Genetic characterization of Carnivore Parvoviruses in Spanish wildlife reveals domestic dog and cat‐related sequences

Abstract

The impact of carnivore parvovirus infection on wild populations is not yet understood; disease signs are mainly developed in pups and assessing the health of litters in wild carnivores has big limitations. This study aims to shed light on the virus dynamics among wild carnivores thanks to the analysis of 213 samples collected between 1994 and 2013 in wild ecosystems from Spain. We determined the presence of carnivore parvovirus DNA by real‐time PCR and sequenced the vp2 gen from 22 positive samples to characterize the strains and to perform phylogenetic analysis. The presence of carnivore parvovirus DNA was confirmed in 18% of the samples, with a higher prevalence detected in wolves (Canis lupus signatus, 70%). Fourteen sequences belonging to nine wolves, three Eurasian badgers (Meles meles), a common genet (Genetta genetta) and a European wildcat (Felis silvestris) were classified as canine parvovirus 2c (CPV‐2c); five sequences from three wolves, a red fox (Vulpes vulpes) and a stone marten (Martes foina) as CPV‐2b; and three sequences from a badger, a genet and a stone marten as feline parvovirus (FPV). This was the first report of a wildcat infected with a canine strain. Sequences described in this study were identical or very close related to others previously found in domestic carnivores from distant countries, suggesting that cross‐species transmission takes place and that the parvovirus epidemiology in Spain, as elsewhere, could be influenced by global factors.

Circulation of diverse protoparvoviruses in wild carnivores, Italy

“…Despite being the largest population included in this study, all the foxes were found to be negative for CPV. A low prevalence of this virus in red foxes has been commonly observed in other wildlife surveys (Almberg et al, 2009;Belsare et al, 2014;Calatayud et al, 2020), leading to the hypothesis that these carnivores may be relatively more resistant to this virus than other related wild carnivore species (Sobrino et al, 2008). In contrast, Duarte et al (2013) reported a relatively higher CPV prevalence in foxes.…”

“…In the present study, 54.3% of the tested wolves were positive for CPV, whilst none of these carnivores was positive for FPV. Findings from previous studies suggest that wolves may be more susceptible to CPV than foxes (Allison et al., 2014; Almberg et al., 2009; Calatayud et al., 2020).…”

“…CPV and FPV are endemic in domestic dog and cat populations. These viruses have over time been detected in a wide range of wild carnivores (Allison et al., 2014; Calatayud et al., 2020; Hoelzer & Parrish, 2010; Steinel et al., 2000, 2001). However, the dynamics of infection and disease in these multi‐species populations in the sylvatic cycle remain unclear (Behdenna et al., 2019; Duarte et al., 2013).…”

“…Although these viruses are host‐specific, they have been found to occasionally jump species barriers. For example, CPV has been detected not only in domestic dogs but also in wild canids like foxes and wolves (Alfano et al., 2019; Calatayud et al., 2020; Miranda et al., 2017; Zaccaria et al., 2016), as well as in other carnivore species such as domestic cats (Balboni et al., 2018; Decaro et al., 2010, 2011; Ikeda et al., 2000; Truyen & Parrish, 2013), stone martens ( Martes foina ) (Duarte et al., 2013), tigers ( Panthera tigris altaica ) (Steinel et al., 2000), Eurasian otters ( Lutra lutra ) (Viscardi et al., 2019), red pandas ( Ailurus fulgens ) (Qin et al., 2007) and giant pandas ( Ailuropoda melanoleuca ) (Guo et al., 2013). On the other hand, FPV, in addition to cats, has been reported in several wild carnivores, including badgers ( Meles meles ) (Calatayud et al., 2020; Steinel et al., 2000), racoons ( Procyon lotor ) (Allison et al., 2013) and Egyptian mongooses ( Herpestes ichneumon ) (Calatayud et al., 2020; Duarte et al., 2013).…”

Phylogenetic and Geospatial Evidence of Canine Parvovirus Transmission between Wild Dogs and Domestic Dogs at the Urban Fringe in Australia

“…Canine parvovirus (CPV) is a single-stranded DNA virus belonging to the family Parvoviridae , subfamily Parvovirinae , genus Protoparvovirus and species Carnivore Protoparvovirus 1 (CPPV-1) [ 1 ]. CPV infection occurs worldwide and has been reported in a range of carnivores, including domestic dogs and various wildlife species [ 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 ]. Viruses closely related to CPV include Feline parvovirus (FPV), Mink enteritis virus (MEV), Blue fox parvovirus (BFPV) and Racoon parvovirus (RPV) [ 12 , 13 ], so named due to their initial detection in these species.…”