Complete genome sequence of canine astrovirus with molecular and epidemiological characterisation of UK strains

Highlights • Astroviruses are a common cause of gastroenteritis in many species including man. • We sought to determine whether canine astrovirus is circulating in the UK. • Canine astrovirus was identified in four dogs with gastroenteritis. • Sequencing the capsid of each isolate identified significant genetic heterogeneity. • The first full genome sequence of canine astrovirus has also been determined.
Astroviruses are a common cause of gastroenteritis in children worldwide. These viruses can also cause infection in a range of domestic and wild animal species. Canine astrovirus (CaAstV) was first identified in the USA, and has since been reported in dogs from Europe, the Far East and South America. We sought to determine whether CaAstV is circulating in the UK dog population, and to characterise any identified strains. Stool samples were collected from pet dogs in the UK with and without gastroenteritis, and samples were screened for CaAstV by qPCR. Four CaAstV positive samples were identified from dogs with gastroenteritis (4/67, 6.0%), whereas no samples from healthy dogs were positive (p