title: Characterization of Canine parvovirus 2 variants circulating in Greece.
abstract: The aim of the present study was to characterize Canine parvovirus 2 (CPV-2) variants currently circulating in Greece. Between March 2008 and March 2009, 167 fecal samples were collected from diarrheic dogs from different regions of Greece. Canine parvovirus 2 was detected by standard polymerase chain reaction, whereas minor groove binder probe assays were used to distinguish genetic variants and discriminate between vaccine and field strains. Of 84 CPV-2-positive samples, 81 CPV-2a, 1 CPV-2b, and 2 CPV-2c were detected. Vaccine strains were not detected in any sample. Sequence analysis of the VP2 gene of the 2 CPV-2c viruses revealed up to 100% amino acid identity with the CPV-2c strains previously detected in Europe. The results indicated that, unlike other European countries, CPV-2a remains the most common variant in Greece, and that the CPV-2c variant found in Europe is also present in Greece.
authors.affiliation: Agricultural University of Athens, Faculty of Animal Science and Aquaculture, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Vasileios
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Ntafis
authors.forename: Eftychia
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Xylouri
authors.forename: Iris
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Kalli
authors.forename: Costantina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Desario
authors.forename: Viviana
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Mari
authors.forename: Nicola
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Decaro
authors.forename: Canio
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Buonavoglia
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D036022:Capsid Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary* / Q000821:virology; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000821:virology*; D004285:Dogs / Q000254:growth & development / Q000821:virology; D014644:Genetic Variation; D005858:Germany; D006115:Greece / Q000453:epidemiology; D007558:Italy; D010322:Parvoviridae Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D017993:Parvovirus, Canine / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary; D013030:Spain; D014481:United States
chemical_list: D036022:Capsid Proteins