Ferret respiratory enteric coronavirus (FRECV)

Test code: S0185 - Ultrasensitive qualitative detection of ferret respiratory enteric coronavirus by reverse transcription coupled real time PCR

Coronaviruses (CoVs) are enveloped RNA viruses containing a positive-sense single-stranded RNA genome. These viruses can cause acute and chronic respiratory, enteric, and central nervous system disease in a variety of animal species. Recently, a novel ferret enteric coronavirus, FRECV, was identified in domesticated ferrets (Mustela putorius). Ferret enteric coronavirus causes an enteric disease called epizootic catarrhal enteritis (ECE). Infected ferrets develop foul-smelling green diarrhea with high mucus content, lethargy, anorexia, and vomiting.

More recently, a new systemic coronavirus-associated disease closely resembling the granulomatous or dry form of feline infectious peritonitis (FIP) was reported in ferrets of the United States and Europe. This disease is believed to be caused by ferret systemic coronavirus (FRSCV).

Phylogenetic analyses based on predicted amino acid sequences showed that FRECV is genetically most closely related to group 1 coronaviruses. Group 1 coronaviruses include some important causes of enteric disease in domestic animals, including transmissible gastroenteritis virus of swine, feline coronavirus (FCoV), and canine coronavirus. Both the ferret enteric coronavirus (FRECV) and the ferret systemic coronavirus (FRSCV) were recently identified as group 1 coronaviruses.

ECE is a highly contagious diarrheal disease, with outbreaks usually involving 100% of ferrets LOCATED together in a household or breeding facility. Even though the morbidity for ECE often reaches 100%, generally the mortality rate is low (<5%). Young ferrets infected with FRECV usually develop mild symptoms or no symptoms at all, but older ferrets are more severely affected and have higher mortality rates (Murray et al., 2010).

Other methods of detecting FRECV are less specific than PCR due to cross-reactivity with other coronaviruses, so diagnosis of FRECV and ECE is usually done by PCR.

Utilities:            

• Help confirm the disease causing agent
• Identify carriers of this virus
• Screen research materials for the presence of this virus
• Help ensure that ferret facilities are free of this virus
• Early prevention of spread of the virus among animals
• Minimize human exposure to the virus
• Safety monitoring of biological products that derive from susceptible animals

References:
Murray, J., Kiupel, M. and Maes, R.K. (2010) Ferret coronavirus-associated diseases. Vet. Clin. Exot. Anim. 13:543–560.

Specimen requirements: Fecal swab, or 0.2 ml feces, or respiratory swab, or 0.2 ml fresh or frozen tissue.

Contact Zoologix if advice is needed to determine an appropriate specimen type for a specific diagnostic application. For specimen types not listed here, please contact Zoologix to confirm specimen acceptability and shipping instructions.

For all specimen types, if there will be a delay in shipping, or during very warm weather, refrigerate specimens until shipped and ship with a cold pack unless more stringent shipping requirements are specified. Frozen specimens should be shipped so as to remain frozen in transit. See shipping instructions for more information.

Turnaround time: 2 business days

Methodology: Qualitative reverse transcription coupled real time PCR

Normal range: Nondetected