Canine parvovirus type 2 (CPV2) emerged in 1978 as a highly contagious and very serious disease in dogs. The characterization of CPV2 antigenic types is exclusively based on the identification of the amino acid residue at position 426 of the capsid protein VP2. Currently, three antigenic types CPV-2a (asparagine N(426)), CPV-2b (aspartic acid D(426)) and CPV-2c (glutamic acid E(426)) are circulating worldwide. In Tunisia, despite the fact that many clinical and few serological investigations clearly indicate that CPV is widespread and of major concerns in the local dog population, no molecular and antigenic type characterization of circulating variants has been carried out. This investigation showed that most of clinically presumed CPV infections were confirmed by classical or real-time PCR. When no real-time PCR facilities were affordable, classical PCR as reported here in association with restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) with MboI and MboII can be very useful for screening and diagnosing CPV infections. A total of 50 variants were characterized by sequencing and an almost even representation of the different antigenic types, including CPV-2c and slightly more type 2b, were evidenced. Characterization of the Tunisian variants by MGB probe assays as reported was inefficient for most of CPV-2a variants because of their typical nucleotide mutation C(1269). Phylogenetic analysis showed that the Tunisian variants underwent evolution for a relatively long period of time inside the country. The analysis also showed some crossings of the different antigenic types, leaving both genotypic and phenotypic characteristic mutations.

Background Ocular manifestations in dogs with leishmaniasis are frequent and complications in affected tissues can lead to blindness. Immune processes play a very important role in the pathogenesis of ocular inflammation. Therefore, the immunology of ocular manifestations in dogs with leishmaniasis remains complex and poorly understood. Objectives Estimation and characterisation of ocular and periocular manifestations in dogs naturally infected with Leishmania infantum and investigation of the production site of specific anti‐Leishmania infantum IgG. Methods The present investigation used 53 confirmed dogs infected with Leishmania infantum, presenting ocular and periocular lesions, and 10 control non‐infected dogs. Complete macroscopic ophthalmic examination of eyelids and globes was performed. Both total and anti‐Leishmania infantum IgG antibodies were studied in sera and aqueous humour (AH) of all dogs by ELISA technique. A Goldmann–Witmer coefficient (C value) was calculated. Results The main ophthalmological findings were keratoconjunctivitis (71.7%; 38/53), hyperplasia of conjunctival lymphoid follicles (54.7%; 29/53), blepharitis (50.9%; 27/53) and uveitis (20.7%; 11/53). Ocular production of anti‐Leishmania infantum IgG was detected in 73.6% (39/53) of infected dogs. There was no correlation between the antibody levels in AH and sera of the same dog. The mean anti‐Leishmania infantum IgG in AH was higher in uveitis, followed by lesions affecting only the adnexa (p < 0.0001). The highest mean C values were observed for uveitis, conjunctivitis and keratitis. Conclusions Our findings suggest that production of anti‐Leishmania IgG in dogs infected with Leishmania infantum with ocular manifestations begin in situ and follows by a transfer of antibodies from the bloodstream to the AH.

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