title: Canine parvovirus type 2c infection in a kitten associated with intracranial abscess and convulsions.
abstract: A case of canine parvovirus type 2c (CPV-2c) infection in a 3-month-old feral kitten with a cerebral abscess and neurological disease is reported. The cat displayed ataxia and convulsions together with signs of gastroenteritis and profound alteration of the total and differential white blood cell counts. A parvovirus strain was detected by a TaqMan assay in the blood and faeces of the affected kitten, which was characterised as CPV by means of molecular assays but did not react with any of the CPV type-specific probes. By sequence and phylogenetic analyses of the VP2-protein gene, the CPV-2c strain displayed a non-coding mutation in the probe-binding region. Although the role of CPV-2c in this particular case is unclear, it is possible that it predisposed the kitten to the clinical signs seen. Continuous surveillance is needed to monitor future spreading of this CPV-2c mutant, and any associated clinical signs, in the dog and cat population.
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Public Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine of Bari, Strada per Casamassima km 3, 70010 Valenzano, Bari, Italy. n.decaro@veterinaria.uniba.it
authors.forename: Nicola
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Decaro
authors.forename: Costantina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Desario
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Amorisco
authors.forename: Michele
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Losurdo
authors.forename: Maria Loredana
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Colaianni
authors.forename: Maria Fiorella
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Greco
authors.forename: Canio
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Buonavoglia
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D001922:Brain Abscess / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000382:microbiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D002371:Cat Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000382:microbiology; D002415:Cats; D010322:Parvoviridae Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000382:microbiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D017992:Parvovirus / Q000145:classification / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D010802:Phylogeny; D012640:Seizures / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000382:microbiology / Q000662:veterinary*