Genotyping canine distemper virus (CDV) by a hemi-nested multiplex PCR provides a rapid approach for investigation of CDV outbreaks.
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.
Martella
Vito
V
Department of Animal Health and Well-being, University of Bari, Valenzano, Bari, Italy. v.martella@veterinaria.uniba.it
Elia
Gabriella
G
Lucente
Maria Stella
MS
Decaro
Nicola
N
Lorusso
Eleonora
E
Banyai
Krisztian
K
Blixenkrone-Møller
Merete
M
Lan
Nguyen Thi
NT
Yamaguchi
Ryoji
R
Cirone
Francesco
F
Carmichael
Leland Eugene
LE
Buonavoglia
Canio
C
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*
D036022:Capsid Proteins