Detection and Molecular Characterization of Canine Coronavirus Based on Partial Membrane Gene Sequences

Abstract

Canine coronavirus (CCoV) infection in dogs is common all over the world and progresses with gastroenteritis findings. Infection as a result of complications with secondary factors may result in death, especially in puppies. The virus, which is excreted in the feces, spreads indirectly through the contamination of food, water, and the environment. This study, it was aimed at revealing the CCoV infection and obtaining current molecular information about the infection. In addition, molecular characterization of CCoV strains circulating in the region was made based on the M (membrane protein) gene. The study material consisted of stool samples from 12 dogs with gastroenteritis findings. The amplified PCR products were subjected to sequence analysis and a phylogenetic tree was constructed by comparing them with different reference CCoV isolates from GenBank. In the phylogenetic tree, 1 of the 5 positive samples was determined to be CCoV-I, and 4 samples were determined to be CCoV-IIa. It was determined that the strains obtained were 85.4 - 97.7% similar among themselves and 82.7-98% similar to other strains obtained from GenBank. As a result of study, current molecular information about CCoV circulating in the Balıkesir region was obtained. With this study, it is thought that new research on the existence and molecular epidemiology of CCoV infection in Türkiye will make important contributions to vaccine studies and the control of infection.