Chronological analysis of canine parvovirus type 2 isolates in Japan

Fifty-five canine parvovirus type 2 (CPV) samples, 12 fecal specimens and 43 cell culture isolates, were examined for their genetic characteristics of VP2 gene. They were collected from the diseased dogs at various districts of Japan during 27 years from 1980 to 2006. A fragment of VP2 gene was analyzed by restriction fragment length polymorphism assay and DNA sequencing. The original antigenic type 2 of CPV (CPV-2) was no longer found in the samples since 1984, and two antigenic variants CPV-2a and CPV-2b replaced CPV-2 as predominant types for about 5 years from 1982. A new genetic variant of prototype CPV-2a with non-synonymous substitution at the VP2 amino acid residue 297 from Ser to Ala was first detected in 1987. New CPV-2b with the same amino acid substitution at position 297 as new CPV-2a was also detected from the samples collected in 1997. Since then new CPV-2b has been the predominant CPV over the field of Japan. Several additional amino acid substitutions were detected in the VP2 gene of some recent CPV strains. Neither CPV-2c(a), CPV-2c(b), nor "Glu-426" of the antigenic variants previously found outside the country was detected in any samples tested. Reactivity of new CPV-2a and 2b variants against antibodies produced by the current vaccine products was determined by a cross hemagglutination-inhibition test. The recent field CPV isolates reacted more efficiently to the antibodies produced in dogs vaccinated with the new CPV-2b vaccine strain than the conventional CPV-2 vaccine strain.     

Occurrence of canine parvovirus type 2c in the dogs with haemorrhagic enteritis in India

Canine parvovirus 2 (CPV-2) causes a highly contagious and often fatal disease in dogs. Since its sudden emergence in the early 1970s, CPV-2 has been evolving through the generation of novel genetic and antigenic variants (CPV-2a/b/c) that are unevenly distributed throughout the world. In the present study we have examined 36 clinical cases of dogs suspected of CPV collected during year 2006. A fragment of the VP2 gene of the virus was analyzed using polymerase chain reaction (PCR), restriction endonuclease (RE) and DNA sequence analysis. Out of the 36 samples analyzed, 16 were found positive for CPV-2a/2b by conventional PCR. DNA sequencing was done for 6 PCR positive samples, out of which three were characterized as CPV-2c, indicating that this CPV type 2c is currently circulating in India.     

Occurrence of canine parvovirus type 2c in the United States.

Canine parvovirus (CPV) type 2 (CPV-2) emerged around 1978 as a major pathogen of dogs worldwide. In the mid-1980s, the original CPV-2 had evolved and was completely replaced by 2 variants, CPV-2a and CPV-2b. In 2000, a new variant of CPV (named CPV-2c) was detected in Italy and now cocirculates with types 2a and 2b in that country. The CPV-2c has also been reported from single outbreaks in Vietnam and Spain. This study was conducted to determine if CPV-2c occurs in the United States. Thirty-three fecal samples were collected from dogs in 16 states between April 2006 and April 2007 and were tested for CPV using real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Positive samples were further tested using conventional PCR and minor-groove binding TaqMan PCR assays to determine the viral type and to differentiate vaccine strains from field strains. Twenty-seven samples were positive for CPV, 7 of which were CPV-2c from 5 states: Arizona, California, Georgia, Oklahoma, and Texas. Of the 7 isolates, 4 differed from European CPV-2c isolates by 2 additional single-nucleotide mutations at positions 4076 and 4104, the latter of which produces a ThrAla change at residue 440 located near a major antigenic site. The coast-to-coast geographic distribution of the states in which CPV-2c was detected strongly suggests that this new CPV variant is probably widespread in the United States. The continuous evolution of CPV requires that monoclonal antibody-based and nucleic acid-based diagnostic assays should be periodically checked for sensitivity on prevalent CPV strains.     

Genetic analysis of canine parvovirus from dogs in Australia

OBJECTIVE: To determine the genetic variants of canine parvovirus-2 (CPV) present in domestic dogs in Australia and to investigate 26 cases of apparent vaccine failure. DESIGN: Thirty-three samples of faeces or intestinal tissues and 16 cell culture virus isolates collected over a period from 1980 to 2005 from five Australian states were analysed. Procedure DNA was extracted from the samples and a 1975 bp fragment of the VP1/2 gene of CPV was amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and sequenced. Sequences were compared to published strains of CPV-2, CPV-2a, CPV-2b and CPV-2c. RESULTS: Forty-one of 43 PCR-positive samples contained CPV-2a viruses. One sample collected in 2002 from a pup in northern NSW contained a CPV-2b virus. One sample that had been included in the study as a CPV-antigen negative control sample contained a CPV-2 virus. CONCLUSION: CPV-2a remains the predominant genetic variant of CPV in dogs in Australia and has not been replaced by CPV-2b or CPV-2c as in many other countries. The vaccine failures investigated in the study were likely caused not by genetic variation of field viruses but by maternal antibody interference in the response of pups to vaccination.     

Molecular characterization of canine parvovirus in Brazil by polymerase chain reaction assay

Canine parvovirus (CPV) was first isolated in 1978 in the USA. Analysis of CPV isolates by monoclonal antibodies and restriction enzymes have shown that after the first emergence of CPV (CPV-2) it evolved to give rise to new antigenic types, which were designated CPV type 2a and type 2b. These new types have replaced the original CPV type 2, although the proportions of each of the new antigenic types vary in different countries. In Brazil, CPV-like infections were first observed in 1979, however, there has been no information concerning the antigenic types of CPV prevailing in South America. In this study, we designed a PCR assay to type canine parvovirus strains in fecal samples collected from symptomatic dogs during 1980 through 1986 and 1990 through 1995. Our data showed that the CPV epizootic in Brazil followed the same pattern observed in the USA of emergence of CPV-2 followed by replacement by the variants CPV-2a and 2b. The predominant strain found during 1980 was CPV-2a, which was substantially replaced by CPV-2b from 1990 to 1995.     

Recent spreading of a divergent canine parvovirus type 2a (CPV-2a) strain in a CPV-2c homogenous population

Canine parvovirus type 2 (CPV-2), which causes acute hemorrhagic enteritis in dogs, is comprised of three antigenic variants (2a, 2b, and 2c) that are distributed worldwide with different frequencies. Variant prevalence was analyzed in 150 CPV-2-positive samples collected from the Uruguayan dog population in 2007-2010. Samples were analyzed with polymerase chain reaction, restriction fragment length polymorphism, and sequencing of the coding region for the largest and most variable loop of the VP2 capsid protein. CPV-2c was the only strain detected from 2007 to 2009. Uruguayan CPV-2c showed high homogeneity in both nucleotide and amino acid sequences, indicating a low level of genetic variability. In 2010, an unexpected epidemiological change occurred in Uruguay as a consequence of the appearance of a novel CPV-2a strain. This variant rapidly spread through the Uruguayan dog population and was detected in 20 of the 52 cases (38%) analyzed in 2010. CPV-2a sequences were identical in all field viruses analyzed, and in addition to the characteristic 426Asn residue, the sequences showed amino acid substitutions (267Tyr, 324Ile, and 440Ala) not observed in the Uruguayan CPV-2c. These data and the first detection in April 2010 suggest that the CPV-2a variant recently emerged in Uruguay and underwent clonal expansion. This observation is the first case in which a CPV-2a variant increased its frequency in a dog population where CPV-2c was prevalent. Our results emphasize the dynamic changes in CPV variants and highlight the importance of ongoing surveillance programs to provide a better understanding of virus epidemiology.     

Canine parvovirus--a review of epidemiological and diagnostic aspects, with emphasis on type 2c

Canine parvovirus type 2 (CPV-2) emerged in late 1970s causing severe epizootics in kennels and dog shelters worldwide. Soon after its emergence, CPV-2 underwent genetic evolution giving rise consecutively to two antigenic variants, CPV-2a and CPV-2b that replaced progressively the original type. In 2000, a new antigenic variant, CPV-2c, was detected in Italy and rapidly spread to several countries. In comparison to the original type CPV-2, the antigenic variants display increased pathogenicity in dogs and extended host range, being able to infect and cause disease in cats. Epidemiological survey indicate that the newest type CPV-2c is becoming prevalent in different geographic regions and is often associated to severe disease in adult dogs and also in dogs that have completed the vaccination protocols. However, the primary cause of failure of CPV vaccination is interference by maternally derived immunity. Diagnosis of CPV infection by traditional methods has been shown to be poorly sensitive, especially in the late stages of infections. New diagnostic approaches based on molecular methods have been developed for sensitive detection of CPV in clinical samples and rapid characterisation of the viral type. Continuous surveillance will help assess whether there is a real need to update currently available vaccines and diagnostic tests.     

First detection of canine parvovirus type 2c in pups with haemorrhagic enteritis in Spain

Canine parvovirus type 2 (CPV-2), the aetiological agent of haemorrhagic enteritis in dogs, includes three antigenic variants, types 2a, 2b and 2c. CPV-2c has been detected initially in Italy and subsequently in Vietnam. We report the first identification of this novel antigenic variant in Spain, where it caused an outbreak of fatal enteritis in basset hound pups in association with canine coronavirus type I and type II. We suggest that this new antigenic variant of CPV-2 could spread throughout Europe and that there is a subsequent need to update current CPV vaccines.     

Surveillance activity for canine parvovirus in Italy

Recent identification of unusual canine parvovirus (CPV) mutants in cats and dogs suggests that CPV type 2 (CPV-2), which emerged suddenly in the late 1970s, is undergoing continual genetic and antigenic variations. A peculiarity of parvoviruses is that single-nucleotide substitutions may determine drastic phenotypic changes. The effects of either natural or artificial mutations on CPV phenotypic properties have been largely investigated, and this sets up CPV as an interesting model to study virus evolution. By monitoring the evolution of CPV-2 in Italy, we observed the onset and quick spread of a Glu-426 mutant, antigenically different from the pre-existing variants that were partially displaced within a few years of the initial identification of the new mutant. The identification of CPV-2 variants raises several questions concerning their impact on the efficacy of the current CPV-2 vaccines, based on the original CPV-2 strain that no longer exists in the field.     

Peptide nucleic acid-based (PNA) array for the antigenic discrimination of canine parvovirus

A novel peptide nucleic acid (PNA)-based array was developed for use in ante-mortem antigenic typing discrimination in dogs with canine parvovirus (CPV). Cyclic benzothiazole-2-sulfonyl PNA monomers were synthesized that recognized GTA (CPV-2) and TAT (CPV-2a, -2b and -2c) at the nt 913–915 positions, and AAT (CPV-2 and CPV-2a), GAT (CPV-2b), and GAA (CPV-2c) at the nt 1276–1278 positions of the VP2 gene. The detection limits for aa 305 and aa 426 of the VP2 proteins belonging to the four CPV antigenic types were determined optically to be 40–2000 DNA copies, and the optimal cut-off fluorescence signaling value was fixed at 5000. The PNA array described here was developed from 135 field dog fecal specimens and had 89.8% (62/69) sensitivity and 90.4% (66/73) specificity compared with a real-time PCR using the TaqMan assay, a gold standard method. This CPV PNA array could be used together with MGB probe assays as an attractive novel tool for ante-mortem antigenic typing discrimination.     

Antigenic and genetic analysis of canine parvoviruses in southern Africa

Canine parvovirus (CPV) is a significant pathogen of domestic and free-ranging carnivores all over the world. It suddenly appeared at the end of the 1970s and most likely emerged as a variant of the well known feline panleukopenia virus (FPV). During its adaptation to the new host, the domestic-dog, the virus has changed its antigenic profile twice giving rise to two new antigenic types, CPV-2a and CPV-2b. These new types have replaced the original type CPV-2 in the United States of America, Europe and Japan. However, no data about the prevalence of the new antigenic types on the African continent are available. In this study, 128 recent parvovirus isolates from South Africa and Namibia were antigenically typed with type-specific monoclonal antibodies. No original CPV-2 viruses were found and its complete replacement by the new antigenic types conforms to the situation in other parts of the world. The predominant strain found in southern Africa was CPV-2b (66%), which differs from the situation in Europe and Japan where CPV-2a is the most prevalent type. Analysis of the capsid protein DNA-sequences of four selected African isolates gave no hint of a specific African parvovirus lineage.     

Vaccination with canine parvovirus type 2 (CPV-2) protects against challenge with virulent CPV-2b and CPV-2c

Mutations in canine parvovirus (CPV) field isolates have created concerns regarding the ability of vaccines containing CPV-2 to protect against infection with the newly identified antigenic types CPV-2b and CPV-2c. To address this concern, the efficacy of CPV-2 strain NL-35-D currently in use as a commercial vaccine was demonstrated against an oral challenge with CPV-2b and CPV-2c, respectively. Clinically healthy specific pathogen free Beagle dogs were either vaccinated or treated with water for injection first at 8-9 weeks of age and again at 11-12 weeks of age. All dogs were challenged either with CPV-2b or CPV-2c three weeks after the second vaccination. During the two week period following challenge, clinical signs, white blood cell counts, serology by haemagglutination inhibition (HI) and serum neutralisation tests, and virus shedding by haemagglutination test were assessed. All control dogs developed clinical signs of parvovirosis (including pyrexia and leucopenia) and shed virus. Vaccinated dogs seroconverted (HI titres > or =80), remained healthy throughout the study and shed more than 100 times less virus than controls. In conclusion, vaccination with the low passage, high titre CPV-2 strain NL-35-D cross-protects dogs against virulent challenges with CPV-2b or CPV-2c by preventing disease and substantially reducing viral shedding.     

Canine parvovirus 2c infection in central Portugal

Canine parvovirus (CPV) has been evolving, generating new genetic and antigenic variants throughout the world. This study was conducted to determine the types of CPV circulating in dogs in Figueira da Foz, Portugal. Thirty fecal samples, collected between 2006 and 2007 from dogs with clinical signs of CPV infection, were tested for CPV by a rapid, in-clinic, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA)/immunomigration test, by conventional real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and by minor-groove binding TaqMan PCR. Of the 29 PCR-positive samples, 15 were identified as CPV-2b and 14 as CPV-2c. No CPV-2a was detected. The sensitivity of the ELISA test was 82.76% compared with the PCR assays. No significant associations were found between CPV type, clinical outcome, breed, vaccination status, or age.     

广州地区犬细小病毒VP2基因的序列分析

犬细小病毒病是一种高度接触性传染病,临床上以急性出血性肠炎和心肌炎为特征。为研究广州地区犬细小病毒病的流行亚型,本试验采集2011—2012年间疑似病犬粪便,进行犬细小病毒（canine parvovirus,CPV）分离鉴定,提取病毒基因组进行VP2基因扩增和序列分析,与GenBank中登录的参考毒株进行比对,结果发现,分离的8株CPV中SCAU-5为CPV-2b 亚型,其余为CPV-2a亚型。结果表明,2011—2012年间广州地区的流行毒株以CPV-2a亚型为主。     

Distribution of antigen types of canine parvovirus in Switzerland, Austria and Germany

In this study the distribution of the various antigenic types of canine parvovirus in Switzerland, Austria, and Germany was investigated. From 14 samples from Switzerland, 35 samples from Austria, and 82 samples from Germany exclusively the new antigenic types CPV-2a and CPV-2b were isolated. Most of these isolates had a Ser-Val mutation at amino acid 297, which was shown to be prevalent in recent CPV isolates from various parts of the world. These findings are discussed with regard to the use of modified live virus vaccines.     

南宁地区犬细小病毒VP2基因的克隆及遗传进化分析

为了解广西南宁地区犬细小病毒（CPV）的流行现状与病毒变异情况,本试验对初步确诊为犬细小病毒病的12份阳性病料提取基因组DNA,以提取的基因组DNA为模板,通过PCR扩增VP2基因序列并测序,将12个阳性毒株样本VP2基因测序结果与GenBank中登录的17株国内外CPV分离株VP2基因进行同源性比对,采用Mega 7.0软件绘制遗传进化树,分析其病毒亚型和遗传进化情况。结果显示,成功扩增得到12个毒株样本的VP2基因片段,大小约1 755 bp,12株阳性样本毒株的VP2基因同源性在99.2%~100.0%之间,其中NN01与NN07、NN02与NN06同源性最高,为100.0%;阳性样本毒株与国内其他分离株VP2基因的同源性为97.6%~100.0%,其中NN08、NN10及NN04与CPV-ZJ1579同源性最高,均为100.0%,属于CPV-2a亚型;阳性样本毒株与国外代表性毒株同源性在98.1%~99.8%之间。遗传进化树分析表明,12个样本毒株中有3株属于CPV-2a亚型,3株属于CPV-2b亚型,6株属于CPV-2c亚型。这是继2018年初广西分离到CPV-2c型CPV后,首次发现南宁地区大规模流行CPV-2c亚型病毒,预示着CPV-2c亚型CPV在国内的流行正在增加。综上所述,广西南宁地区CPV-2a、CPV-2b与CPV-2c亚型并存,但CPV-2c亚型的比重比其他地区大,这也给该地区提供了新的防治信息,在实际CPV防控工作中除了对CPV-2a、CPV-2b等传统流行亚型的关注之外,更应该重视CPV-2c亚型CPV的防控。     

Neutralizing antibodies against feline parvoviruses in nondomestic felids inoculated with commercial inactivated polyvalent vaccines

The virus neutralization (VN) antibody titers of serum samples from 18 individuals representing 8 carnivore species vaccinated with commercial polyvalent vaccines optimized for domestic cats containing inactivated feline panleukopenia virus (FPLV) were evaluated against canine parvovirus type 2 (CPV2). In addition, the titers among 5 individuals from 4 carnivore were evaluated against antigenic variants of feline parvoviruses; FPLV, CPV2, CPV2a, CPV2b, CPV2c, mink enteritis virus type 1 (MEV1) and MEV2. The polyvalent vaccines induced cross-reactive VN titers against antigenic variants of feline parvoviruses in nondomestic felids. However, we observed very low cross-reactive VN antibody in lions and Siberian tigers, therefore we should pay attention to CPV infections in these animals even if they were vaccinated with inactivated FPLV vaccines.     

兔抗犬细小病毒2a型多克隆抗体交叉保护研究

为探究犬细小病毒（canine parvovirus,CPV）血清型只有一种的条件下,常用疫苗CPV-2型和CPV-2a病毒免疫血清抗体对国内流行CPV-2a病毒的中和率,试验将藏獒源CPV-2a毒株（10⁵ TCID₅₀/100 μL）和CPV-2（10^4.5 TCID₅₀/100 μL）疫苗接于F81细胞增殖,PEG6000法浓缩制成免疫原,各免疫新西兰长白兔3只,间隔2周1次,共免疫4次。收集血清纯化制备多克隆抗体,通过血凝抑制试验（HI）和血清中和试验（SN）分别用2种抗体中和CPV-2、CPV-2a病毒,对两者保护率进行初步评价,并对本地感染CPV-2a的4只犬,每组2只进行治疗,每日跟踪白细胞消长规律。结果显示,CPV-2a多抗中和国内流行病毒CPV-2a的HI抗体、中和抗体水平都极显著高于CPV-2多抗（P<0.01）,而中和CPV-2病毒的HI抗体、中和抗体水平两者差异不显著（P>0.05）,CPV-2a多抗组治疗能较快恢复正常值,2组白细胞数有显著差异（P＜0.05）。结果表明,CPV-2a多抗与常用CPV-2型疫苗免疫抗体相比能高滴度的中和CPV-2a,更适用于中国犬细小病毒的防制,对研发新型生物制品有一定意义。     

Detection and molecular epidemiology of canine parvovirus type 2 (CPV-2) circulating in Jilin Province,Northeast China

Canine parvovirus (CPV) is highly contagious and can cause haemorrhagic enteritis and myocarditis in dogs. To understand the current epidemic situation of CPV in Jilin Province, China, a total of 44 fecal or intestinal tissue samples of pet dogs suspected of being infected with CPV from February 2018 to November 2019 in Changchun and Liaoyuan City, Jilin Province were collected.All of the 44 collected samples were tested positive to CPV-2 by a PCR assay. The sequencing and analyzing of complete VP2 genes showed that CPV-2c was the most prevalent variant (n = 31;70.4 %), followed by new-CPV-2a (n = 8;18.2 %), new-CPV-2b (n = 4; 9.1 %) and CPV-2 (n = 1; 2.3 %). Phylogenetic analysis revealed that the 31 CPV-2c strains in our study are closely related to local CPV-2c isolates in cluster I. The VP2 protein of the acquired CPV 2c strains all possessed the substitutions Ala5Gly, Phe267Tyr, Tyr324Ile, and Gln370Arg only one with a novel Arg481Lys mutation. These findings demonstrate that CPV-2c was the most prominent type of CPV circulating in Jilin in 2018–2019, clustered in a separate group that is far from the vaccine strains and suggest that further and extensive epidemiological investigation among pet dogs are warranted to provide information for usage and research of current vaccines.     

Genetic complexity and multiple infections with more Parvovirus species in naturally infected cats

ABSTRACT: Parvoviruses of carnivores include three closely related autonomous parvoviruses: canine parvovirus (CPV), feline panleukopenia virus (FPV) and mink enteritis virus (MEV). These viruses cause a variety of serious diseases, especially in young patients, since they have a remarkable predilection for replication in rapidly dividing cells. FPV is not the only parvovirus species which infects cats; in addition to MEV, the new variants of canine parvovirus, CPV-2a, 2b and 2c have also penetrated the feline host-range, and they are able to infect and replicate in cats, causing diseases indistinguishable from feline panleukopenia. Furthermore, as cats are susceptible to both CPV-2 and FPV viruses, superinfection and co-infection with multiple parvovirus strains may occur, potentially facilitating recombination and high genetic heterogeneity. In the light of the importance of cats as a potential source of genetic diversity for parvoviruses and, since feline panleukopenia virus has re-emerged as a major cause of mortality in felines, the present study has explored the molecular characteristics of parvovirus strains circulating in cat populations. The most significant findings reported in this study were (a) the detection of mixed infection FPV/CPV with the presence of one parvovirus variant which is a true intermediate between FPV/CPV and (b) the quasispecies cloud size of one CPV sample variant 2c. In conclusion, this study provides new important results about the evolutionary dynamics of CPV infections in cats, showing that CPV has presumably started a new process of readaptation in feline hosts.