title: Circovirus in domestic and wild carnivores: An important opportunistic agent?
abstract: Circoviruses are relatively novel pathogens with increased importance in canids. In this study, we first screened the presence of dog circovirus (DogCV) by molecular methods from a total number of 389 internal organ samples originating from 277 individuals of domestic dogs and wild animals including wolves, foxes and badgers. All the animals originated from Central-Southern Italy, specifically from Abruzzi and Molise regions, areas hosting several natural parks. DogCV was detected in 9/34 wolves (P=26.4%; IC 95%: 14.6-43.1%), 8/209 dogs (P=3.8%; IC 95%: 1.9-7.3%), 0/24 foxes (P=0%; IC 95%: 0-13.8%), 1/10 badgers (P=10%; IC 95%: 1.79-40.4%). However, all DogCV positive animals were shown to be infected at least by an additional key pathogen, including canine distemper virus (CDV) and canine parvovirus type 2. All wolves, but one, presenting DogCV in the internal tissues suffered from CDV infection. The DNA purified from 17 DogCV infected organs was used for whole genome sequencing and phylogenetic analysis.
authors: Virology Unit, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell'Abruzzo e Molise (IZSAM), Teramo, Italy.
authors: Guendalina
authors: G
authors: Zaccaria
authors: Virology Unit, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell'Abruzzo e Molise (IZSAM), Teramo, Italy.
authors: Daniela
authors: D
authors: Malatesta
authors: Virology Unit, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell'Abruzzo e Molise (IZSAM), Teramo, Italy.
authors: Gabriella
authors: G
authors: Scipioni
authors: Virology Unit, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell'Abruzzo e Molise (IZSAM), Teramo, Italy.
authors: Elisabetta
authors: E
authors: Di Felice
authors: Veterinary Practitioner Centro Veterinario Einaudi, Bari, Italy; Zoo delle Maitine, Pesco Sannita, Benevento, Italy.
authors: Marco
authors: M
authors: Campolo
authors: Virology Unit, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell'Abruzzo e Molise (IZSAM), Teramo, Italy.
authors: Claudia
authors: C
authors: Casaccia
authors: Virology Unit, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell'Abruzzo e Molise (IZSAM), Teramo, Italy.
authors: Giovanni
authors: G
authors: Savini
authors: Virology Unit, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell'Abruzzo e Molise (IZSAM), Teramo, Italy.
authors: Daria
authors: D
authors: Di Sabatino
authors: Virology Unit, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell'Abruzzo e Molise (IZSAM), Teramo, Italy. Electronic address: a.lorusso@izs.it.
authors: Alessio
authors: A
authors: Lorusso
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000829:Animals, Domestic / Q000821:virology*; D000835:Animals, Wild / Q000821:virology*; D002335:Carnivora / Q000145:classification / Q000821:virology*; D018173:Circoviridae Infections / Q000662:veterinary* / Q000821:virology; D017925:Circovirus / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D004285:Dogs; D005589:Foxes; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010802:Phylogeny; D019596:Wolves
keywords: Canine distemper virus; Canine parvovirus; Co-infection; Dog circovirus; Opportunistic agent; Phylogeny; Whole genome; Wildlife