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    <front>
        <journal-meta>
            <journal-id journal-id-type="publisher-id">VETZOO</journal-id>
            <journal-title-group>
                <journal-title>Veterinarija ir Zootechnika</journal-title>
            </journal-title-group>
            <issn pub-type="epub">2669-2511</issn>
            <issn pub-type="ppub">1392-2130</issn>
            <issn-l>2669-2511</issn-l>
            <publisher>
                <publisher-name>Veterinarija ir Zootechnika</publisher-name>
                <publisher-loc>Tilžės str. 18, Kaunas, LT-47181, Lithuania</publisher-loc>
            </publisher>
        </journal-meta>
        <article-meta>
            <article-id pub-id-type="publisher-id">VETZOO1295</article-id>
            <article-categories>
                <subj-group subj-group-type="heading">
                    <subject>Other</subject>
                </subj-group>
            </article-categories>
            <title-group>
                <article-title>Minimizing feline coronavirus transmission in catteries: a case study of controlled, time-restricted breeding of virus-free queens with shedding toms  </article-title>
            </title-group>
            <abstract>
                <p>Feline coronavirus (FCoV) is highly prevalent in multi-cat environments and may mutate to cause feline infectious peritonitis (FIP). This single-site retrospective case study analysed breeding and diagnostic data from a private cattery in Estonia (10 FCoV-free queens, 4 FCoV-shedding toms, and 29 kittens) to evaluate whether virus-free queens can be bred with shedding toms without subsequent infection in queens or offspring. Natural matings were conducted under strictly controlled conditions, limited to 90-minute sessions twice daily for three consecutive days, in a room without shared litter boxes, food, water, or enrichment. FCoV infection status was monitored using repeated faecal RT-PCR and serological testing before and after mating. All queens remained negative for FCoV on faecal RT-PCR and serology six months after breeding, and all kittens tested negative by faecal RT-PCR up to three months of age. No clinical or reproductive complications were observed. Within the limitations of a retrospective case study, these findings indicate that time-limited mating under strict environmental control was associated with no detectable FCoV transmission in this setting. This approach may be relevant for breeders and veterinarians managing FCoV-free breeding stock where virus-negative toms are not available.</p>
            </abstract>
            <kwd-group>
                <label>Keywords</label>
                <kwd>feline coronavirus</kwd>
                <kwd>feline infectious peritonitis</kwd>
                <kwd>breeding management</kwd>
                <kwd>controlled mating</kwd>
                <kwd>faecal shedding</kwd>
            </kwd-group>
            <contrib-group>
                <contrib contrib-type="author">
                    <name>
                        <surname>Jeremejeva</surname>
                        <given-names>Julia</given-names>
                    </name>
                    <email xlink:href="mailto:tjulia@emu.ee">tjulia@emu.ee</email>
                    <contrib-id contrib-id-type="orcid"/>
                    <xref ref-type="aff" rid="f9028113-3b8e-48ab-80c5-9a2b6713fab7"/>
                    <xref ref-type="corresp" rid="cor2">*</xref>
                </contrib>
                <aff id="f9028113-3b8e-48ab-80c5-9a2b6713fab7">
                    <institution>Institute of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences, Estonian University of Life Sciences</institution>,
                    <city>Tartu</city>
                    <country>Estonia</country>
                    <addr-line>F. R. Kreutzwaldi 62</addr-line>
                    <post>51006</post>
                </aff>
                <contrib contrib-type="author">
                    <name>
                        <surname>Dedjulja</surname>
                        <given-names>Aleksandr</given-names>
                    </name>
                    <email xlink:href="mailto:aleksandr.dedjulja@gmail.com">aleksandr.dedjulja@gmail.com</email>
                    <contrib-id contrib-id-type="orcid"/>
                    <xref ref-type="aff" rid="46109c39-61a5-4238-a4f1-4ffc0d82c1a1"/>
                </contrib>
                <aff id="46109c39-61a5-4238-a4f1-4ffc0d82c1a1">
                    <institution>Evidensia Tartu Small Animal Clinic</institution>
                    <city>Tartu</city>
                    <country>Estonia</country>
                    <addr-line>Aleksandri 8B</addr-line>
                    <post>51004</post>
                </aff>
            </contrib-group>
            <history>
                <date date-type="received">
                    <day>27</day>
                    <month>11</month>
                    <year>2025</year>
                </date>
                <date date-type="rev-recd">
                    <day>07</day>
                    <month>01</month>
                    <year>2026</year>
                </date>
                <date date-type="accepted">
                    <day>30</day>
                    <month>01</month>
                    <year>2026</year>
                </date>
            </history>
            <permissions>
                <license license-type="openAccess" xlink:href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/">
                    <license-p>Open access article under the CC BY license</license-p>
                </license>
            </permissions>
            <article-id pub-id-type="doi">2525555</article-id>
            <fpage>31</fpage>
            <lpage>34</lpage>
            <issue-title content-type="ISSUE">Volumes 83, Issues 2, (2025): Veterinarija ir Zootechnika</issue-title>
            <volume>83</volume>
            <issue>2</issue>
            <pub-date iso-8601-date="2026-08-31"/>
            <pub-date pub-type="ppub">
                <year>2025</year>
            </pub-date>
        </article-meta>
    </front>
</article>
