Feline Morbillivirus Infection in Domestic Cats: What Have We Learned So Far?

Feline morbillivirus (FeMV) was identified for the first time in stray cats in 2012 in Hong Kong and, since its discovery, it was reported in domestic cats worldwide. Although a potential association between FeMV infection and tubulointerstitial nephritis (TIN) has been suggested, this has not been proven, and the subject remains controversial. TIN is the most frequent histopathological finding in the context of feline chronic kidney disease (CKD), which is one of the major clinical pathologies in feline medicine. FeMV research has mainly focused on defining the epidemiology, the role of FeMV in the development of CKD, and its in vitro tropism, but the pathogenicity of FeMV is still not clear, partly due to its distinctive biological characteristics, as well as to a lack of a cell culture system for its rapid isolation. In this review, we summarize the current knowledge of FeMV infection, including genetic diversity of FeMV strains, epidemiology, pathogenicity, and clinicopathological findings observed in naturally infected cats.

Automated summary

Felino morbillivirus (FeMV) was first identified in stray cats in Hong Kong in 2012 and has since been found in domestic cats worldwide. While a potential link between FeMV infection and tubulointerstitial nephritis (TIN) has been suggested, it remains unproven, leading to controversy. Research on FeMV has primarily focused on its epidemiology, role in chronic kidney disease, and tropism, but its pathogenicity is still unclear due to its unique characteristics and lack of a rapid isolation cell culture system.