Data from: Detection of feline coronavirus RNA in cats with feline infectious peritonitis and their housemates

Feline coronavirus (FCoV), the causative agent behind feline infectious
peritonitis (FIP), is one of the biggest infectious threats to feline
health. Despite this threat, the tissue distribution and viral RNA levels
in cats infected with feline coronaviruses are poorly understood in the
context of natural infection. Here, we used a two-step
reverse-transcription quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) to examine viral RNA
levels from different sampling sites in both cats that have been
clinically suspected of FIP and their feline housemates. We show that the
distribution and amount of FCoV viral RNA does not differ between
FCoV-infected cats with FIP and their feline housemates in blood,
conjunctiva, or feces. Furthermore, in all FIP and non-FIP cases, viral
RNA levels were higher in fecal samples than the blood. Taken together
these results show that amount of viral RNA does not differ between
FCoV-infected cats with FIP and their healthy housemates in several sample
types. Our results indicate a need for closer examination of FCoV
pathogenesis independent of viral dissemination, including an assessment
of intrahost evolution of FCoVs and FCoVs’ interactions with the feline
immune system.