Abstract
Canine distemper virus (CDV) endangers a wide range of wild animal populations, can cross species barriers and therefore representing a significant conservational and animal health risk around the globe. During spring to autumn 2021, according to our current estimates a minimum of 50 red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) died of CDV in Hungary, with CDV lesions. Oral, nasal and rectal swab samples were RT-PCR screened for Canine Distemper Virus from red fox carcasses. To investigate in more detail the origins of these CDV strains, 19 complete genomes were sequenced with a pan-genotype CDV-specific amplicon-based sequencing method developed by our laboratory and optimized for the Oxford Nanopore Technologies platform. Phylogenetic analysis of the complete genomic sequences and separately the hemagglutinin gene sequences revealed the role of the Europe lineage of CDV as a causative agent for the current epizootic. Here we highlight the growing importance of fast developing rapid sequencing technologies to aid rapid response activities during epidemics or epizootic events. We also emphasize the urgent need for improved surveillance of CDV, considering the epizootic capability of enzootic strains as reported in the current study. For such future efforts, we provide a novel NGS protocol to facilitate future genomic surveillance studies.
Highlights
Canine distemper virus (CDV) endangers a wide range of wild animal populations, can cross species barriers and representing a significant conservational and animal health risk around the globe
Over the last 2 decades, Europe lineage of the CDV has caused a number of local epizootics among wild carnivores in Europe mostly among Red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) and European badgers (Meles meles)[13–19]
We present the closest relation of the epizootic sequence cluster to a Hungarian dog sample from 2004, that is a unique branch within the Europe lineage of CDV and sequences of foxes from Germany in 2008, the node connecting to this sequence cluster clearly indicates the lack of sequence data from previous years (Fig. 2)
Summary
Canine distemper virus (CDV) endangers a wide range of wild animal populations, can cross species barriers and representing a significant conservational and animal health risk around the globe. Phylogenetic analysis of the complete genomic sequences and separately the hemagglutinin gene sequences revealed the role of the Europe lineage of CDV as a causative agent for the current epizootic. We emphasize the urgent need for improved surveillance of CDV, considering the epizootic capability of enzootic strains as reported in the current study For such future efforts, we provide a novel NGS protocol to facilitate future genomic surveillance studies. Canine distemper virus (CDV) is a significant viral pathogen affecting domestic and wild animal species worldwide[1]. CDV infected Black-footed ferrets (Mustela nigripes) in Wyoming state of the USA were r eported[26,27] All these examples highlight the importance of this virus for nature conservation aspects in multiple continents and distant geographic areas. Accession number OK557779 OK557780 OK557781 OK557782 OK557783 OK557784 OK557785 OK557786 OK557787 OK557788 OK557789 OK557790 OK557791 OK557792 OK557793 OK557794 OK557795 OK557796 OK557797
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