Distinct mutation in the feline coronavirus spike protein cleavage activation site in a cat with feline infectious peritonitis-associated meningoencephalomyelitis

André, Nicole M; Cossic, Brieuc; Davies, Emma; Miller, Andrew D; Whittaker, Gary R

The tetra-ataxia and paresis significantly worsened over the next few months. Additionally, the cat now had titubation, tail plegia (see video in the supplementary material) and consistent urinary and fecal incontinence. Owing to the grave prognosis, the client elected humane euthanasia, at which time the cat was 10 months (40 weeks) of age. A necropsy was performed at the Animal Health Diagnostic Center, Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine, and this revealed no significant gross abnormalities outside of mild mesenteric lymphadenomegaly. Representative sections of all organs, including the entire brain and spinal cord, were fixed in 10% neutral buffered formalin from which sections were cut, stained with hematoxylin and eosin, and analyzed via light microscopy. Immunohistochemistry for FCoV was carried out using monoclonal antibody FIPV3-70 (1:1000), AP-Anti-Mouse IgG and Bond Polymer Refine Red Detection (Leica Microsystems).