Phylogenetic analysis of the hemagglutinin (H) gene of canine distemper viruses isolated from wild masked palm civets (Paguma larvata)

Hemagglutinin (H) gene of two CDV isolates, the Haku93 and Haku00 strains, from masked palm civets was molecularly analyzed. H genes of both two CDVs contained one open reading frame encoding 607 amino acids. Nucleotide and predicted amino acid sequences of H gene of the CDV Haku93 and Haku00 revealed high similarity to those of recent field isolates such as the Yanaka and Tanu96, while they showed limited identity to those of old vaccine strains. Potential N-linked glycosylation sites in both Haku93 and Haku00 were identical to other recent CDV isolates. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that the CDV strains derived from masked palm civets were classified into the group of recent Japanese CDV isolates.     

Identification of a genetic variant of canine distemper virus from clinical cases in two vaccinated dogs in Mexico

Canine distemper virus (CDV) is a highly contagious viral pathogen of worldwide distribution that can cause lethal disease in dogs and other mammals. Genetic diversity is found among reference strains and isolates of CDV, mainly in the haemagglutinin protein (H), fusion protein (F) and nucleoprotein (N), and this may be associated with the increasing incidence of distemper in dogs. CDV was identified by RT-PCR in serum samples taken from two clinically diseased, previously vaccinated Mexican dogs. Subsequently, in both samples, a fragment of the CDV N gene was sequenced revealing a 100% identity between nucleotide sequences. However, the sequence obtained was different to that found in virus strains used in vaccines and in isolates reported elsewhere, but was closely related to A75/17, 1127/Gi95, and 2495/Gi95 sequences from USA and Germany, and clustered with 1127/Gi95 and 2495/Gi95 strains. The results suggest that a novel CDV lineage may be present in Mexico.     

犬实验感染CDV的病理学研究

对实验感染犬瘟热病毒的病犬进行了系统的病理学观察,并用酶标ＳＰＡ法对病犬脏器组织中ＣＤＶ抗原进行了定位检查。结果表明,淋巴系统各器官组织是ＣＤＶ急性感染早期首先侵犯的靶器官。脏器组织的病理改变与ＣＤＶ抗原检出呈正相关。脏器组织中包涵体的检出与形态结构具有一定的特征性和示病意义,但采用免疫组化方法检查ＣＤＶ抗原,更具优越性。作者认为,ＣＤＶ９３０３９株和ＣＤＶ９３０４１株是致病力很强的泛嗜性ＣＤＶ。     

上海市犬瘟热、犬细小病毒病感染状况调查

为及时了解上海市犬瘟热、犬细小病毒病的流行趋势,采用实时荧光PCR方法对106份宠物门诊的疑似样品、232份临床健康犬样品进行病原学检测。检测结果为:疑似样品检出中,犬瘟热病毒(Canine distemper virus,CDV)阳性率为50.0%,犬细小病毒(Canine parvovirus,CPV)阳性率为72.6%;临床健康犬的样品中,CDV的阳性率的4.74%,CPV的阳性率3.88%。检测结果反映了上海市犬瘟热、细小病毒在宠物群体中的感染情况,为这些宠物疫病的预防工作提供了科学数据。     

Prevalence of Salmonella, Yersinia and Campylobacter spp. in feral raccoons (Procyon lotor) and masked palm civets (Paguma larvata) in Japan

To estimate the public and animal health risk that alien species pose, the prevalence of Salmonella, Yersinia, and Campylobacter spp. in feral raccoons (Procyon lotor, n=459) and masked palm civets (Paguma larvata, n=153), which are abundant alien species in Japan, was investigated in urban and suburban areas of Japan. Salmonella enterica was detected from 29 samples [26 raccoons, 5.7%, 95% confidence interval (CI) 7.8-3.5%; three masked palm civets, 2.0%, 95% CI 4.2-0%]. Many of the isolates belonged to serovars that are commonly isolated from human gastroenteritis patients (e.g. S. Infantis, S. Typhimurium, and S. Thompson). The antimicrobial susceptibility test showed that 26.9 % of the isolates from raccoons were resistant to at least one antimicrobial agent, whereas none of the isolates from masked palm civets were resistant. Yersinia sp. was detected from 193 samples (177 raccoons, 38.6%, 95% CI 43.0-34.1%; 16 masked palm civets, 10.5%, 95% CI 15.3-5.6%). All virulent Yersinia strains belonged to Yersinia pseudotuberculosis, which was isolated from seven (1.5%, 95% CI 2.6-0.4%) raccoons and six (3.9%, 95% CI 7.0-0.8%) masked palm civets. According to the detection of virulence factors, all the Y. pseudotuberculosis isolates belonged to the Far Eastern systemic pathogenicity type. Campylobacter spp. was detected from 17 samples (six raccoons, 1.3%, 95% CI 2.3-0.3%; 11 masked palm civets, 7.2%, 95% CI 11.3-3.1%). Among these, three isolates from raccoons were identified as C. jejuni. These results showed that these pathogens can be transmitted by human activities, other wild animals, and the environment to feral raccoons and masked palm civets, and vice versa. As these animals have omnivorous behaviour and a wide range of habitats, they can play an important role in the transmission of the enteric pathogens.     

Cerebellum progesterone concentration decreased in canine distemper virus infection

Progesterone has neuroprotective effects including augmentation of myelination in the central and peripheral nervous system. This study was designed to determine if demyelinating lesions in the cerebellum resulting from canine distemper virus (CDV) infection are associated with progesterone levels. Progesterone was measured using radioimmunoassay in samples of the cerebellum, corpus callosum, medulla oblongata, parietal, frontal, temporal, and occipital cortices as well as cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and plasma collected from ten CDV infected and six non-infected dogs. The cerebellum progesterone level was significantly different between CDV infected (0.66+/-0.09 ng/g) and control dogs (1.14+/-0.09 ng/g) (p<0.001); however, no difference was observed for the other CNS regions, plasma and CSF (p>0.05). The cerebellum progesterone level was also significantly different between acute (0.71+/-0.0 5 ng/g) and chronic cases (0.61+/-0.09 ng/g) (p<0.05). The CDV infected cerebella were also categorized histopathologically according to the severity of demyelinating lesions as mild (n=5), moderate (n=2), or severe (n=3) among which the cerebellum progesterone level was significantly different (p<0.05). Progesterone concentration was 0.71+/-0.05 ng/g in mild, 0.65+/-0.10 ng/g in moderate, and 0.56+/-0.07 ng/g in severe cases. In conclusion, progesterone concentration decreases in the cerebellum in CDV infection and the severity of demyelinating lesions is the greatest in cerebella with the lowest progesterone concentrations. The results suggest that local impairment of progesterone metabolism may be associated with the initiation and progression of cerebellar lesions in CDV infection.     

Evaluation of ELISA based on the conserved and functional middle region of nucleocapsid protein to detect distemper infection in dogs

A 287 bp fragment from the middle region of the nucleocapsid protein of canine distemper virus (CDV) was amplified from the conjunctival samples of distemper-infected dogs and was cloned into pRSET B vector. The recombinant protein was expressed as a 16-kDa-fusion protein with histidine tag in E. coli. Sera of distemper-infected and vaccinated dogs contained IgG antibodies against the purified recombinant protein as observed by enzyme linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) and showed a strong correlation (r = 0.882, p < 0.0001 at 95% CI) and good agreement (kappa = 0.718) with the conventional tissue culture viral antigen based ELISA. Further, the results of recombinant protein based ELISA and Western blotting with the sera from the infected and vaccinated dogs correlated well (kappa = 0.8226). These findings recommend the use of the recombinant protein in the serodiagnosis of canine distemper virus infection in dogs.     

Comparative analyses of canine distemper viral isolates from clinical cases of canine distemper in vaccinated dogs

Sequence and phylogenetic analyses of three isolates of canine distemper virus (CDV) isolated from three dogs with a vaccination history were compared with the same analyses of vaccine virus isolated from a vaccine used for dogs. The three dogs showed clinical signs of a recent major type of CD in Japan, including oculonasal discharge and diarrhea, and pathological findings including non-suppurative encephalitis, pneumonia, mild gastroenteritis and lymphoid depletion. Inclusion bodies were in the stomach without inflammation and encephalitis was without clinical signs. One of the highest titers of CDV in different organs of the three dogs was commonly systemic lymphatic organs, including the spleen, lymph nodes and tonsils. New isolates of CDV joined to the clades of the Asia 1 group that is far from the vaccine group. These results surely indicate that wild strains of CDV from dogs with a vaccination history were not reversed vaccine virus, and that the dogs showed characteristics of recent CD in Japan.     

基于H蛋白基因的犬瘟热病毒遗传变异分析

犬瘟热是犬瘟热病毒(Canine distemper virus,CDV)感染犬和其他食肉动物造成的多发性、致死性传染病,本文从分子水平上探讨CDV遗传进化特性、变异情况与流行规律之间的关系.通过收集2002-2010年在中国地区分离的14株CDV野毒株、2006-2007年在全球各地分离的12株CDV野毒株以及从不同宿主分离的12株CDV野毒株和4株疫苗株,将其分为4组,将前3组野毒株分别与国内外正在使用的4株疫苗株的H基因进行遗传变异分析.分析发现,CDV野毒株与疫苗株间H蛋白基因的核苷酸相似性为86.2％～92.1％,其氨基酸相似性为89.1％～91.9％;H基因的584位的天冬酰胺糖基化位点是Asia-Ⅰ型CDV所特有的;H蛋白3555区域的非同义氨基酸替换概率较高.作者推测H蛋白抗原变异可能造成弱毒疫苗免疫效力降低,不能为某些CDV株的感染提供完全有效的保护.     

我国犬瘟热病毒的生态学调查研究

本研究应用电子显微镜技术检查了１７个毛皮动物和野生动物的６７６份材料,从犬,貂,貉,狐熊,小熊猫,大熊猫,狼,狮,虎,猞狮、金猫等１２种动物病料中,检出含有ＣＤＶ材料４８７份。应用间接ＥＬＩＳＡ、免疫荧光和中和试验等技术检测了８种动物１５８份血清,其中从犬,狐,小熊猫、虎、金猫,狼等６种动物的１０６份血清中检出了抗ＣＤＶ抗体。应用ＲＴ－ＰＣＲ和基因探针检查了４种动物的３７份材料,其中有２９份阳性。     

New members to Arctic-like lineage of canine distemper virus from Turkey

Canine distemper virus (CDV) causes a multisystemic fatal disease, briefly named as distemper, in domestic and wild animals. Molecular characterization studies serve to identify local strains, accordingly, helps to determine the scope of vaccination in prevention of distemper. We aimed with this study to update the molecular status of CDV in domestic dogs in Turkey.Sequence analysis of the H gene revealed that novel Turkish sequences formed a separated clade in Arctic-like lineage. Italian clade which mainly included strains originated from wild canid or non-canid localized nearly to novel Turkish clade. Codons 530th and 549th determining the affinity of domestic or wild animals to distemper were Asparagine and Tyrosine, respectively.This report presented the presence of CDV strains belonging to Arctic-like lineage for the first time in domestic dogs in Turkey. The findings pave the way for the reassessment of the circulation and geographical shifting of Arctic-like lineages of CDV.     

犬瘟热病毒引起啮齿类动物肥胖症的机制研究进展

在过去的30年中,已报道8种病原体可引起人和动物的肥胖,其中犬瘟热病毒是首个报道的可引起动物肥胖症的病毒。研究发现感染犬瘟热病毒的啮齿动物后期表现为病态肥胖。早期犬瘟热病毒的复制对感染鼠下丘脑造成不可逆的损伤,感染鼠表现为体重增加、脂肪细胞增大、体内瘦素受体表达水平下降、黑色素浓集激素前体(ppMCH)mRNA水平下降,高胰岛素血症,儿茶酚胺水平降低,这些因子与机体的食欲增强和(或)能量消耗减少有密切关系,与肥胖症的特征相一致。论文综述了有关犬瘟热病毒引起啮齿类动物肥胖症机制的研究进展。     

抗犬瘟热病毒血凝素蛋白单克隆抗体的制备与鉴定

为制备抗犬瘟热病毒(CDV)血凝素蛋白的单克隆抗体,以CDV弱毒株Onderstepoort免疫Balb/c小鼠,取其脾细胞与骨髓瘤细胞SP2/0进行融合制备杂交瘤细胞。用昆虫杆状病毒表达系统表达的血凝素蛋白作为ELISA包被抗原,进行杂交瘤细胞筛选,获得3株阳性杂交瘤细胞株,分别命名3A8、3E4和1C7。经鉴定,抗体均为IgG1亚型,轻链为kappa链。杂交瘤细胞培养上清中抗体效价为1∶64~1∶256,腹水中抗体效价为1∶10~5~1∶10~7,病毒中和试验表明,3E4对CDV具有中和活性,腹水中抗体中和效价为1∶512。制备的单克隆抗体为CDV感染动物的治疗和基因工程抗体的开发奠定了基础。     

Canine distemper virus infection among wildlife before and after the epidemic

In 2007–2008, a canine distemper virus (CDV) epidemic occurred among wild animals in Wakayama Prefecture, Japan, and many mammals, including the wild boar and deer, were infected. In this study, CDV prevalence among wild animals was surveyed before and after the epidemic. At first, an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) with horseradish peroxidase-conjugated protein A/G was established to detect CDV antibodies in many mammalian species. This established ELISA was available for testing dogs, raccoons and raccoon dogs as well as virus-neutralization test. Next, a serological survey of wild mammalians was conducted, and it was indicated that many wild mammalians, particularly raccoons, were infected with CDV during the epidemic, but few were infected before and after the epidemic. On the other hand, many raccoon dogs died during the epidemic, but CDV remained prevalent in the remaining population, and a small epidemic occurred in raccoon dogs in 2012–2013. These results indicated that the epidemic of 2007–2008 may have been intensified by transmission to raccoons.     

Epidemiology of sarcoptic mange in free-ranging raccoon dogs (Nyctereutes procyonoides) in Yokohama,Japan

Free-ranging raccoon dogs (Nyctereutes procyonoides) from Nogeyama Zoological Gardens, Kanazawa Zoological Gardens, and Yokohama Zoological Gardens frequently rescued dogs having Sarcoptes scabiei infestation. However, the epidemiology of S. scabiei infestation has not yet been elucidated. In the present study, we investigated the epidemiology of S. scabiei infestation in raccoon dogs and its influence on the population of masked palm civets in Yokohama, Japan. We examined records of raccoon dog rescue between 1981 and 2010 and classified the dogs into the following 4 categories on the basis of the reason for rescue: dogs with S. scabiei infestation, scabies-infested dogs involved in car accidents, uninfested dogs involved in car accidents, and other reasons for rescue. We found that the number of dogs rescued due to car accidents and other reasons increased from 1989 onwards, and an S. scabiei outbreak was recorded since 1993. The infestation spread from the southern to the northern regions of Yokohama. The total number of raccoon dogs rescued annually peaked in 1995 and declined thereafter. The number of masked palm civets (Paguma larvata) rescued gradually increased with a decline in the number of raccoon dogs rescued. In the present study, we revealed the epidemiology of S. scabiei infestation in the raccoon dog. The outbreak might be induced by the increased population density, and the infestation spread immediately from the southern to the northern regions of Yokohama since 1993. Further, the population of masked palm civets may have increased due to the decrease in the population of the raccoon dog.     

Myocarditis caused by naturally acquired canine distemper virus infection in 4 dogs

Canine distemper virus (CDV) has long been recognized as a cause of myocarditis; however, cases of myocarditis caused by naturally acquired CDV infection have been reported only rarely in dogs. We describe here our retrospective study of naturally acquired systemic CDV infection in 4 dogs, 4–7 wk old, that had myocarditis, with myocardial necrosis and fibrosis. One of the 4 dogs had intracytoplasmic eosinophilic inclusion bodies in cardiomyocytes. Other lesions included bronchointerstitial pneumonia (4 of 4), necrotizing hepatitis (2 of 4), splenic lymphoid necrosis (2 of 4), encephalitis (1 of 3; brain was not submitted in 1 case), and necrotizing gastroenteritis (1 of 4). The presence of CDV in the heart was confirmed by immunohistochemistry in all 4 dogs.     

Antemortem Diagnosis of CDV Infection by RT-PCR in Distemper Dogs with Neurological Deficits without the Typical Clinical Presentation

In dogs with neurological disturbances without myoclonus and extraneural signs, the clinical diagnosis of distemper is difficult perform. Considering the great infectious potential of the disease, the possibility of carrying out an antemortem diagnosis of distemper is important, particularly in hospitalized patients with neurological disease. The present study was carried out to evaluate RT-PCR for antemortem CDV detection in hospitalized dogs with neurological disturbances without the typical findings of distemper. We investigated five dogs with canine distemper virus (CDV) encephalomyelitis, in which the clinical diagnosis was not performed owing to the absence of characteristic signs of the disease, such as myoclonus and systemic signs. We observed an apparent high sensitivity of RT-PCR in urine samples for detection of CDV: four out of five urine samples were RT-PCR positive. The results of the present study suggest that urine is a good biological sample for antemortem CDV detection by RT-PCR in dogs with distemper encephalomyelitis in which the clinical diagnosis is likely to be difficult owing to the absence of suggestive distemper signs. The use of two different body fluids (urine and CSF) may increase the RT-PCR sensitivity for antemortem diagnosis of distemper in such cases.     

犬瘟热病毒RT-PCR检测方法的建立

根据GenBank上发表的犬瘟热病毒融合蛋白F基因序列,设计合成了1对寡聚核苷酸引物,扩增大小为337bp的目的片段,建立犬瘟热病毒F基因的RT-PCR检测方法。结果表明,该方法具有很强的特异性和很高的敏感性,可作为犬瘟热临床快速诊断的一种方法。