The new strain has killed thousands of felines on the island and at least one cat in the UK has been infected
by PROF HASSAN VALLY
ANALYSIS
You may have heard reports of a cat in the UK having been infected with a new coronavirus strain responsible for thousands of cat deaths in Cyprus.
Estimates of the number of cat deaths caused by this new virus range from about 8,000 to more than 300,000. In other words, it could be a real cause for concern.
Following the events of the past few years, we’re all too aware of the threat a new coronavirus strain can pose to humans – and it’s no different for other species. This new cat coronavirus strain appears to be both deadly and highly infectious, and could quickly take hold. So are we on the brink of the feline equivalent of the COVID-19 pandemic?
Before drawing parallels between the current outbreak in cats and the COVID-19 pandemic that surged through the human population, it’s worth zooming in to understand what has been happening to the virus on a molecular level.
Based on one study (yet to be peer-reviewed), it seems that an existing cat coronavirus has recombined with a dog coronavirus to create a completely new coronavirus. (The SARS-CoV-2 virus behind the pandemic also emerged from a recombination event.)
This recombination has led to a change on the cat coronavirus spike protein, the structure that enables it to enter host cells. This has made the virus not only more infectious, but also potentially able to cause more severe illness – a dangerous combination.
This new virus, designated F-CoV-23, can cause a severe disease called feline infectious peritonitis (FIP). White blood cells become infected, causing symptoms including lethargy, diarrhoea, fluctuating fever, reduced appetite, weight loss and inflammation. Most infected cats will also develop the so-called ‘wet’ form of FIP. This causes a build-up of fluid inside an animal’s body, leading to a swollen abdomen or chest cavity, often resulting in breathing difficulties. Without treatment, FIP is almost always fatal.
Despite this dire prognosis, it’s important to be clear that this virus is distinct from SARS-CoV-2. There’s also no evidence that it can be transmitted to – or cause disease in – humans.
