Canine Distemper Research Articles

Structure and function of a novel lineage-specific neutralizing epitope on H protein of canine distemper virus.

Canine distemper virus (CDV) infects many sensitive species worldwide and its host range is expanding. The hemagglutinin (H) protein, the major neutralizing target, binds to cellular receptors and subsequently triggers fusion for initial viral infection. So it's necessary to clarify the precise neutralizing epitopes of H protein and extend the knowledge of mechanisms of virus neutralization. In this study, a neutralizing monoclonal antibody (mAb) 2D12 against CDV H protein, which had different reactivity with different CDV strains, was generated and characterized. A series of truncated H proteins were screened to define the minimal linear epitope 238DIEREFD244 recognized by 2D12. Further investigation revealed that the epitope was highly conserved in America-1 vaccine lineage of CDV strains, but different substitutions in the epitope appeared in CDV strains of the other lineages and two substitutions (D238Y and R241G) caused the change of antigenicity. Thus, the epitope represents a novel lineage-specific neutralizing target on H protein of CDV for differentiation of America-1 vaccine lineage and the other lineages of CDV strains. The epitope was identified to localize at the surface of H protein in two different positions in a three-dimensional (3D) structure, but not at the position of the receptor-binding site (RBS), so the mAb 2D12 that recognized the epitope did not inhibit binding of H protein to the receptor. But mAb 2D12 interfered with the H-F interaction for inhibiting membrane fusion, suggesting that the mAb plays key roles for formation of H-F protein oligomeric structure. Our data will contribute to the understanding of the structure, function, and antigenicity of CDV H protein and mechanisms of virus neutralization.

An appraisal of gene targets for phylogenetic classification of canine distemper virus: Is the hemagglutinin the best candidate?

Sequence analysis of the canine distemper virus (CDV) hemagglutinin (H) gene may provide important insights on virus-host interactions and has also been frequently used for CDV phylogenetic classification. Herein, we performed an in silico analysis of CDV complete genomes (CGs) available in GenBank in order to investigate the suitability of H for CDV classification into lineages/genotypes. In addition, we analyzed the other viral genes for their potential use in CDV classification. Initially, we collected 116 CDV CGs from GenBank and compared their phylogenetic classification with that of their respective H nucleotide (nt) and amino acid (aa) sequences. Subsequently, we calculated the geodesic distance between the CG and H phylogenetic trees. These analyses were later performed with other CDV genes. All CDV CGs were also evaluated for possible recombination events. Nucleotide and aa analyses of H misclassified some Vaccine/America 1/Asia 3 lineage sequences compared to CG analysis, finding supported by both Maximum Likelihood (ML) and Bayesian Markov Chain Monte Carlo (B-MCMC) methods. Moreover, aa-based H analysis showed additional disagreements with the classification obtained by CG. The geodesic distance between the H and CG trees was 0.0680. Strong recombination signals were identified in the H gene, including Vaccine/America 1/Asia 3 lineage sequences. In contrast, C and P were the only genes that fully reproduced the CG classification (by ML and/or B-MCMC) and that did not show strong recombination signals. Furthermore, the P phylogenetic tree showed the lowest geodesic distance from the CG tree (0.0369). These findings suggest C and P as potential targets for CDV phylogenetic classification, especially when full genome sequencing is not possible. Finally, since our results were obtained considering the CDV CGs available to date, future analyses performed as more CDV sequences become available will be useful to assess probable issues of H-based phylogeny and to consolidate the suitability of the C and P genes for CDV classification.

Effect of maternally derived antibodies on two commercial vaccines in changes of serum antibody titres against distemper in puppies.

Maternally derived antibodies (MDA) have protection against canine distemper virus (CDV) in the first weeks of puppies' life. However, MDA decreases with age. The most important and effective factor on immunization is timely vaccination. But in recent years, there were some outbreaks of CDV among puppies in Iran and this problem could be related to vaccine failure. The aim of this study is to evaluate the possible effect of MDA titre on vaccines against CDV and the efficacy of two commercial vaccines by using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). In this regard, 24 healthy 8-week old terrier puppies were selected and divided into three identical groups based on a randomized, double-blind comparative trial. The control group was injected normal saline, and group A was vaccinated by the vaccine namely Biocan L (Bioveta, Czech Republic), and the group B was vaccinated by the other vaccine called Duramune Max 5 + LCI/GP (Fort Dodge Animal Health, USA). The vaccines were used for the puppies between 8 and 16 weeks of age and in every 4 weeks. The results showed that the response of both vaccines was satisfactory, and no significant difference was observed between them. Moreover, the MDA in the control group reached an unprotective level in all puppies prior to their 14 weeks of age. In the vaccinated groups, after the second vaccine, all puppies in both groups reached protective levels. This is the first study on evaluation of two commercial vaccines in changes of serum antibody titres against distemper in puppies in Iran. It is recommended that veterinarians during consulting use the ELISA to measure antibody titres to optimize the vaccination schedule and reduce the cost of vaccination failure. This is of paramount importance for puppies.

A comprehensive molecular survey of viral pathogens associated with canine gastroenteritis.

Viral pathogens are the primary cause of canine gastroenteritis. However, few structured comprehensive studies on the viral etiology of canine gastroenteritis have been conducted. In this study, 475 rectal swabs collected over three years (2018-2021) from clinical canine gastroenteritis cases were screened for the presence of six major enteric viruses - canine parvovirus 2 (CPV-2), canine distemper virus (CDV), canine adenovirus 2 (CAdV-2), canine coronavirus (CCoV), canine astrovirus (CaAstV), and canine rotavirus (CRV) - by real-time PCR. The most frequently detected virus was CPV-2, which was present in 64.8% of the samples (subtype 2a, 21.1%; 2b, 77.4%; 2c, 1.5%), followed by CDV (8%), CaAstV (7.2%), CCoV (5.9%), and CAdV-2 (4.6%). Two to four of these viruses in different combinations were found in 16.8% of the samples, and CRV was not detected. The complete genome sequences of Indian isolates of CDV, CCoV, and CaAstV were determined for the first time, and phylogenetic analysis was performed. This study highlights the need for routine prophylactic vaccination with the appropriate vaccines. Notably, 70.3% of animals vaccinated with DHPPiL were found to be positive for at least one virus. Hence, regular molecular analysis of the prevalent viruses is crucial for addressing vaccination failures.

Dietary yeast beta 1,3/1,6 glucan supplemented to adult Labrador Retrievers alters peripheral blood immune cell responses to vaccination challenge without affecting protective immunity.

Yeast-derived 1,3/1,6 beta-glucans may alter host immunity to produce robust and quickly resolved responses that align with companion animal health goals. In adult dogs, immunomodulation by yeast 1,3/1,6 beta-glucans in extruded kibble diet have not been well-documented. The study objective was to evaluate systemic immune responses in dogs fed kibble diets with two yeast 1,3/1,6 beta-glucans doses before and after vaccine challenge. Twenty-four adult Labrador Retrievers were assigned to 3 dietary treatments consisting of a basal diet (control) supplemented with 0.012 or 0.023% (0.5 or 1X, respectively) yeast 1,3/1,6 beta-glucan with equal sex representation within each treatment (8 dogs/diet). Animals were fed experimental diets for a 29d acclimation period, after which baseline blood samples were collected before administration of a combination canine distemper virus, parvovirus, and adenovirus-2 vaccine. Blood samples were collected weekly for 21d following vaccination with whole blood for CBC analysis, serum for titer and cytokine assays, and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) isolated for flow cytometric immune cell profiling. Data were analyzed using the MIXED procedure with diet and timepoint fixed effects. Serum titer was analyzed by Kruskal-Wallis test (SAS 9.4; P≤0.05). Prior to vaccination, beta-glucan diets did not affect serum cytokines, antibody titer, or immune cell populations. In the first 7 days post-vaccination (dpv), PBMC CD21 low B cells increased in 36.5-58.1% in all groups but the magnitude of change was lesser in the 0.5X beta-glucan diet resulting in 25.6% lower CD21 low populations compared to control-fed dogs (P=0.007). By 21dpv, B cell populations recovered to baseline levels in dogs fed 1X beta-glucan, but CD21 high cells remained elevated 50.5% in dogs fed 0.5X beta-glucan diets compared to baseline (P<0.0001). While no differences in serum titer or cytokines were observed, feeding both beta-glucan diets maintained stable blood monocytes whereas a 53.0% decrease between baseline and 14dpv was observed in control-fed dogs (P=0.01). Collectively, these outcomes suggest that a 1X dose of 1,3/1,6 yeast beta-glucan in extruded kibble diets altered monocytes associated with trained immunity, did not reduce PBMC CD21 low B cell responsiveness, and simultaneously contributed to B cell population resolution by 21dpv in adult dogs. Additional research to assess the functionality of these changes is needed.

Comparison of some cytokines, acute phase proteins and citrulline levels in healthy and canine distemper infected dogs.

Canine distemper virus (CDV) is the etiological agent of severe disease in domestic and wild carnivores. Clinical diagnosis of CDV is challenging because of its similarity to other canine respiratory and intestinal diseases. We aimed to determine certain cytokine (interleukin [IL]-1β, IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, and tumor necrosis factor-α [TNF-α]), interferon (IFN)-γ, canine serum amyloid A (SAA), and canine citrulline (CIT) levels for the first time in CDV-positive dogs. For this purpose, 10 CDV-positive dogs with compatible clinical findings (i.e., neurological symptoms such as tremors and myoclonus, ocular and nasal discharge, and wheezing) and 10 healthy dogs based on the clinical examinations and rapid test results were enrolled. It was observed that the CIT, INF-γ, IL-1β, IL-2, IL-6, and TNF-α levels were significantly decreased in the CDV-positive dogs than that of the healthy ones (P<0.05). As a result, it was observed that CDV causes immunosuppression and accordingly, the inflammatory response might cause decreased cytokine and acute-phase protein synthesis. Therefore, it was concluded that further investigation of inflammatory pathways and CIT interactions may provide crucial clinical information at different stages of CDV, and aforementioned parameters may serve as important biomarkers for CDV in terms of demonstrating the presence of immunosuppression.

Prevalence of canine distemper in dogs referred to Veterinary Hospital of Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran.

Canine distemper virus (CDV) is responsible for high morbidity and mortality in dogs worldwide. Epidemiological study of canine distemper can help to control and treat the disease in any area. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of CDV in dogs referred to the Veterinary Hospital from September 23, 2018 to September 22, 2019. Dogs with at least two clinical signs of canine distemper underwent blood tests, rapid test kit from the eye and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), and RT-PCR from whole blood and/or CSF samples. Out of 1212 referred dogs, 112 dogs were suspected to have canine distemper of which 90 underwent RT-PCR and rapid test kits. The disease prevalence was 4.04% (49/1212) and 7.44% (49/659) according to the total number of referring dogs and number of referring sick dogs, respectively. The distemper fatality rate was 69.57% (32/46). Seventy percent of distemper positive cases were under 12 months old and 52.08% were under 6 months old. Female dogs were more susceptible than males; however, the fatality rate of males was more than females. Of distemper positive dogs, 91.84% were unvaccinated. The highest prevalence (71.43%) of dogs diagnosed with CDV occurred during the cold seasons. It is concluded that canine distemper is endemic in the geographical area of Mashhad and its prevalence rate in dogs referred to the Veterinary Hospital of Ferdowsi University of Mashhad is 4.04% and its fatality rate is 69.57%. This indicates that a significant number of dogs may die if they develop distemper despite treatment.

Soroprevalência de anticorpos contra o vírus da cinomose canina, parvovírus e adenovírus em cães de um abrigo de animais brasileiro

ABSTRACT This study aimed to identify and compare the seroprevalence for canine distemper virus (CDV), canine parvovirus (CPV), and canine adenovirus (CAV) between newly admitted and already sheltered dogs. 122 dogs over six months of age and unvaccinated upon admission were sampled and divided into two groups: (A) newly admitted dogs and (B) dogs sheltered for at least two months. Sera were collected to determine IgG antibody titers against CDV, CPV, and CAV. We conducted a descriptive analysis of the samples and a chi-square test to investigate the relationship between potential elements associated with protective antibody titers. The results were: 56.5% of the dogs had protective levels of antibodies to all three pathogens. Dogs in group A had lower titers compared to those in group B for all three pathogens, with significant differences for CDV and CAV. We found no significant difference between the proportion of seropositive dogs and their age or reproductive status. The study suggests that the examined pathogens can circulate in the animal shelter and that dogs can be more exposed to these pathogens in the shelter than in the urban environment. Therefore, an effective immunization program should be carried out on all animals upon admission to shelters.

Exposure of dogs and wild carnivores to canine distemper virus, canine parvovirus, Leishmania infantum, and Toxoplasma gondii in the Xingu River basin, Brazilian Amazon: Prevalence, spatial distribution, and association with land cover types

ABSTRACT Infectious diseases transmitted by domestic dogs can have important consequences for wildlife health. This study aimed to investigate the exposure to four selected pathogens in dogs and wild carnivores in six municipalities in the Xingu River Basin (Pará state, Brazil). The prevalence of positive animals, their spatial distribution, and the association with land cover types were analyzed. Blood samples from 298 dogs and 11 free-ranging wild carnivores were tested through serological diagnoses. The seroprevalence to canine distemper virus, canine parvovirus, Leishmania infantum, and Toxoplasma gondii was 68.6, 75.4, 14.8, and 47.1%, respectively. The seroprevalence to canine distemper virus and T. gondii was significantly higher in dogs than in wild carnivores. Spatial analyses revealed a broad distribution of seropositive animals, except for animals seropositive to L. infantum, which were concentrated in the southern region close to the margins of the Xingu River. Spatial clusters of seropositive animals were detected for all tested pathogens, indicating areas with a greater risk of exposure. Positive results for canine distemper virus, T. gondii, and L. infantum were associated with different types of land cover, and thus were considered risk factors for pathogen exposure. The high seroprevalence of dogs to canine distemper virus and to canine parvovirus are concerning, suggesting risks of transmission to wild species inhabiting areas close to the surveyed communities.

N gene based detection and phylogenetic analysis of canine morbillivirus in dogs

Canine distemper, a highly fatal systemic disease in domestic dogs and wild carnivores, has the second highest mortality rate after rabies and is responsible for a large number of animal deaths around the world. It is considered a major pathogen in the canine infectious respiratory disease complex. This paper reports the finding of a study conducted to detect and characterise canine distemper virus (Canine Morbillivirus) based on N gene. A total of 59 samples collected from cases of respiratory infections in dogs were subjected to N gene based reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and eleven of them (18.64 per cent) were found positive. Sequencing and phylogenetic analysis revealed that all the canine distemper viruses obtained in the present study were related to Indian strains that were previously reported. However, the viruses from the same district were similar among themselves.

Studies on the molecular mechanisms involved in apoptosis triggered by Canine Distemper Virus (CDV)

Studies on the molecular mechanisms involved in apoptosis triggered by Canine Distemper Virus (CDV)

Epizootiologia da cinomose em cães naturalmente infectados em Goiânia, Brasil

ABSTRACT: Although the epizootiological profile of canine distemper in Goiânia is unknown, there is clinical evidence for a high incidence of canine distemper virus (CDV) infection among dogs. Therefore, this study determined the epizootiological characteristics of canine distemper in naturally infected dogs. Data of 46 dogs that tested positive for the CDV based on immunochromatography or reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction were collected. Data on the sex, breed, age, and vaccination status were obtained from these dogs, and extraneural and neural sign analyses were performed. Although, the infected dogs belonged to both sexes, different breeds, and different age groups, a greater proportion of cases were seen in adults (1-6 years), undefined breeds, and unvaccinated dogs. Among the CDV-positive dogs, 10.87% had been vaccinated. In addition, 4.35% showed neural signs, 8.69% showed extraneural signs, and 86.96% showed both. High lethality was observed, with viral antigen and/or DNA detected in 82.61% dead dogs. Only 8.70% of the total CDV-infected dogs remained alive at the time of their assessment.

Doenças fúngicas em cães e gatos no Nordeste do Brasil

ABSTRACT: In this retrospective study, the clinical and anatomopathological findings of fungal diseases in dogs and cats in Northeastern Brazil are described. During the study period, 6,827 histopathological examinations (4,090 necropsies and 2,737 biopsies) of companion animals were reviewed, and fungal infections were diagnosed in 54 cases. Of these, 32 cases were diagnosed in cats and 22 in dogs. Sporotrichosis was the most prevalent mycosis (19/54), followed by dermatophytosis (9/54), cryptococcosis (8/54), candidiasis (7/54), and phaeohyphomycosis (4/54). Other diseases had two cases each, including aspergillosis, mucormycosis, and histoplasmosis, whereas coccidioidomycosis occurred once. Mycoses were diagnosed through microscopic lesions associated with the histomorphological characteristics of the agent, as evidenced by routine and special histochemical stains. They were occasionally confirmed by immunohistochemistry and microbiological cultivation. This retrospective study showed that despite being uncommon, fungal diseases are important causes of death in dogs and cats in the region, with cats being the most affected species and sporotrichosis being the most prevalent mycosis. Clinical signs were correlated with the portal of entry of the infection associated with localized or disseminated superficial and deep skin lesions or affecting parenchymal organs, especially in systemic infections. Microscopic lesions were mainly characterized by pyogranulomatous inflammation associated with fungal structures. In dogs, mycoses occurred mainly owing to an immunological impairment secondary to canine distemper virus co-infection.

A Preliminary Study for Determination of Neutrophil to Lymphocyte, Monocyte to Lymphocyte and Platelet to Lymphocyte Ratios in Dogs with Canine Distemper Virus Infection

It is aimed to compare the pretreatment Neutrophil/Lymphocyte (NEU/LYM), Monocyte/Lymphocyte (MONO/LYM), and Platelet/Lymphocyte (PLT/LYM) ratios with whole blood count (WBC) of dogs naturally infected Canine Distemper Virus (CDV) with healthy individuals within this preliminary study. For this purpose, retrospectively, 22 owned, 3-12 (6.2) months old dogs diagnosed with CDV infection found to be positive with rapid test kits based up on the records of Animal Hospital, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, constituted the study group. On the other hand, eight owned, 2-10 (8.2) months old, and healthy dogs enrolled in the control group. In the comparison of pre-treatment NEU/LYM, MONO/LYM, PLT/LYM, and WBC parameters between the groups, we found only a statistical difference (P 0.05) between median LYM, EOS, NEU%, LYM%, EOS%, BAS%, MCH, MCHC, RDWCV, PLT with NEU/LYM, MONO/LYM, PLT/LYM ratios. The median NEU/LYM, MONO/LYM, and PLT/LYM levels in the CDV positive group were 31.9, 2.33, and 391.2, respectively, while the same values of the control group were determined as 6.39, 0.37 and 187.7, respectively. The optimized cut-off points of NEU/LYM, MONO/LYM, and PLT/LYM values in estimating CDV patients were also determined as NEU/LYM =7.6, MONO/LYM=0.61 and PLT/LYM=0.852, respectively. In conclusion, this preliminary study suggests that NEU/LYM, MONO/LYM, and PLT/LYM values may be inexpensive, objective, and non-invasive new marker candidates for clinicians to support the diagnosis of CDV infected dogs in suspicious circumstances.

Rapid molecular detection and isolation of canine distemper virus in naturally infected dogs

The canine distemper virus (CDV), which infects dogs and a broad range of animal species, remains a serious concern in Türkiye and across the world. The current study shows that CDV can be detected and isolated rapidly and specifically in naturally infected dogs. Whole blood, nasal swab, ocular swab, rectal swab, and urine samples from 50 stray dogs were used in the study (n = 250). The presence of the CDV genome was confirmed in 105 (42%) samples using one-Step real-time RT-PCR. In total, 39 dogs were diagnosed with CDV infection based on the detection of cytopathic effects in MDCK, which was verified by the fluorescent antibody technique. A total of 12 one-Step real-time RT-PCR negative samples, consisting of 4 rectal swabs and 8 urine samples, were found to be positive by virus isolation. Blood, nasal swab, ocular swab (P&amp;lt;0.01, r = 1), rectal swab (P&amp;lt;0.01, r = 0.844), and urine samples (P&amp;lt;0.01, r = 0.697) all showed positive correlations in the tests for viral genome detection and virus isolation. CPE levels of high 37 (31.62%), medium 26 (22.23%) and low 54 (46.15%) were detected in a total of 117 (46.8%) samples with viral growth in cell culture. The highest CPE levels detected by FAT were for rectal swab and urine samples. In conclusion, the one-step real-time RT-PCR method on rectal swab samples proved to be a very sensitive method for the rapid and reliable CDV detection. Besides, non-modified MDCK can be used to isolate CDV from naturally infected dogs.

Post vaccinal antibody titres specific for canine distemper virus and canine adenovirus in dogs vaccinated with selected commercial vaccines: A preliminary study

Vaccination of dogs against canine distemper virus (CDV) and canine adenovirus (CAV), are recommended to prevent severe disease outbreaks caused by those viruses. Antibody (Ab) titre testing has proven to be an effective method of monitoring immunity and determining whether re-vaccination is necessary. Postvaccinal immunoglobulin (IgG) titres specific for CDV and CAV with three selected commercial multivalent vaccines (A, B, and C) were evaluated in this study. When antibody titres of a total of 40 client-owned dogs (16 vaccinated with vaccine A, and 12 each with vaccine B and C) were tested three weeks after the primary vaccination using VacciCheck in-clinic test kit, only 33 yielded valid responses. Pair-wise comparison using the Kruskal-Walli’s test showed that vaccine C induced a significantly higher CDV-specific Ab titres (p = 0.001) than vaccine A or B. Both vaccines A and C induced significantly high levels of CAV-specific Ab titres (p =0.001) when compared to vaccine B. Vaccine B containing the Rockborn strain of CDV and Manhattan strain of CAV induced a very poor immune response against both viruses. Since many factors can affect the immune response elicited by a vaccine, selecting a reliable vaccine product is important to ensure a good immune response. The vaccine C produced by a leading manufacturer containing the viral titres of 1x104 TCID50 and 1x106 TCID50 or CDV and CAV, respectively was effective in inducing a protective humoral immune response in all dogs tested in this study.

Canine Distemper Virus in Endangered Species: Species Jump, Clinical Variations, and Vaccination.

Canine morbillivirus (Canine distemper virus, CDV) is the cause of distemper in a large number of different species, some of which are endangered. The clinical outcome associated with infection is variable and based on many factors, including the host species, the immune response of the individual animal to the infection, and variation in virus tropism and virulence. Unfortunately, the viral characteristics associated with virulence versus attenuation are not fully characterized, nor are the specific mutations that allow this virus to easily move and adapt from one species to another. Due to its wide host range, this virus is difficult to manage in ecosystems that are home to endangered species. Vaccination of the domestic dog, historically considered the reservoir species for this virus, at dog-wildlife interfaces has failed to control virus spread. CDV appears to be maintained by a metareservoir rather than a single species, requiring the need to vaccinate the wildlife species at risk. This is controversial, and there is a lack of a safe, effective vaccine for nondomestic species. This review focuses on topics that are paramount to protecting endangered species from a stochastic event, such as a CDV outbreak, that could lead to extinction.

Novel optical fiber Vernier immunosensor based on cascading Sagnac loops embedded with excessively tilted fiber grating for specific detection of canine distemper virus.

A novel optical fiber Vernier effect (VE) biosensor based on cascading Sagnac loops embedded with excessively tilted fiber grating (ExTFG) is proposed for the label free and specific detection of canine distemper virus (CDV). The VE was realized by cascading two different Sagnac loops with similar free spectrum range (FSR), one of which was integrated with panda-type polarization maintaining fiber (PMF) as the reference loop, and the other was embedded with ExTFG as the sensing loop. Owning to the amplified function of the VE, the refractive index (RI) sensitivity of the proposed sensing structure reached -1914.89 nm/RIU, which is approximately 12 times higher than that of the single ExTFG based RI sensor. Furthermore, the ExTFG in sensing loop was modified by graphene oxide (GO) and bio-functionalized by the CDV monoclonal antibodies (anti-CDV MAbs) for the specific detection of the CDV. Experimental results show that the proposed optical fiber Vernier sensor could detect the CDV in buffer solution with concentration as low as 1 pg/mL, and the sensitivity was about -1.18 nm/[log(mg/ml)] in the concentration range of 1 pg/mL ~ 50 ng/mL. The excellent specific and clinical properties of the biosensor were verified by immunoassays for fetal bovine serum, Toxoplasma gondii, rabies virus and CDV serum in sequence. Due to the sensitivity amplification function of VE, dense comb spectrum of the Sagnac loop and the stable interference spectra maintained by the polarized light, the proposed biosensor possesses the combined advantages of high sensitivity, high Q-factor and high stability, which may have potential applications in biosensing fields.

Detection and sequence analysis of Canine morbillivirus in multiple species of the Mustelidae family

BackgroundCanine morbillivirus (canine distemper virus, CDV) is a member of the Paramyxoviridae family. Canine distemper is a serious viral disease that affects many mammalian species, including members of the Mustelidae family. These animals have an elusive nature, which makes related virological studies extremely challenging. There is a significant knowledge gap about the evolution of their viruses and about the possible effects of these viruses to the population dynamics of the host animals. Spleen and lung tissue samples of 170 road-killed mustelids belonging to six species were collected between 1997 and 2022 throughout Hungary and tested for CDV with real-time RT-PCR.ResultsThree species were positive for viral RNA, 2 out of 64 Steppe polecats (Mustela eversmanii), 1 out of 36 European polecats (Mustela putorius) and 2 out of 36 stone martens (Martes foina); all 18 pine martens (Martes martes), 10 least weasels (Mustela nivalis) and 6 stoats (Mustela erminea) tested negative. The complete CDV genome was sequenced in five samples using pan-genotype CDV-specific, amplicon-based Nanopore sequencing. Based on the phylogenetic analysis, all five viral sequences were grouped to the Europe/South America 1 lineage and the distribution of one sequence among trees indicated recombination of the Hemagglutinin gene. We verified the recombination with SimPlot analysis.ConclusionsThis paper provides the first CDV genome sequences from Steppe polecats and additional complete genomes from European polecats and stone martens. The infected specimens of various species originated from distinct parts of the country over a long time, indicating a wide circulation of CDV among mustelids throughout Hungary. Considering the high virulence of CDV and the presence of the virus in these animals, we highlight the importance of conservation efforts for wild mustelids. In addition, we emphasize the importance of full genomic data acquisition and analysis to better understand the evolution of the virus. Since CDV is prone to recombination, specific genomic segment analyses may provide less representative evolutionary traits than using complete genome sequences.

Prognostic Factorial Index for Dogs with Canine Distemper

Background: Canine distemper (CD) is a highly fatal disease in dogs. Hence, it is important to document the factors which are significantly correlated with the poor prognosis amongst CD infected dogs to develop a prognostic index. Methods: Forty dogs positive for CD virus by nested reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (nRT-PCR) were included in our study at infectious Disease Unit (IDU), Madras Veterinary College Teaching Hospital, Chennai between March 2021 and August 2022. Two different herbal drugs were tried in two groups of dogs where each group comprised of 20 dogs and clinical responses were observed. Epidemiological and clinical data were collected and analysed between survival and non-survival groups using chi-square test. The statistically significant factors were further analysed by logistic regression to identify their strong association with the event of death. Kaplan-Meier curves for survival were constructed to explore differences in the survival time for different dogs. Result: The overall case fatality rate was found to be 55% (22/40). The event of death due to CD was observed in young dogs having ocular discharge with strong correlation but the chances of survival were found to increase when age advanced.