Characterization of Iranian isolates of canine parvovirus in fecal samples using polymerase chain reaction assay

Despite the widespread prevalence of canine parvovirus disease (CPV) in Iranian dog population, molecular diagnosis of CPV variants, and investigation of the trends of its genetic changes is a new effort. In this study 50 samples from dogs suspicious of infection with clinical signs of diarrhea and vomiting, and 25 samples from dogs suspected of infection with general symptoms such as depression and anorexia were collected from dogs presented to the veterinary clinic of Shiraz University, Shiraz, Iran. Viral DNA was extracted from feces. Three specific pairs of primers, P2, Pab, and Pb, were used in a PCR assay for differential diagnosis of the virus type. Pab primer pairs detect the new type-strains, CPV-2a and 2b. The primer pairs P2 and Pb detect CPV types 2 and 2b, respectively. Our results showed that 44 individuals with clinical signs of diarrhea and vomiting were positive for CPV-2. 39 individuals (89%) were positive for CPV-2b and 5 individuals (11%) for CPV-2a. Therefore, the CPV-2b was identified as the predominant virus type. All dogs without symptoms of diarrhea and vomiting were CPV-negative. The relationship of breed, age and sex with PCR results was not significant (P > 0.05). For the first time in the country, the causative agent of CPV-2 was identified, and presence of new antigenic variants, CPV-2a and CPV-2b was confirmed.