Pathogenesis of coronavirus-induced infections. Review of pathological and immunological aspects.

Coronaviruses and arteriviruses infect multiple species of mammals, including humans, causing diseases that range from encephalitis to enteritis. Several of these viruses infect domestic animals and cause significant morbidity and mortality, leading to major economic losses. In this category are included such pathogens as transmissible gastroenteritis virus, porcine respiratory and reproductive virus and infectious bronchitis virus. The feline coronaviruses (FECV) generally do not cause infections with high morbidity but in a small percentage of cases, the virus mutates to become more virulent. This virus, feline infectious peritonitis virus (FIPV), causes severe disease in young cats. This disease is in large part immunopathological and understanding it is a major goal of coronavirus research.