Genome Sequences of Canine Parvovirus Type ۲c Prevalent in Western Mexico

Canine Parvovirus ۲ is one of the main etiologies of viral gastroenteritis in dogs worldwide. This disease is characterized mainly by the presence of diarrhea, abdominal pain, vomiting, anorexia and dehydration. This virus is responsible for a high mortality and morbidity rate in dogs younger than ۳ months and those incomplete or not vaccinated. Monitoring of viral variants in our region has shown that in the last ۷ years, variant ۲c has been circulating exclusively, which is unusual if we consider that in the rest of the world at least ۲ variants co-circulate among dog populations. In Mexico, there are no studies that report genomic sequences of CPV-۲ which are relevant for population comparisons at the genetic level; thus, the purpose of the present study was to sequence genomes associated with CPV-۲c. To meet this objective, stool samples were collected from dogs with suspected CPV-۲ infection; five positive cases diagnosed by lateral flow testing and PCR were selected for viral genome sequencing. Comparative analyses showed that the genome sequences obtained were >۹۹% homologous to those reported for CPV-۲ in GenBank. On the other hand, ۵۲ nucleotide mutations were identified in the vp۱/vp۲ gene of which ۳ impacted the amino acid transition (T۲۲۶S, F۲۶۷Y, A۴۴۰T). Phylogenetic analysis of the vp۱/vp۲ gene showed that the five sequences cluster in a clade called "III", which is related to sequences from USA and Uruguay. To our knowledge, this is the first report of genomic sequences associated with CPV-۲ in Mexico, which is of great relevance for the epidemiological-molecular understanding and evolution of the virus.

Keywords:

Canine parvovirus type ۲c , genome , Mexico