title: Genotyping canine distemper virus (CDV) by a hemi-nested multiplex PCR provides a rapid approach for investigation of CDV outbreaks.
abstract: CDV is a highly contagious viral pathogen causing a lethal systemic disease in dogs and other carnivores. Several lineages or genotypes of CDV exist that are variously distributed throughout several continents. Legal or uncontrolled trading of animals may modify the epidemiology of CDV, introducing novel strains in CDV-naïve areas or accounting for the resurgence of CDV in areas where vaccine prophylaxis was effective and successful to control the disease. A hemi-nested PCR system was developed to genotype strains of the major CDV lineages, America-1, Europe, Asia-1, Asia-2 and Arctic. The assay was tested using a collection of 27 laboratory and vaccine strains and of 36 field CDV strains. Distinct lineages could be differentiated by specific primers targeted to the H gene. The method could be useful for molecular epidemiological studies of CDV, providing a tool for large-scale studies, and for the diagnosis of vaccine-related disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Health and Well-being, University of Bari, Valenzano, Bari, Italy. v.martella@veterinaria.uniba.it
authors.forename: Vito
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Martella
authors.forename: Gabriella
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Elia
authors.forename: Maria Stella
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Lucente
authors.forename: Nicola
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Decaro
authors.forename: Eleonora
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Lorusso
authors.forename: Krisztian
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Banyai
authors.forename: Merete
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Blixenkrone-Møller
authors.forename: Nguyen Thi
authors.initials: NT
authors.lastname: Lan
authors.forename: Ryoji
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Yamaguchi
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Cirone
authors.forename: Leland Eugene
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Carmichael
authors.forename: Canio
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Buonavoglia
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D036022:Capsid Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D004196:Disease Outbreaks / Q000662:veterinary*; D004216:Distemper / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology; D004217:Distemper Virus, Canine / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D004285:Dogs; D005838:Genotype; D010802:Phylogeny; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary*
chemical_list: D036022:Capsid Proteins