Molecular characterization of canine parvovirus strains in Argentina: Detection of the pathogenic variant CPV2c in vaccinated dogs

MARINA GALLO CALDERON; NORA MATTION; DANILO BUCAFUSCO; FERNANDO FOGEL; PATRICIA REMORINI; JOSE LA TORRE

JOURNAL OF VIROLOGICAL METHODS

ELSEVIER SCIENCE BV

Año: 2009 vol. 159 p. 141 - 145

0166-0934

PCR amplification with sequence-specific primers was used to detect canine parvovirus (CPV) DNA in 38 rectal swabs from Argentine domestic dogs with symptoms compatible with parvovirus disease. Twentyseven out of 38 samples analyzed were CPV positive. The classical CPV2 strain was not detected in any of the samples, but nine sampleswere identified as CPV2a variant and 18 samples as CPV2b variant. Further sequence analysis revealed a mutation at amino acid 426 of the VP2 gene (Asp426Glu), characteristic of the CPV2c variant, in 14 out of 18 of the samples identified initially by PCR as CPV2b. The appearance of CPV2c variant in Argentina might be dated at least to the year 2003. Three different pathogenic CPV variants circulating currently in the Argentine domestic dog populationwere identified, with CPV2c being the only variant affecting vaccinated and unvaccinated dogs during the year 2008.