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.     

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.     

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.     

First detection of canine parvovirus type 2c in South America

Since its sudden emergence in the early 1970s, canine parvovirus type-2 (CPV-2) has been evolving through the generation of novel genetic and antigenic variants (CPV-2a/b/c and a number of additional mutations) that are unevenly distributed throughout the world. In order to develop strategies to control the spread of these variants and to understand virus evolution is fundamental to genotype field isolates from different geographic locations. In the present paper we have examined 25 isolates of CPV from clinical samples of Uruguayan dogs collected during year 2006. A fragment of the VP2 gene of the virus was analyzed using polymerase chain reaction (PCR), restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) and DNA sequence analysis. Out of the 25 isolates analyzed, only one was characterized as CPV-2a and 24 were characterized as CPV-2c, indicating that this type is currently the prevalent field CPV circulating in Uruguay. This is the first report of CPV-2c in the American continent and it also represents the highest frequency of this type observed in a dog population so far. Its presence in South American supports the assumption that CPV-2c is reaching a worldwide distribution as occurred with 2a/2b antigenic types.     

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.     

Occurrence of Toxoplasma gondii and Hammondia hammondi oocysts in the faeces of cats from Germany and other European countries

Faecal samples of 24,106 cats from Germany and other European countries were examined microscopically in a veterinary laboratory in Germany between October 2004 and November 2006 to estimate the prevalence of animals shedding Toxoplasma gondii or Hammondia hammondi oocysts. Oocysts of 9-15 microm size with a morphology similar to that of H. hammondi and T. gondii were found in 74 samples (0.31%). A total of 54 samples were further characterised to achieve a species diagnosis and to determine the genotype of T. gondii isolates by PCR and PCR-RFLP. From these samples, 48 isolates were obtained: 26 (0.11%) were finally identified as T. gondii and 22 (0.09%) as H. hammondi. T. gondii-positive samples came from Germany, Austria, France and Switzerland while H. hammondi was detected in samples from Germany, Austria and Italy. In two samples (one T. gondii and one H. hammondi), PCR indicated the presence of Hammondia heydorni DNA. No Neospora caninum DNA was detected in any of the feline faecal samples. Twenty-two of the 26 T. gondii isolates could be genotyped. A PCR-RFLP analysis for the SAG2, SAG3, GRA6 and BTUB genes revealed T. gondii genotype II in all cases. Morphologically, H. hammondi oocysts exhibited a statistically significantly smaller Length-Width-Ratio than T. gondii oocysts.     

犬细小病毒四川株的分离与鉴定

为更好地了解我国细小病毒流行情况,笔者从四川农大动物医院采集5份患出血性肠炎犬的粪便,通过猫肾细胞(F81)传代培养后,成功分离到两株犬细小病毒。对两株病毒进行病毒形态学、理化学、血凝试验、PCR鉴定与分子生物学系统鉴定后,证实分离株是犬细小病毒,通过VP2结构蛋白测序分析表明,新分离到的两株细小病毒抗原型分别属于CPV-2a和CPV-2b。     

犬细小病毒四川株的分离与鉴定

采集5份患出血性肠炎犬的粪便,通过猫肾细胞(F81)传代培养后,成功分离到2株病毒。对2株病毒进行病毒形态学、理化学、血凝试验、PCR鉴定与分子生物学系统鉴定后,证实分离株是犬细小病毒,通过VP2结构蛋白测序分析表明,新分离到的2株细小病毒抗原型分别属于CPV-2a和CPV-2b。     

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.     

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.     

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.     

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.     

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.     

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。     

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.     

Molecular epidemiological and phylogenetic analyses of canine parvovirus in domestic dogs and cats in Beijing, 2010–2013

Fifty-five samples (15.62%) collected from dogs and cats were identified as canine parvovirus (CPV) infection in Beijing during 2010–2013. The nucleotide identities and aa similarities were 98.2–100% and 97.7–100%, respectively, when compared with the reference isolates. Also, several synonymous and non-synonymous mutations were also recorded for the first time. New CPV-2a was dominant, accounting for 90.90% of the samples. Two of the 16 samples collected from cats were identified as new CPV-2a (12.5%), showing nucleotide identities of 100% with those from dogs. Twelve samples (15.78%) collected from completely immunized dogs were found to be new CPV-2a, which means CPV-2 vaccines may not provide sufficient protection for the epidemic strains.     

Genomic Typing of Canine Parvovirus Circulating in the State of Rio de Janeiro,Brazil from 1995 to 2001 Using Polymerase Chain Reaction Assay

In this study, the genomic types of canine parvovirus (CPV) circulating in the State of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, from 1995 to 2001, were investigated using the polymerase chain reaction assay (PCR). A total of 78 faecal samples from gastroenteritic puppies, confirmed as positive for canine parvovirus by haemagglutination/haemagglutination inhibition tests or virus isolation in cell culture (MDCK), were examined. The viral DNA was extracted from faecal samples using a combination of phenol– chloroform and silica–guanidine thiocyanate methods. PCR was carried out with differential pairs of primers to distinguish the old (CPV-2) and new types of virus (CPv-2a or CPV-2b). Specific amplicons were observed for all samples using the primer pair P2ab, which detects CPV-2a and CPV-2b. Seventy-six from a total of 78 samples (97%) were considered as CPV-2b because of their reaction with the primer pair P2b. Thirty samples (30/78) were from previously vaccinated puppies and in 15 of them the enteritis symptoms began from 1 to 12 days after vaccination. PCR confirmed the infection by wild virus (CPV-2b) in 5 of these 15 puppies who had received old-type vaccines. Our results show that CPV-2b was the prevalent type circulating in the State of Rio de Janeiro from 1995 to 2001.     

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.     

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.     

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。