A Deletion Encompassing the Furin Cleavage Site in the Spike Encoding Gene Does Not Alter SARS-CoV-2 Replication in Lung Tissues of Mink and Neutralization by Convalescent Human Serum Samples.

SARS-CoV-2 has been shown to lose the furin polybasic cleavage site (FCS) following adaptation on cell culture. Deletion occurring in this region, which may include also the FCS flanking regions, seem not to affect virus replication in vitro; however, a chimeric SARS-CoV-2 virus without the sole FCS motif has been associated with lower virulence in mice and lower neutralization values. Moreover, SARS-CoV-2 virus lacking the FCS was shed to lower titers from experimentally infected ferrets and was not transmitted to cohoused sentinel animals, unlike wild-type virus.

Detection and Genetic Characterization of Canine Adenoviruses, Circoviruses, and Novel Cycloviruses From Wild Carnivores in Italy.

Wild carnivores are known to play a role in the epidemiology of several canine viruses, including canine adenoviruses types 1 (CAdV-1) and 2 (CAdV-2), canine circovirus (CanineCV) and canine distemper virus (CDV). In the present study, we report an epidemiological survey for these viruses in free ranging carnivores from Italy. A total of 262 wild carnivores, including red foxes (), wolves () and Eurasian badgers () were sampled.

Mutation analysis of the spike protein in Italian feline infectious peritonitis virus and feline enteric coronavirus sequences.

Feline coronavirus (FCoV) exists as two different genotypes, FCoV type I and II, each including two biotypes, feline enteric coronavirus (FECV) and feline infectious peritonitis virus (FIPV), the latter being a virulent variant originating from the former virus. Recently, two amino acid substitutions, M1058L and S1060A, within the spike protein have been associated to the FECV/FIPV virulence change. In this study, we have analysed the frequency of detection of such mutations in FIPV and FECV strains circulating in Italian cats and obtained information about their evolutionary relationships with reference isolates.

Circulation of diverse protoparvoviruses in wild carnivores, Italy.

Protoparvovirus is a monophyletic viral genus that includes the species Carnivore protoparvovirus-1 infecting domestic and wild carnivores. In this paper, the results of an epidemiological survey for Carnivore protoparvovirus-1 in wild carnivores in Italy are reported. Overall, 34 (11.

Epidemiology, pathological aspects and genome heterogeneity of feline morbillivirus in Italy.

Feline morbillivirus (FeMV) is an emerging morbillivirus first described in cats less than a decade ago. FeMV has been associated with chronic kidney disease of cats characterized by tubulointerstitial nephritis (TIN), although this aspect is still controversial and not demonstrated with certainty. To investigate FeMV prevalence and genomic characteristics, an epidemiological survey was conducted in a total number of 127 household cats originating from two Italian regions, Abruzzi and Emilia-Romagna.

Spreading of canine parvovirus type 2c mutants of Asian origin in southern Italy.

Canine parvovirus type 2 (CPV-2) emerged as dog pathogen in the late 1970s, causing severe and often fatal epizootics of gastroenteritis in the canine population worldwide. Although to date CPV-2 is circulating in all continents, most of the current studies have analysed the amino acid changes accounted in the VP2 gene sequence, with limited information on virus introductions from other countries. The aim of this study was to analyse the genetic features of CPV-2c strains currently spreading in Italy.

Replication kinetics and cellular tropism of emerging reoviruses in sheep and swine respiratory ex vivo organ cultures.

Ex vivo organ cultures (EVOCs) are extensively used to study the cellular tropism and infectivity of different pathogens. In this study, we used ovine and porcine respiratory EVOCs to investigate the replication kinetics and cellular tropism of selected emerging reoviruses namely Pteropine orthoreovirus, an emerging bat-borne zoonotic respiratory virus, and atypical Bluetongue virus (BTV) serotypes which, unlike classical serotypes, do not cause Bluetongue, a major OIE-listed disease of ruminants. BTV failed to replicate in ovine EVOCs.

Molecular detection and characterization of carnivore parvoviruses in free-ranging Eurasian otters (Lutra lutra) in southern Italy.

The most important Italian population of the Eurasian otter (Lutra lutra) occurs in the southern part of the peninsula with two isolated sub-populations of about 250 adult individuals. The Eurasian otter is considered to be near threatened and it is a fully protected species. The aims of this study were to investigate for the first time the occurrence and characterize the parvoviruses included in the species Carnivore protoparvovirus 1 in seven carcasses of road-killed Eurasian otters from the southern Italy.

Feline calicivirus infection in cats with virulent systemic disease, Italy.

Feline calicivirus (FCV) is a contagious viral pathogen that usually causes a mild, self-limiting respiratory disease. More recently, highly virulent FCV strains have emerged and have been associated with severe systemic infection, referred to as virulent systemic disease (VSD). The objective of this study is to report VSD cases in Italian cats along with the molecular characterization of two detected FCV strains.

Long-term shedding of Canine alphaherpesvirus 1 in naturally infected newborn pups.

The long-term shedding of Canine alphaherpesvirus 1 (CaHV-1) by neonatal pups with natural infection is reported. The pups belonged to a litter of 11 pointers of a breeding kennel in southern Italy, 9 of which developed a fatal form of systemic infection, as resulted by the detection of CaHV-1 in internal organs (kidney, liver, lung and brain) of one of this dogs and in the vaginal swab of their mother. The two remaining animals displayed a milder form of disease, with one pup showing ocular involvement, and underwent a progressive recovery.

Discrepancies between feline coronavirus antibody and nucleic acid detection in effusions of cats with suspected feline infectious peritonitis.

Intra-vitam diagnosis of feline infectious peritonitis (FIP) is a challenge for veterinary diagnosticians, since there are no highly specific and sensitive assays currently available. With the aim to contribute to fill this diagnostic gap, a total of 61 effusions from cats with suspected effusive FIP were collected intra-vitam for detection of feline coronavirus (FCoV) antibodies and RNA by means of indirect immunofluorescence (IIF) assay and real-time RT-PCR (qRT-PCR), respectively. In 5 effusions there was no evidence for either FCoV RNA or antibodies, 51 and 52 specimens tested positive by IIF and qRT-PCR, respectively, although antibody titres≥1:1600, which are considered highly suggestive of FIP, were detected only in 37 effusions.

Molecular epidemiology of canine parvovirus in Morocco.

Since it first emergence in the mid-1970's, canine parvovirus 2 (CPV-2) has evolved giving rise to new antigenic variants termed CPV-2a, CPV-2b and CPV-2c, which have completely replaced the original strain and had been variously distributed worldwide. In Africa limited data are available on epidemiological prevalence of these new types. Hence, the aim of the present study was to determine circulating variants in Morocco.

A duplex real-time PCR assay based on TaqMan technology for simultaneous detection and differentiation of canine adenovirus types 1 and 2.

Canine adenoviruses are a major cause of disease in dogs, coyotes, red foxes and wolves, as well as in other carnivores and marine mammals. Canine adenovirus type 1 (CAdV-1) and canine adenovirus type 2 (CAdV-2) cause infectious canine hepatitis (ICH) and infectious tracheobronchitis (ITB), respectively. In this study, a duplex real-time PCR assay for simultaneous detection and characterisation of CAdV-1 and CAdV-2 was developed by using a single primer pair and virus-specific probes.

Development of a TaqMan assay for sensitive detection of all pestiviruses infecting cattle, including the emerging HoBi-like strains.

A real-time RT-PCR assay based on the TaqMan technology was developed for rapid and sensitive detection of pestiviruses infecting cattle, i.e., bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) 1, BVDV-2, and the emerging HoBi-like pestiviruses.

Full-length genome analysis of canine coronavirus type I.

Canine coronavirus types I (CCoV-I) and II (CCoV-II) are usually responsible for mild enteritis in dogs. While the CCoV-II genome has been completely sequenced, to date there are no complete genomic sequence data available publicly for CCoV-I. Thus, the aim of the present study was to analyze the full-length genome of a CCoV-I prototype strain that had been recovered from a dog with diarrhea in Italy.

Full-genome sequence of pantropic canine coronavirus.

Pantropic canine coronavirus (CCoV) was first detected in young dogs in Italy in 2005, but the complete genome sequence of this virus had not yet been determined. Here, we report the full-length genome sequence of the prototype strain CB/05, which showed that this virus is genetically similar to CCoV-IIa viruses.

Detection and genetic characterization of Canine parvovirus and Canine coronavirus strains circulating in district of Tirana in Albania.

An epidemiological survey for Canine parvovirus 2 (CPV-2) and Canine coronavirus (CCoV) was conducted in Albania. A total of 57 fecal samples were collected from diarrheic dogs in the District of Tirana during 2011-2013. The molecular assays detected 53 and 31 CPV- and CCoV-positive specimens, respectively, with mixed CPV-CCoV infections diagnosed in 28 dogs.

Long-term viremia and fecal shedding in pups after modified-live canine parvovirus vaccination.

Canine parvovirus (CPV) modified live virus vaccines are able to infect vaccinated dogs replicating in the bloodstream and enteric mucosa. However, the exact duration and extent of CPV vaccine-induced viremia and fecal shedding are not known. With the aim to fill this gap, 26 dogs were administered two commercial vaccines containing a CPV-2 or CPV-2b strain and monitored for 28 days after vaccination.

Evaluation of an in-clinic assay for the diagnosis of canine parvovirus.

The results of a study designed to evaluate the performance of an in-clinic test for the detection of canine parvovirus (CPV) are reported. A total of 150 faecal samples collected from dogs with acute diarrhoea were tested using the in-clinic test, a haemagglutination assay (HA) and a real-time PCR assay for CPV detection, quantification and characterisation. CPV was detected in 66, 73, and 101 faecal samples by in-clinic, HA and PCR testing, respectively.

Hobi-like pestivirus: both biotypes isolated from a diseased animal.

A Hobi-like pestivirus pair consisting of cytopathogenic (cp) and non-cytopathogenic (noncp) strains, Italy 83/10cp and Italy 83/10ncp, was isolated from the lung of a heifer that died of respiratory disease. The noncp and cp viruses were isolated on Madin-Darby bovine kidney cells and separated by plaque purification and end point dilution. Analysis of the nearly full-length genomes revealed that the two viruses were very closely related to each other and to the noncp Hobi-like strain Italy 1/10-1, which had been isolated a few weeks earlier from the same herd.

Molecular characterization of Canine minute virus associated with neonatal mortality in a litter of Jack Russell terrier dogs.

The molecular characterization of a strain of Canine minute virus (CnMV) associated with neonatal death is reported. Three newborn puppies of a litter of Jack Russell terrier dogs died after displaying systemic disease, whereas 2 surviving puppies showed no clinical signs with the exception of transient cardiac abnormalities that were evident by electrocardiography. Necropsy of 1 dead puppy revealed severe lesions in the internal organs.

A nested PCR approach for unambiguous typing of pestiviruses infecting cattle.

An atypical pestivirus ('Hobi'-like pestivirus, putative bovine viral diarrhoea 3, BVDV-3) was identified firstly in contaminated foetal calf serum batches and isolated subsequently from an outbreak of respiratory disease in a cattle herd in Italy. The isolation of the novel pestivirus from animals affected clinically posed concerns about the validity of BVDV eradication programs, considering that 'Hobi'-like pestivirus (BVDV-3) is undetected or mistyped by the molecular diagnostic tools currently employed. In this paper, the development of a nested PCR (nPCR) assay for unambiguous typing of all bovine pestiviruses is reported.

Canine parvovirus type 2c infection in a kitten associated with intracranial abscess and convulsions.

A case of canine parvovirus type 2c (CPV-2c) infection in a 3-month-old feral kitten with a cerebral abscess and neurological disease is reported. The cat displayed ataxia and convulsions together with signs of gastroenteritis and profound alteration of the total and differential white blood cell counts. A parvovirus strain was detected by a TaqMan assay in the blood and faeces of the affected kitten, which was characterised as CPV by means of molecular assays but did not react with any of the CPV type-specific probes.

Characterisation of bubaline coronavirus strains associated with gastroenteritis in water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) calves.

Recently, a coronavirus strain (179/07-11) was isolated from water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) and the virus which displayed a strict genetic and biological relatedness with bovine coronavirus (BCoV) was referred to as bubaline coronavirus (BuCoV). Here, we report the characterisation of four BuCoVs strains identified in the faeces or intestinal contents of water buffalo calves with acute gastroenteritis. Single BuCoV infections were detected in all but one cases from which two clostridia species were also isolated.