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. 2018 Feb 5;14(1):41.
doi: 10.1186/s12917-018-1356-9.

Molecular analysis of carnivore Protoparvovirus detected in white blood cells of naturally infected cats

Andrea Balboni  1 , Francesca Bassi  1 , Stefano De Arcangeli  1 , Rosanna Zobba  2 , Carla Dedola  2 , Alberto Alberti  2 , Mara Battilani  3
Affiliations

Molecular analysis of carnivore Protoparvovirus detected in white blood cells of naturally infected cats

Andrea Balboni et al. BMC Vet Res. .

Abstract

Background: Cats are susceptible to feline panleukopenia virus (FPV) and canine parvovirus (CPV) variants 2a, 2b and 2c. Detection of FPV and CPV variants in apparently healthy cats and their persistence in white blood cells (WBC) and other tissues when neutralising antibodies are simultaneously present, suggest that parvovirus may persist long-term in the tissues of cats post-infection without causing clinical signs. The aim of this study was to screen a population of 54 cats from Sardinia (Italy) for the presence of both FPV and CPV DNA within buffy coat samples using polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The DNA viral load, genetic diversity, phylogeny and antibody titres against parvoviruses were investigated in the positive cats.

Results: Carnivore protoparvovirus 1 DNA was detected in nine cats (16.7%). Viral DNA was reassembled to FPV in four cats and to CPV (CPV-2b and 2c) in four cats; one subject showed an unusually high genetic complexity with mixed infection involving FPV and CPV-2c. Antibodies against parvovirus were detected in all subjects which tested positive to DNA parvoviruses.

Conclusions: The identification of FPV and CPV DNA in the WBC of asymptomatic cats, despite the presence of specific antibodies against parvoviruses, and the high genetic heterogeneity detected in one sample, confirmed the relevant epidemiological role of cats in parvovirus infection.

Keywords: Canine parvovirus; Cat; Coinfection; Feline panleukopenia virus; PCR; White blood cells.

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Conflict of interest statement

Ethics approval

The study was carried out using stored blood samples which had been collected for clinical and laboratory purposes independent of the study with the agreement of the cat owners who presented their cats to the Veterinary Teaching Hospital (University of Sassari). As stored blood samples were used, no separate ethical approval was required for the study. All efforts were made to minimise the discomfort of the animals during sampling.

Consent for publication

Not applicable.

Competing interests

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

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Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Unrooted phylogenetic tree. The phylogenetic tree was constructed with the nucleotide sequences of the partial VP2 gene generated in this study and with feline and canine parvovirus reference sequences available on the GenBank nucleotide database or analysed by the authors in a previous study (Battilani et al., [3]). Bootstrap values greater than 50%, calculated on 1000 replicates, are indicated on the respective branches. The feline and canine parvoviruses identified in Italy not detected in this study but included in the phylogenetic analysis are designated by IT. In bold: Nucleotide sequences generated in this study. Underlined: clone 41/2011-C8
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