Frequency and variation of canine parvovirus circulating in rural and wild carnivores in Northeastern Iran

Canine parvovirus type ۲ (CPV-۲) affects many species of carnivores. There is no CPV vaccination program for rural dogs that roam in high densities around the villages and the edges of the wild ecosystem in Golestan Province, Northeastern Iran. We analyzed CPV infection in rural and wild carnivores of Golestan Province. Fecal samples from ۶۹ road-killed wild animals, including ۵۰ golden jackals (Canis aureus), ۳ red foxes (Vulpes vulpes), ۴ wildcats (Felis silvestris), ۷ jungle cats (Felis chaus), and ۴ Persian leopards (Panthera), as well as ۵۵ rural dogs (Canis lupus), were analyzed via genomic DNA extraction, triplex PCR, and electrophoretic identification of CPV subtypes. We detected CPV in ۱۳ (۲۶%) of ۵۰ sampled golden jackals and ۱۸ (۳۳%) of ۵۵ rural dogs. The original CPV-۲ genotype was not detected in any samples, but we identified CPV-۲a in ۴ golden jackals and ۵ dogs, and CPV-۲b in ۹ jackals and ۱۳ dogs. There was no statistically significant difference in CPV infection prevalence between male and female canids (p˃۰.۰۵). CPV infection varied seasonally, with higher prevalence in cold seasons than in spring and summer (p≤۰.۰۵). The prevalence of CPV infection was higher in younger canids than in older ones (p≤۰.۰۵). CPV infection in rural dogs and golden jackals highlights the presence of CPV in wild and rural ecosystems of the sampled areas, the necessity for the development and administration of a suitable vaccine for rural dogs, for continued research on CPV outbreak prevention, and for the development of rapid diagnostics.

کلیدواژه ها:

PCR ، CPV-۲a ، CPV-۲b ، Canine parvovirus ، Wild animals ، Golestan Province.