Molecular characterization of a novel coronavirus associated with epizootic catarrhal enteritis (ECE) in ferrets

• Published in: Virology (New York, N.Y.) Vol. 349; no. 1; pp. 164 - 174
• Main Authors: Wise, Annabel G., Kiupel, Matti, Maes, Roger K.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 25-05-2006
• Subjects: Amino Acid Sequence; Animals; Base Sequence; Canine coronavirus; Consensus PCR for coronaviruses; Coronavirus; Coronavirus - classification; Coronavirus - genetics; Coronavirus - isolation & purification; Coronavirus Infections - epidemiology; Coronavirus Infections - veterinary; Coronavirus Infections - virology; Coronavirus, Canine - genetics; Coronavirus, Feline - genetics; Enteritis - epidemiology; Enteritis - veterinary; Enteritis - virology; Epithelial Cells - virology; Epizootic catarrhal enteritis; Feces - virology; Feline coronavirus; Ferret; Ferrets - virology; Genes, pol; Genes, Viral; Human coronavirus 229e; In Situ Hybridization; Membrane Glycoproteins - genetics; Molecular Sequence Data; Mustela; Mustelo putorius furo; Nucleocapsid Proteins - genetics; Open Reading Frames - genetics; Phylogeny; Porcine epidemic diarrhea virus; Porcine transmissible gastroenteritis virus; RNA, Viral - genetics; Sequence Analysis, DNA; Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus; Transmissible gastroenteritis virus - genetics; Viral Envelope Proteins - genetics; Viral Matrix Proteins - genetics; Coronavirus; Mustelo putorius furo; Epizootic catarrhal enteritis; Consensus PCR for coronaviruses; Ferret
• ISSN: 0042-6822; 1096-0341
• DOI: 10.1016/j.virol.2006.01.031

A novel coronavirus, designated as ferret enteric coronavirus (FECV), was identified in feces of domestic ferrets clinically diagnosed with epizootic catarrhal enteritis (ECE). Initially, partial sequences of the polymerase, spike, membrane protein, and nucleocapsid genes were generated using coronavirus consensus PCR assays. Subsequently, the complete sequences of the nucleocapsid gene and the last two open reading frames at the 3′ terminus of the FECV genome were obtained. Phylogenetic analyses based on predicted partial amino acid sequences of the polymerase, spike, and membrane proteins, and full sequence of the nucleocapsid protein showed that FECV is genetically most closely related to group 1 coronaviruses. FECV is more similar to feline coronavirus, porcine transmissible gastroenteritis virus, and canine coronavirus than to porcine epidemic diarrhea virus and human coronavirus 229E. Molecular data presented in this study provide the first genetic evidence for a new coronavirus associated with clinical cases of ECE.