Molecular characterization and phylogenetic analysis of a canine parvovirus isolate in Indi

Canine parvovirus 2 (CPV-2) is the causative agent of acute hemorrhagic enteritis and myocarditis in dogs. In this study the nucleotide sequence of the VP1/VP2 gene of a CPV isolate from India was analyzed and the phylogenetic relationship with other CPV isolates was established. Out of 36 samples analyzed, 16 were found positive for CPV-2 by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Among the 16 positive samples, five were inoculated in MDCK cells for isolation out of which one adapted successfully to the cell culture system. Phylogenetic analysis based on the nucleotide sequence of the VP-1/VP-2 gene revealed that the Indian isolate closely resembled a CPV-2b Italian strain, showing 98.4% nucleotide sequence homology indicating very little genetic divergence since it was first identified in 1978.