Principal Investigator: Gary Whittaker

Co-PI: Elizabeth Berliner

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): 

Upper respiratory infections are an important cause of disease in cats, especially in animal shelters. While there are often multiple viruses and bacteria associated with upper respiratory infection, we have evidence that cats are infected with feline coronavirus in nasal and conjunctive (eye) swabs. Our study is designed to assess the importance of feline coronavirus as a cause of upper respiratory infection and to assess the relevance of these viruses to coronaviruses viruses causing feline infectious peritonitis (FIP), the more commonly appreciated manifestation of feline coronavirus infection.