Domestic Cat Hepadnavirus, a Hepatitis B-like Virus Associated with Feline Liver Disease

Julia A Beatty; Thomas Tu; John M Cullen

doi:10.1016/j.cvsm.2025.03.006

Domestic Cat Hepadnavirus, a Hepatitis B-like Virus Associated with Feline Liver Disease

Vet Clin North Am Small Anim Pract. 2025 Jul;55(4):615-626. doi: 10.1016/j.cvsm.2025.03.006. Epub 2025 May 12.

Authors

Julia A Beatty¹, Thomas Tu², John M Cullen³

Affiliations

¹ Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, Jockey Club College of Veterinary Medicine and Life Sciences, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China; Centre for Animal Health and Welfare, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China. Electronic address: julia.beatty@cityu.edu.hk.
² Storr Liver Centre, L5, Westmead Institute for Medical Research, 176 Hawkesbury Road, Westmead, NSW 2145, Australia; Sydney Institute for Infectious Diseases, School of Medical Sciences, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales 2006, Australia.
³ Department of Population Health and Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University; Gastrointestinal Laboratory, Department of Veterinary Small Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, TX, USA.

PMID: 40360337
DOI: 10.1016/j.cvsm.2025.03.006

Abstract

In 2018, a surprising finding was reported; cats are naturally infected with a virus related to hepatitis B virus (HBV), domestic cat hepadnavirus (DCH). HBV causes chronic hepatitis and hepatocellular carcinoma in people, and HBV-like viruses cause similar diseases in rodents. If DCH negatively impacts feline health then demand for diagnostics, therapeutics, and vaccination will follow. Hence, understanding pathogenic potential of DCH for cats, and the size of any associated disease burden are critical goals. Here we evaluate progress made towards these goals by reviewing published studies of DCH against the backdrop of our understanding of HBV and HBV-like viruses.

Keywords: Cancer; Cats; Chronic hepatitis; DCHBV; Dog; Hepatopathy; Interface hepatitis; Review; Viral.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Animals
Cat Diseases* / virology
Cats
Hepadnaviridae Infections* / veterinary
Hepadnaviridae Infections* / virology
Hepadnaviridae*
Hepatitis, Viral, Animal* / virology