title: Serological and virological detection of canine herpesvirus-1 in adult dogs with and without reproductive disorders.
abstract: Canine herpesvirus 1 (CaHV-1) is known to cause reproductive disorders in adult dogs and neonatal mortality in puppies. The seroprevalence of CaHV-1 has not been documented in Italy. Sera from 865 dogs were screened for CaHV-1 using a serum neutralization assay (SN). All CaHV-1 positive sera and 100 CaHV-1 negative sera were also tested using an in-house immunofluorescence (IF) test. Thirteen bitches with reproductive disorders and three bitches with no history of reproductive diseases were also examined clinically so that lesions associated with CaHV-1 and CaHV-1 DNA could be identified using PCR analysis of vaginal swabs. An overall seroprevalence of 14.6% was observed using SN, and 18.6% using IF. The correlation between SN and IF was moderate. The SN assay demonstrated a greater sensitivity than IF, with a few exceptions. None of the vaginal swabs tested positive for CaHV-1 DNA. The differences in the seropositivity rates between SN and IF were not statistically significant (P = 0.16). Using the SN test as the reference standard, the sensitivity and specificity of IF were 29% and 95%, respectively. These results suggest that CaHV-1 is common in canine populations and could pose a threat to neonatal survival and canine fertility in breeding kennels in Italy. Vaccination of breeding bitches should be recommended if there is a history of reproductive disorders.
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Bari, Strada per Casamassima km 3, 70010 Valenzano, Bari, Italy. Electronic address: annamaria.pratelli@uniba.it.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pratelli
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Bari, Strada per Casamassima km 3, 70010 Valenzano, Bari, Italy.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Colao
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Bari, Strada per Casamassima km 3, 70010 Valenzano, Bari, Italy.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Losurdo
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood; D058345:Asymptomatic Infections / Q000453:epidemiology; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D006566:Herpesviridae Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary* / Q000821:virology; D002184:Herpesvirus 1, Canid / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000662:veterinary; D012098:Reproduction; D060737:Reproductive Tract Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary* / Q000821:virology; D014621:Vagina / Q000821:virology; D017201:Virus Shedding
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D004279:DNA, Viral
keywords: Canine herpesvirus 1; Immunofluorescence; PCR; Serum neutralization; Viral shedding