Researchers to investigate new hepatitis B-like virus and its impact on cats

Photo: Stepan Popov/Adobe Stock

With chronic hepatitis potentially being more common in cats than believed, according to a feline virologist at the City University of Hong Kong, a group of researchers and specialists are coming together to study the first hepatitis B-related virus found in carnivores. Specifically, their research will center on how the virus affects cats, including its link to liver disease and cancer in these felines.

For the study, Texas A&M Gastrointestinal Laboratory (GI Lab) is partnering with Julia A. Beatty, BVetMed, PhD, FRCVS (Feline Medicine), FANZCVS, GAICD, chair professor of veterinary medicine and infectious disease at the City University of Hong Kong. Beatty will work with Jörg M. Steiner, DrMedVet, PhD, DACVIM (SAIM), DECVIM-CA, AGAF, GI Lab director and regents professor in the Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences at the College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences (VMBS), and his team.

Hepatitis B is known to be a global health concern in the human world, and animal variants of the virus have been studied for with human health in mind.¹ However, “the health of domestic cats is the primary driver for our work,” shared Beatty in a Texas A&M report. According to Texas A&M, the recently discovered feline “cousin” of the hepatitis B virus—discovered by Beatty and her team—is the first virus related to hepatitis B that has been found in a carnivore and companion animal

Beatty explained that the team’s goal is to investigate whether the feline cousin of the hepatitis B virus leads to disease in cats like in the same way it does in humans.

In humans, hepatitis A, B, and C can all affect the liver, although the severity varies for each type.^1,2 Hepatitis A is generally food-borne. Although this illness has high transmissibility, the damage it does to the liver is mild.¹

On the other hand, hepatitis B spreads via contact with infected bodily fluids. Mothers can also transmit the disease to their babies.¹ This form of hepatitis, along with hepatitis C, can cause chronic disease and lead to long-term liver damage, cancer, and cirrhosis—a condition in which the liver’s healthy tissue is replaced with scar tissue, permanently damaging the liver.³ In humans and cats, hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common type of primary liver cancer. In humans, this type of cancer is most often caused by chronic liver diseases like cirrhosis.⁴

“The goal of our study is to determine whether the feline hepatitis B-like virus causes disease in cats like it does in humans,” Beatty said.1 “We have already identified an association between the virus and both chronic hepatitis and...HCC, the most common type of liver cancer in cats.”

“In fact, about a quarter of feline HCC cases are positive for the virus. But more work must be done to fully understand how the virus affects cat health,” she continued.¹ “These diseases are not incredibly common in cats, but it’s possible that chronic hepatitis is more common than we think.”

According to Texas A&M, the same hepatitis B-like virus has been identified in a limited number of dogs. Yet, no evidence exists that shows dogs can get liver disease due to the virus.¹

Beatty stated there is also no evidence that the virus can infect humans. This hepatitis B-like virus, however, has been found in large-cat species, such as the endangered Iberian lynx.¹

Currently, there is no feline vaccine for the hepatitis B virus, and the hepatitis B vaccine for humans is highly toxic to cats, explained Beatty. However, “there are already some new virus treatments that can point researchers in the right direction,” she said in the report.¹ “There’s already a lot of knowledge in this area.”

References

1. Price C. Texas A&M Gastrointestinal Laboratory collaborates with virologist to prevent liver disease in cats. Texas A&M University. April 9, 2025. Accessed April 10, 2025. https://stories.tamu.edu/news/2025/04/09/texas-am-gastrointestinal-laboratory-collaborates-with-virologist-to-prevent-liver-disease-in-cats/?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_content=Texas%20A%26amp%3BM%20Gastrointestinal%20Laboratory%20Collaborates%20With%20Virologist%20To%20Prevent%20Liver%20Disease%20In%20Cats&utm_campaign=today_04-09-2025
2. Hepatitis. Penn Medicine. Accessed April 10, 2025. https://www.pennmedicine.org/for-patients-and-visitors/patient-information/conditions-treated-a-to-z/hepatitis
3. Cirrhosis. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. Accessed April 10, 2025. https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/liver-disease/cirrhosis#:~:text=Print%20All%20Sections-,Definition%20%26%20Facts,your%20liver%20begins%20to%20fail.
4. Hepatocellular carcinoma. Mayo Clinic. Accessed April 10, 2025. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/hepatocellular-carcinoma/cdc-20354552#:~:text=Hepatocellular%20carcinoma%20(HCC)%20is%20the%20most%20common,by%20hepatitis%20B%20or%20hepatitis%20C%20infection