Molecular epidemiology of canine parvovirus in Morocco

• Samples were collected from 91 dogs received in veterinary clinics with symptoms predictive of canine parvovirus infection.
• Diagnostic was conducted using real-time PCR and variants were characterised by MGB technology.
• 90 samples were CPV positive; characterisation identified 43 CPV-2b, 39 CPV-2c and 1 CPV-2a.
• Co-infection with CPV-2b and CPV-2c was detected in 4 samples and 3 samples were not characterised.
• VP2 gene sequencing identified uncharacterised samples as CPV-2c with mutation G4068A responsible for aa change D427N.

Since it first emergence in the mid-1970's, canine parvovirus 2 (CPV-2) has evolved giving rise to new antigenic variants termed CPV-2a, CPV-2b and CPV-2c, which have completely replaced the original strain and had been variously distributed worldwide. In Africa limited data are available on epidemiological prevalence of these new types. Hence, the aim of the present study was to determine circulating variants in Morocco. Through TaqMan-based real-time PCR assay, 91 samples, collected from symptomatic dogs originating from various cities between 2011 and 2015, were diagnosed. Positive specimens were characterised by means of minor groove binder (MGB) probe PCR. The results showed that all samples but one (98.9%) were CPV positive, of which 1 (1.1%) was characterised as CPV-2a, 43 (47.7%) as CPV-2b and 39 (43.3%) as CPV-2c. Interestingly, a co-infection with CPV-2b and CPV-2c was detected in 4 (4.4%) samples and 3 (3.3%) samples were not characterised. Sequencing of the full VP2 gene revealed these 3 uncharacterised strains as CPV-2c, displaying a change G4068A responsible for the replacement of aspartic acid with asparagine at residue 427, impacting the MGB probe binding. In this work we provide a better understanding of the current status of prevailing CPV strains in northern Africa.