Hyderabad: A group of researchers in the United Kingdom detected a new variant of Coronavirus that poses a threat to cats. Originating from Cyprus, this variant, namedF-CoV-23, is causing a disease called infectious Peritonitis(severe inflammation of the thin layer of tissue inside the abdomen that lines the cavity, enclosing organs)has sparked worries among researchers due to its potential to cause fatalities among pets, especially cats. The previously undescribed cat family variant appears to have borrowed genetic information from a highly virulent dog family Coronavirus.
Dr Cyriac Abby Philips, a hepatologist from Kerala, wrote in X, about the outbreak, with an alert for cat parents. If you did not know, a novel coronavirus mutated into a recombinant coronavirus, jumped host, changed its target host cell of attack (from lung to abdomen) and is killing 1000s of cats world over, he wrote while explaining the infection and how it mutated to attack the cats.
How it is transmitted?With around 8,000 reported cat deaths in Cyprus and concerns about a much higher toll, there is a growing alarm in the UK's scientific community. The suspected carrier-infected cat is kept under isolation and further medical surveillance after a Covid positive test. This hybrid strain has caused significant devastation among feline populations, spreading rapidly through direct transmission primarily via fecal contamination similar to other cat and dog coronavirus strains.
Precautionary measures-Cypriot authorities have swiftly initiated emergency measures to contain the outbreak in their "island of cats," with veterinarians and volunteers working tirelessly to care for infected animals. Dr. Christine Tait-Burkard highlighted the virus's contagious nature, emphasising its transmission through shared spaces like litter trays or outdoor areas.