Severe, diffuse fibrinonecrotic pleuropneumonia in a cat affected by multiple viral infection.

Balboni, Andrea; Bassi, Patrizia; Battilani, Mara; Biserni, Roberta; Prosperi, Santino; Dondi, Francesco

This communication describes the coinfection with feline panleukopenia virus (FPV), feline herpesvirus 1 (FeHV-1), feline calicivirus (FCV) and feline coronavirus (FCoV) in a 1 year‑old domestic cat living in a feline shelter. The cat was referred to veterinary hospital with clinical signs related to diffuse gastro-intestinal inflammation, it had developed a severe pneumopathy with fibrinous exudation in all body cavities and died 8 days after initial presentation. Pathological findings and biomolecular diagnostic test results were compatible with an initial FPV infection that, in consequence of the lymphoid depletion, has fostered coinfection or reactivation of chronic-latent infections with FeHV-1, FCV, and FCoV. In the reported case, the simultaneous presence of different viruses exacerbated the clinical status of the host, resulting in multiple organ damage and leading it to its death.