Determination of the diversity of astroviruses in feces from cats in Florida

Abstract

Astroviruses are small, nonenveloped RNA viruses that have been linked to numerous diseases in a variety of species, including enteric disease in humans and cheetahs. Species Mamastrovirus 2, previously known as feline astrovirus, has been isolated from the feces of domestic cats and cheetahs. A total of 122 cat fecal samples from Alachua County, FL Animal Services and the Veterinary Community Outreach Program at the University of Florida were analyzed, and 35 contained astroviral RNA that was amplified and identified using consensus RT-PCR and sequence analysis. Using phylogenetic analysis, 19 of the astroviral sequences were identified as Mamastrovirus 2, making it the most prevalent astrovirus in this population. Three samples were identified as an astrovirus similar to viruses previously identified in foxes in The Netherlands and a cat in California, and one was similar to a bat astrovirus. One astroviral sequence was identified as an Avastrovirus. Although a causative relationship between mamastroviruses and enteric disease in cats has yet to be established, it is clear that mamastroviruses are prevalent, and an understanding of prevalence of astroviral types may help direct future test development.

Keywords: Astrovirus; Bayesian analysis; PCR; diversity; domestic cats.

Figure 1.

Bayesian phylogenetic analysis of the feline Alachua County astroviruses within the Mamastrovirus and Avastrovirus clades. Red circles denote the samples obtained from Alachua County Animal Services, and red triangles denote the samples obtained through the Veterinary Community Outreach Program at the University of Florida. The first numeric value indicates the Bayesian posterior probability, and the second indicates maximum likelihood bootstrap value.

Figure 2.

Bayesian phylogenetic analysis of the Florida feline astroviruses within the Mamastrovirus 2 clade. Symbols and numbering are consistent with Figure 1.