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Detection and Molecular Characterization of Canine Distemper Virus in Wildlife from Northern Italy

Authors :
Tiziana Trogu
Anna Castelli
Sabrina Canziani
Clara Tolini
Maya Carrera
Enrica Sozzi
Davide Lelli
Giovanni Tosi
Laura Fiorentini
Alessandra Di Donato
Gianluca Rugna
Danilo Lanci
Antonio Lavazza
Ana Moreno
Source :
Pathogens, Vol 11, Iss 12, p 1557 (2022)
Publication Year :
2022
Publisher :
MDPI AG, 2022.

Abstract

Canine distemper virus (CDV) is a fatal, highly contagious disease found in wild and domestic carnivores. Several outbreaks have occurred in wildlife in Italy in recent years. This study aims to detect CDV in wildlife following the increasing mortality of foxes (Vulpes vulpes) in the Emilia-Romagna region (northern Italy) observed in 2021. Sixty-seven foxes and one badger (Meles meles) were subjected to necropsy followed by histological examination and were analyzed with molecular techniques to detect the presence of CDV. Of the tested animals, 16% (nine foxes and one badger) were positive for CDV. Phylogenetic analysis showed two different lineages based on complete H gene sequences. The Europe/South America-1 lineage was detected in one fox from Modena, which resembled the CDV variant associated with a previous outbreak in northern Italy in 2018, while the European Wildlife lineage was detected in animals from the Rimini province. Amino acid analysis highlighted a Y549H mutation in all sequences collected, which is commonly associated with increased virulence.

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
20760817
Volume :
11
Issue :
12
Database :
Directory of Open Access Journals
Journal :
Pathogens
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
edsdoj.07083d6993f642fea0ba6649bbba7354
Document Type :
article
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens11121557