近日,，據(jù)國外媒體報道,，一支香港研究團隊發(fā)現(xiàn)了一種新的病毒，他們將其稱為貓科麻疹病毒（FmoPV）,。該病毒明顯與一種導(dǎo)致人類的麻疹腮腺炎病毒,，以及另一種導(dǎo)致犬類患犬瘟熱的病毒具有密切關(guān)系。該團隊認為,，這種新病毒是引起腎小管間質(zhì)性腎炎的罪魁禍?zhǔn)?，而貓如若患有這種疾病將會導(dǎo)致致命的腎臟疾病。到目前為止,，這種疾病的根源仍不甚明了,。他們在研究報告中稱，這一新發(fā)現(xiàn)的病毒和眾所周知的貓腎臟疾病之間似乎有著明確的聯(lián)系,。他們的研究論文已發(fā)表在美國《國家科學(xué)院院刊》PNAS上,。
腎小管間質(zhì)性腎炎就是腎小管之間的物質(zhì)發(fā)炎。而腎小管需要運輸保證腎功能正常進行的液體,，當(dāng)疾病發(fā)生時,，腎小管會將這些液體排出，甚至阻礙這些液體的流動,。當(dāng)情況足夠嚴(yán)重,，甚至?xí)?dǎo)致患病者死亡。雖然人類得這種病的機理很早之前就已經(jīng)被探明,，但是貓患病的原因仍是未解之謎,。
因為科學(xué)家已經(jīng)在人類和狗的身上發(fā)現(xiàn)類似的病毒，所以香港的研究人員推測,，患病的貓身上應(yīng)該攜帶有類似的病毒,。為了找到答案,，他們開始在香港和中國大陸測試流浪貓，試圖尋找到與人和狗身上發(fā)現(xiàn)病毒的DNA相似的病毒,。在測試的457只貓中,，56只經(jīng)測試所攜帶的貓科麻疹病毒呈陽性。接近28%的貓攜帶有該病毒的抗體,，這一狀況表明,，這些貓曾經(jīng)染上過該病毒。
該研究小組隨后又對27只死亡的流浪貓進行解剖檢查,，發(fā)現(xiàn)其中12只攜帶的貓科麻疹病毒（FmoPV）呈陽性,，而其中七只貓正是死于腎小管間質(zhì)性腎炎，其余只有兩只貓的腎臟有被損害的跡象,。該研究小組認為,，這些發(fā)現(xiàn)表明貓科麻疹病毒（FmoPV）和腎小管間質(zhì)腎炎之間有著明確聯(lián)系。如論文所述,，“我們通過對國內(nèi)貓體內(nèi)發(fā)現(xiàn)的的副粘病毒,，貓科麻疹病毒（FmoPV）進行隔離。實驗測試了457只流浪貓的尿液,，直腸拭片,，血液樣本，通過RT-PCR檢測法對該病毒進行完整的基因組測序……電子顯微鏡顯示,，病毒呈現(xiàn)典型的‘人字形’螺旋列外觀,，F(xiàn)moPV和腎小管間質(zhì)腎炎之間有著明顯關(guān)聯(lián)。”
該小組隨后指出,，現(xiàn)在新的病毒還沒有能夠感染人類的能力,，所以不存在任何健康風(fēng)險。不幸的是,，貓如若患病,，仍然沒有治愈的可能，然而研究小組下一計劃就是馬上開始研制疫苗,。（生物谷Bioon.com）
doi:10.1073/pnas.1119972109
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PMID:
Feline morbillivirus, a previously undescribed paramyxovirus associated with tubulointerstitial nephritis in domestic cats
Patrick C. Y. Wooa,b,c,d,1, Susanna K. P. Laua,b,c,d,1, Beatrice H. L. Wongb, Rachel Y. Y. Fanb, Annette Y. P. Wongb, Anna J. X. Zhangb, Ying Wub, Garnet K. Y. Choib, Kenneth S. M. Lib, Janet Huie, Ming Wangf, Bo-Jian Zhenga,b,c,d, K. H. Chanb, and Kwok-Yung Yuena,b,c,d,2
We describe the discovery and isolation of a paramyxovirus, feline morbillivirus (FmoPV), from domestic cat (Felis catus). FmoPV RNA was detected in 56 (12.3%) of 457 stray cats (53 urine, four rectal swabs, and one blood sample) by RT-PCR. Complete genome sequencing of three FmoPV strains showed genome sizes of 16,050 bases, the largest among morbilliviruses, because of unusually long 5′ trailer sequences of 400 nt. FmoPV possesses identical gene contents (3′-N-P/V/C-M-F-H-L-5′) and is phylogenetically clustered with other morbilliviruses. IgG against FmoPV N protein was positive in 49 sera (76.7%) of 56 RT-PCR–positive cats, but 78 (19.4%) of 401 RT-PCR–negative cats (P < 0.0001) by Western blot. FmoPV was isolated from CRFK feline kidney cells, causing cytopathic effects with cell rounding, detachment, lysis, and syncytia formation. FmoPV could also replicate in subsequent passages in primate Vero E6 cells. Infected cell lines exhibited finely granular and diffuse cytoplasmic fluorescence on immunostaining for FmoPV N protein. Electron microscopy showed enveloped virus with typical “herringbone” appearance of helical N in paramyxoviruses. Histological examination of necropsy tissues in two FmoPV-positive cats revealed interstitial inflammatory infiltrate and tubular degeneration/necrosis in kidneys, with decreased cauxin expression in degenerated tubular epithelial cells, compatible with tubulointerstitial nephritis (TIN). Immunohistochemical staining revealed FmoPV N protein-positive renal tubular cells and mononuclear cells in lymph nodes. A case-control study showed the presence of TIN in seven of 12 cats with FmoPV infection, but only two of 15 cats without FmoPV infection (P < 0.05), suggesting an association between FmoPV and TIN.
