Identification of canine parvovirus with the Q370R point mutation in the VP2 gene from a giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca)

Abstract

Background: In this study, we sequenced and phylogenetic analyses of the VP2 genes from twelve canine parvovirus (CPV) strains obtained from eleven domestic dogs and a giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) in China. A novel canine parvovirus (CPV) was detected from the giant panda in China.

Results: Nucleotide and phylogenetic analysis of the capsid protein VP2 gene classified the CPV as a new CPV-2a type. Substitution of Gln for Arg at the conserved 370 residue in CPV presents an unusual variation in the new CPV-2a amino acid sequence of the giant panda and is further evidence for the continuing evolution of the virus.

Conclusions: These findings extend the knowledge on CPV molecular epidemiology of particular relevance to wild carnivores.

Figure 1

Maximum likelihood tree (Mega-5.1 beta version) constructed using canine parvovirus sequences under study and the reference sequences. M38246 (FPV, USA), M38245 (CPV-2, USA), M24003 (CPV-2a, USA), M74849 (CPV-2b, USA), AY742953 (New CPV-2a, USA), AY742955 (New CPV-2b, USA), DQ182620 (New CPV-2a, India), DQ182623 (New CPV-2b, India), D78585 (New CPV-2a, Japan), AB054220 (New CPV-2b, Japan), AY742938 (New CPV-2a, Germany), AY742934 (New CPV-2b, Germany), AY742942 (CPV-2c, Germany), AF306447 (New CPV-2a, Italy), AF306444 (CPV-2b, Italy), FJ222821 (CPV-2c, Italy), AB054222 (CPV-2c(a), Japan), AB054215 (New CPV-2a, Vietnam), AB054224 (CPV-2c(a), Vietnam), U72698 (New CPV-2a, Taiwan), U72696 (New CPV-2b, Taiwan), FJ197835 (New CPV-2a, South Korea), EF599097 (New CPV-2b, South Korea), DQ903936 (New CPV-2a, China), FJ435343 (New CPV-2a, China), FJ435342 (CPV-2, China), FJ435344 (CPV-2, China), FJ435345 (New CPV-2a, China), FJ435346 (New CPV-2a, China), FJ435347 (New CPV-2a, China), FJ435348 (CPV-2, China), EF599097 (New CPV-2b,South Korea), AB054215 (New CPV-2a, Japan), EF028071 (New CPV-2b, China), GQ169552 (CPV-2, China), Triangle (▲) indicates the 12 Chinese wild-type CPV strains analyzed in this study. Green and red were used for dog and giant panda strains, respectively.