FeMV is a cathepsin-dependent unique morbillivirus infecting the kidneys of domestic cats

Abstract

Feline morbillivirus (FeMV) has been classified as a morbillivirus despite lacking several biological features shared by all other known viruses in the genus. We confirm that FeMV uses CD150 as a cellular receptor and employs a different protease to furin to process the fusion glycoprotein. As such, FeMV may represent an important evolutionary intermediate between morbilliviruses and the zoonotic henipaviruses. Feline chronic kidney disease is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in cats and has no clear etiology. FeMV has been postulated to be a causative agent. We dissected FeMV pathogenesis using recombinant, fluorescent protein expressing viruses based on an unpassaged clinical isolate. This sheds light on the primary target cells infected and possible mechanisms of host-to-host transmission.