Fatal canine parvovirus‐2 (CPV‐2) infection in a rescued free‐ranging Taiwanese pangolin ( Manis pentadactyla pentadactyla )

Abstract

Carnivore protoparvovirus 1 includes feline parvovirus (FPV), variants of canine parvovirus‐2 (CPV‐2), mink enteritis virus, and raccoon parvovirus, important pathogens affecting both wild and domestic carnivores. In this report, we described a fatal CPV‐2 infection in a rescued Taiwanese pangolin, which provides the first evidence of CPV‐2 infection in a non‐carnivore. Post‐rescue, the Taiwanese pangolin died from complications resulting from a severe panleucocytopenia and bloody diarrhoea. A full autopsy was performed and microscopic examination of the tissues revealed ulcerative, necrotizing, and haemorrhagic glossitis, esophagitis and enteritis. The results of transmission electronic microscopy, polymerase chain reaction and in situ hybridization provided confirmatory evidence that the lesions in the tongue, oesophagus and intestine were associated with a protoparvovirus. Phylogenetic comparison of the whole VP2 gene from the current pangolin protoparvovirus strain showed close clustering with the CPV‐2c strains from domestic dogs in Taiwan, China and Singapore. The amino acid sequence of the pangolin protoparvovirus showed 100% identity to the CPV‐2c strains from domestic dogs in China, Italy, and Singapore. The current findings highlight that pangolins are susceptible to protoparvoviruses. The potential of cross‐species transmission of protoparvoviruses between Carnivora and Pholidota should be considered when housing pangolins in close proximity to carnivores and adopting strict biosecurity measures to avoid cross‐species transmission in rescue facilities and zoos.

The increasing prevalence of CPV-2c in domestic dogs in China

“…Canine parvovirus type 2 (CPV-2), which belongs to the genus Protoparvovirus , family Parvoviridae , is an important pathogen that leads to high morbidity and mortality in several wild carnivore species and even non-carnivores ( Appel, Scott & Carmichael, 1979 ; Burtonboy et al, 1979 ; Nelson et al, 1979 ; Pletcher et al, 1979 ; Wang et al, 2020 ). CPV-2 is a non-enveloped virus, with a single-stranded DNA genome encoding 2 large open reading frames (ORFs).…”

Identification of Amblyomma javanense and detection of tick-borne Ehrlichia spp. in confiscated Malayan Pangolins

“…They are extremely susceptible to diseases such as blood parasites, bacteria and viruses in the wild field, which further exacerbates the decrease of pangolin population ( Parola et al, 2003a ). There are limited reports about the diseases of pangolins caused by ticks, bacteria, virus and other pathogens ( Hua et al, 2015 ; Mohapatra et al, 2016 ), such as Anaplasma spp ., Sendai virus and coronavirus in Malayan pangolin ( Manis javanica ) ( Koh et al, 2016 ; Liu et al, 2019 ; Parola et al, 2003b ), Rickettsia africae in African giant pangolin ( Mediannikov et al, 2012 ), Trypanosoma brucei gambiense in long tailed pangolin ( M. tetradactyla ) and tree pangolin ( M. tricuspis ) ( Njiokou et al, 2006 ), fatal canine parvovirus-2 (CPV-2) and canine distemper virus (CDV) in Taiwanese pangolin ( M. pentadactyla pentadactyla) ( Wang et al, 2020 ). All kinds of pangolin are included in Appendix I to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).…”

“…All kinds of pangolin are included in Appendix I to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). Chinese authorities are also actively taking action to protect and rescue these species to prevent population extinction ( Wang et al, 2020 ).…”

Identification of Amblyomma Javanense and Detection of Tick-Borne Ehrlichia Spp. In Confiscated Malayan Pangolins

“…There are limited reports about the diseases of pangolins caused by ticks, bacteria, virus and other pathogens (11,12), such as Anaplasmaspp., Sendai virus and coronavirus in Malayan pangolin (Manis javanica) (9,13,14). Rickettsia africae in African giant pangolin (15), Trypanosoma brucei gambiense in long tailed pangolins (M. tetradactyla) and tree pangolins (M. tricuspis) (16), fatal canine parvovirus-2 (CPV-2) and canine distemper virus (CDV) in Taiwanese pangolins (M. pentadactyla pentadactyla) (17). All kinds of pangolin are included in the Appendix I to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).…”

“…All kinds of pangolin are included in the Appendix I to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). Chinese authorities are also actively taking action to protect and rescue these species to prevent population extinction (17).…”