Feline morbillivirus is a newly recognized virus infecting cats in Asia and Europe. It is suspected to be associated with feline renal diseases including tubulointerstitial nephritis (TIN), which affects domestic cats with a high incidence rate.
These investigators examined the prevalence of the virus in cats in Japan. Post mortem urine, sera, and kidney tissues of 100 cats sampled at random in Tokyo. A high prevalence rate was found, specifically twenty-nine of 100 cats had either antibodies to the virus or the virus itself. Nineteen of these cats had virus detectable in their kidneys.
Despite this, no correlation with chronic renal disease could be identified though an association with inflammatory lesions was found. Further retrospective and larger scale studies, including pathological studies, in other organs of cats are needed to elucidate the pathogenicity of this virus in cats. (MK)