Serological and molecular diagnosis of the feline coronavirus in the americas

Since its discovery by Holzworth in 1962, the study of the Feline Coronavirus (FCoV) has have a great interest because it can affect wildlife and domestic felines. Currently 2 serotypes are known, type I is unique for felines and type II arose from a double homologous recombination with a canine coronavirus (CCoV); these also can be classified in 2 biotypes, viruses that generate mild enteric diseases (FECVs) and those that cause the feline infectious peritonitis (FIPVs). In the American continent exist different diagnostic methods that together allow the detection of the feline infectious peritonitis (FIP), but the identification of the FCoV only can be done by molecular methods. The countries that have studied this virus the most are those that have the greatest number of tools to carry out diagnostic test, such as United States, Canada and Brazil. In the present work are shown cases reports and the diagnostics methods used to identify the feline coronavirus and/or its biotypes in some countries of the American continent.