A virtual biobank for companion animals: A parvovirus pilot study

Abstract

Background: There is a lack of national population data concerning infectious disease in companion animals. Here, we piloted the feasibility of linking diagnostic laboratories, population surveillance and modern sequencing approaches to extract targeted diagnostic samples from laboratories before they were discarded, as a novel route to better understand national epidemiology of major small animal pathogens. Methods: Samples tested for canine or feline parvovirus were requested from a national veterinary diagnostic laboratory and analysed by Sanger or next generation sequencing. Samples were linked to electronic health data held in the SAVSNET database. Results: Sequences obtained from positive samples, together with associated metadata, provided new insights into the recent geographical distribution of parvovirus strains in circulation in the United Kingdom (UK). Conclusions: This collaboration with industry represents a 'National Virtual Biobank' that can rapidly be called on, to efficiently add new layers of epidemiological information of relevance to animal, and potentially human, population health.

Stakeholder opinion‐led study to identify canine priority diseases for surveillance and control in the UK

“…[40][41][42] However, none of these disease prioritisation methods has been described previously in the context of canine diseases. Although population health data are becoming available for some diseases from sentinel networks of practices and laboratories, 43 significant gaps mean they cannot yet inform such an evidencebased approach to prioritise canine diseases. Hence, harnessing alternative sources of data, such as expert and stakeholder opinion, was key for the development of this study.…”

Persistence of DNA from canine parvovirus modified-live virus in canine tissues

“…Indeed, CPV post-vaccinal faecal shedding was experimentally described (Decaro et al 2014 ; Freisl et al 2017 ) and, occasionally, detected (Meggiolaro et al 2017 ; Hoang et al 2019; Decaro et al 2005 ; Tucciarone et al 2018 ; Franzo et al 2019 ; Jiang et al 2021 ) in rectal/faecal swabs or faeces. Similarly, post-vaccine feline panleukopenia virus faecal shedding was experimentally described in cats (Bergmann et al 2019 ; Jacobson et al 2022 ) or detected in diagnostic samples (Decaro et al 2008 ; Van Brussel et al 2019 ; Smith et al 2021 ), suggesting the need for attention when interpreting FPV PCR positive results in recently vaccinated cats.…”

Emerging variants of canine enteric coronavirus associated with seasonal outbreaks of severe canine gastroenteric disease

“…Such links, whilst not proof of any association, clearly can provide a rapid route to more targeted investigations such as PCR and sequencing as employed here. In this case, we were able to collect samples both directly from owners and veterinarians caring for suspect cases, as well as from a diagnostic laboratory, reusing clinical samples before they are discarded; we have termed this approach a virtual biobank [24,25] and suggest that where such collaborations can be developed and maintained, they can represent another component of surveillance particularly in resource-poor, data-rich populations like companion animals.…”