCoV recombinant responsible for a rapidly spreading outbreak of feline infectious peritonitis (FIP) originating in Cyprus11. The minor recombinant region, spanning spike (S), shows 96.5% sequence identity to the pantropic canine coronavirus NA/09. Infection has rapidly spread, infecting cats of all ages. Development of FIP appears to be very frequent and sequence identities of samples from cats in different districts of the island are strongly supportive of direct transmission. A near-cat-specific deletion in the domain 0 of S is present in more than 90% of cats with FIP. It is unclear as yet whether this deletion is directly associated with disease development, and it may be linked to a biotype switch12. The domain 0 deletion and several amino acid changes in S, particularly the receptor-binding domain, indicate potential changes to receptor binding and cell tropism.

Date: 2025
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DOI: 10.1038/s41586-025-09340-0

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