Molecular detection of feline calicivirus (FCV) in cats with oral lesions

Feline Calicivirus (FCV) is a major cause of oral lesions in cats with respiratory tract disease (RTD). FCV is a single-stranded, positive-polarity RNA virus that encodes three open reading frames (ORFs). Active virus excretion occurs through the saliva of cats infected with FCV, which belongs to the Vesivirus genus of the Caliciviridae family. Oral mucosal lesions caused by infectious agents in RTD lead to significant impairment in the quality of life of cats. RTD, which also affects the oral mucosa, is a common problem in cats.. Ten cats of different ages, breeds, and genders with ocular lesions were used in this study. At the time of sample collection, the veterinarian performed general and oral examinations on each animal. On oral examination,varying degrees of gingivitis, stomatitis, and ulceration symptoms were noted. Samples were extracted using a commercial viral nucleic acid isolation kit. Three out of ten samples (30%) were found to be positive for FCV using RT-PCR. Our study contributed significantly to our understanding of the relationship between FCV and disease severity by effectively and quickly detecting it in cats with oral lesions that were naturally infected. In conclusion, the high sensitivity, specificity, and potential for field sample testing make RT-PCR a very important and inevitable method for research and clinical diagnosis related to FCV infection in cats with oral lesions.