title: Tropism and pathological findings associated with canine respiratory coronavirus (CRCoV).
abstract: Canine infectious respiratory disease (CIRD) occurs frequently in densely housed dog populations. One of the common pathogens involved is canine respiratory coronavirus (CRCoV), however little is known regarding its pathogenesis and the role it plays in the development of CIRD. The pathogenesis of five geographically unrelated canine respiratory coronavirus (CRCoV) isolates was investigated. Following experimental infection in dogs, all five CRCoV isolates gave rise to clinical signs of respiratory disease consistent with that observed during natural infection. The presence of CRCoV was associated with marked histopathological changes in the nares and trachea, with loss and damage to tracheal cilia, accompanied by inflammation. Viral shedding was readily detected from the oropharynx up to 10 days post infection, but there was little or no evidence of rectal shedding. The successful re-isolation of CRCoV from a wide range of respiratory and mucosal associated lymphoid tissues, and lung lavage fluids demonstrates a clear tropism of CRCoV for respiratory tissues and fulfils the final requirement for Koch's postulates. By study day 14 dogs had seroconverted to CRCoV and the antibodies raised were neutralising against both homologous and heterologous strains of CRCoV in vitro, thus demonstrating antigenic homogeneity among CRCoV strains from the two continents. Defining the role that CRCoV and other agents play in CIRD is a considerable, but important, challenge if the disease is to be managed, treated and prevented more successfully. Here we have successfully developed a model for studying the pathogenicity and the role of CRCoV in CIRD.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology and Infectious Diseases, The Royal Veterinary College, Hawkshead Lane, North Mymms, Hatfield, Hertfordshire AL9 7TA, UK. Electronic address: jmitchell@rvc.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Judy A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Mitchell
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology and Infectious Diseases, The Royal Veterinary College, Hawkshead Lane, North Mymms, Hatfield, Hertfordshire AL9 7TA, UK. Electronic address: hbrooks@rvc.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Harriet W
authors.initials: HW
authors.lastname: Brooks
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology and Infectious Diseases, The Royal Veterinary College, Hawkshead Lane, North Mymms, Hatfield, Hertfordshire AL9 7TA, UK. Electronic address: bszladovits@rvc.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Balázs
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Szladovits
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology and Infectious Diseases, The Royal Veterinary College, Hawkshead Lane, North Mymms, Hatfield, Hertfordshire AL9 7TA, UK. Electronic address: kerles@rvc.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Kerstin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Erles
authors.affiliation: IPC896, Pfizer Animal Health, Ramsgate Road, Sandwich, Kent CT13 9NJ, UK. Electronic address: rachel.gibbons@pfizer.com.
authors.forename: Rachel
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gibbons
authors.affiliation: Veterinary Medicine Research and Development, Pfizer Inc., 7000 Portage Road, Kalamazoo, MI 49001, USA. Electronic address: shelly.shields@pfizer.com.
authors.forename: Shelly
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Shields
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology and Infectious Diseases, The Royal Veterinary College, Hawkshead Lane, North Mymms, Hatfield, Hertfordshire AL9 7TA, UK. Electronic address: jbrownlie@rvc.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Joe
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Brownlie
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D018352:Coronavirus Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary* / Q000821:virology; D017939:Coronavirus, Canine / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000472:pathogenicity / Q000502:physiology*; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology*; D004285:Dogs; D011897:Random Allocation; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary / Q000821:virology*; D013047:Specific Pathogen-Free Organisms; D018523:Tropism