Feline bocaparvovirus in domestic cats with gastrointestinal disease.
Salvaggiulo A, Pellegrini F, Camero M, Gatta G, Rodi N, Lorusso A, Alfano F, Di Martino B, Elia G, Decaro N, Martella V, Lanave G · Veterinary Journal · 25 June 2026
FeBoV-1 is prevalent in Italian cats with gastroenteritis; co-infections common.
This Italian study examined the prevalence and genetic characteristics of feline bocaparvoviruses (FeBoVs) in 126 cats with acute gastroenteritis collected between 2023-2025. Overall FeBoV DNA prevalence was 22.2%, with FeBoV-1 being most common (19.0%), followed by FeBoV-2 (4.8%) and FeBoV-3 (1.6%). Co-infections with feline coronavirus and feline panleukopenia virus occurred in 8.0% of samples. Using advanced sequencing techniques, eleven complete genomes were characterized and phylogenetic analysis revealed significant genetic diversity, with Italian strains clustering with global isolates from multiple continents. Notably, putative intra-typic recombination events were identified within VP1/2 coding regions of FeBoV-1 and FeBoV-2 strains. These findings establish FeBoVs as common components of the feline enteric virome and demonstrate that natural recombination represents a primary evolutionary mechanism in these viruses.
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