Detection of a canine parvovirus type 2c with a non-coding mutation and its implications for molecular characterisation.

An epidemiological survey for canine parvovirus (CPV) was conducted by collecting 615 faecal samples from dogs with diarrhoea in different European countries. Molecular methods showed that CPV-2a was predominant in most countries, followed by CPV-2c and CPV-2b, whereas 30 strains were not characterised. By sequence analysis of the full-length VP2 gene, 20 of these viruses were characterised as CPV-2c mutants having the synonymous mutation A4061G in the probe-binding region that prevented correct strain characterisation.

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 epidemiology in Bulgaria.

Canine parvovirus 2 (CPV-2) emerged in 1978 as one of the most pathogenic etiologic agents in dogs. Under the influence of evolution, the original CPV-2 was replaced, a few years later, by 2 variants, CPV-2a and CPV-2b. In 2000, a new variant, CPV-2c, was detected first in Italy and later in other countries.

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.

Development and validation of a real-time PCR assay for specific and sensitive detection of canid herpesvirus 1.

A TaqMan-based real-time PCR assay targeting the glycoprotein B-encoding gene was developed for diagnosis of canid herpesvirus 1 (CHV-1) infection. The established assay was highly specific, since no cross-reactions were observed with other canine DNA viruses, including canine parvovirus type 2, canine minute virus, or canine adenovirus types 1 and 2. The detection limit was 10(1) and 1.

Characterisation of canine parvovirus strains isolated from cats with feline panleukopenia.

Unlike the original canine parvovirus type 2 (CPV-2), CPV-2 variants have gained the ability to replicate in vivo in cats but there is limited information on the disease patterns induced by these variants in the feline host. During 2008, two distinct cases of parvoviral infection were diagnosed in our laboratories. A CPV-2a variant was identified in a 3-month-old Persian kitten displaying clinical sign of feline panleukopenia (FPL) (acute gastroenteritis and marked leukopenia) and oral ulcerations, that died eight days after the onset of the disease.

Genetic heterogeneity and recombination in canine noroviruses.

Alphatronlike (genogroup IV [GIV]) noroviruses (NoVs) have been recently identified in carnivores. By screening a collection of 183 fecal samples collected during 2007 from dogs with enteric signs, the overall NoV prevalence was found to be 2.2% (4/183).

Detection of canine parvovirus type 2c by a commercially available in-house rapid test.

Diagnosis of canine parvovirus (CPV) infection is usually carried out by means of rapid immunochromatographic assays, but the ability of these tests to detect all CPV variants, including the recently identified CPV-2c, is still debated. To determine if the assays detect the different CPV variants, 201 CPV PCR-positive faecal samples or rectal swabs were tested using a commercially available in-house test. Specimens (CPV-2a, n=51; CPV-2b, n=50; CPV-2c, n=100), containing CPV DNA loads >10(5) DNA copies/mg faeces, as determined by real-time PCR, were selected from previous studies.

Specific identification of feline panleukopenia virus and its rapid differentiation from canine parvoviruses using minor groove binder probes.

Taking into account reports of the isolation of canine parvoviruses (CPVs) from faecal samples of cats, we developed a real-time PCR assay, based on minor groove binder (MGB) probe technology, for rapid discrimination between true feline panleukopenia viruses (FPLVs) from CPVs. The assay takes advantage of a single nucleotide polymorphism at position 3753 of the viral genome (corresponding to residue 323 of the capsid VP2 protein) and of the ability of MGB probes to bind specifically only to perfectly complementary sequences. The FPV/CPV assay was proven to be highly specific, sensitive and reproducible and correlated well with a TaqMan assay able to recognise canine as well as feline parvoviruses.