Identification and Typing of Canine Parvovirus Using Molecular Techniques

Aim: Canine parvovirus 2, the causative agent of acute hemorrhagic enteritis in dogs, is one of the most important pathogenic viruses. It causes a highly contagious and often fatal disease. The disease condition is complicated further due to emergence of a number of variants namely CPV-2a, CPV-2b, CPV-2c, new CPV 2a, new CPV 2b over the years and involvement of domestic and wild canines. The virus is shed in large numbers in the feces of infected dog and upto 7 to 10 days post-infection, therefore, the present study was designed to detect CPV and to identify the prevailing antigenic types of CPV using molecular techniques from rectal swabs of affected dogs.

Methods: The rectal swabs were collected from dogs suspected of Canine Parvovirus and subjected to PCR, Nested PCR and Realtime PCR for identification and typing of CPV in infected dogs.

Results: From the study it was found that the per cent positivity was high in dogs and was found to be 50% and 89% by PCR and nested polymerase reaction respectively when considered in suspected dogs. The most prevailing antigenic type as detected by Real time PCR was found to be CPV 2a.

Conclusions: The study indicated the animals vaccinated for CPV were also found positive for the disease. This study helps to detect percent positivity of CPV in dogs and also is important to identify the prevailing antigenic types of CPV in the region.