Molecular Investigation of Canine Parvovirus-2 (CPV-2) Outbreak in Nevis Island: Analysis of the Nearly Complete Genomes of CPV-2 Strains from the Caribbean Region

Abstract

To date, there is a dearth of information on canine parvovirus-2 (CPV-2) from the Caribbean region. During August–October 2020, the veterinary clinic on the Caribbean island of Nevis reported 64 household dogs with CPV-2-like clinical signs (hemorrhagic/non-hemorrhagic diarrhea and vomiting), of which 27 animals died. Rectal swabs/fecal samples were obtained from 43 dogs. A total of 39 of the 43 dogs tested positive for CPV-2 antigen and/or DNA, while 4 samples, negative for CPV-2 antigen, were not available for PCR. Among the 21 untested dogs, 15 had CPV-2 positive littermates. Analysis of the complete VP2 sequences of 32 strains identified new CPV-2a (CPV-2a with Ser297Ala in VP2) as the predominant CPV-2 on Nevis Island. Two nonsynonymous mutations, one rare (Asp373Asn) and the other uncommon (Ala262Thr), were observed in a few VP2 sequences. It was intriguing that new CPV-2a was associated with an outbreak of gastroenteritis on Nevis while found at low frequencies in sporadic cases of diarrhea on the neighboring island of St. Kitts. The nearly complete CPV-2 genomes (4 CPV-2 strains from St. Kitts and Nevis (SKN)) were reported for the first time from the Caribbean region. Eleven substitutions were found among the SKN genomes, which included nine synonymous substitutions, five of which have been rarely reported, and the two nonsynonymous substitutions. Phylogenetically, the SKN CPV-2 sequences formed a distinct cluster, with CPV-2b/USA/1998 strains constituting the nearest cluster. Our findings suggested that new CPV-2a is endemic in the region, with the potential to cause severe outbreaks, warranting further studies across the Caribbean Islands. Analysis of the SKN CPV-2 genomes corroborated the hypothesis that recurrent parallel evolution and reversion might play important roles in the evolution of CPV-2.

Molecular epidemiology of canine parvovirus 2 from 2014, 2019, and 2021 shows CPV2 circulating and CPV2c increasing in Yanbian, China

“…The Ser297Ala substitutions have been identified in the new CPV2a/2b strains 4 ; all 39 sequences in our investigation had this mutation. This substitution has facilitated host range adaptation under selection pressure.…”

A comprehensive review of viruses in terrestrial animals from the Caribbean islands of Greater and Lesser Antilles

“…Based on analysis of complete VP2 sequences, new CPV‐2a was identified as the major variant, contradicting the molecular epidemiology of CPV variants reported in previous studies from nearby North and South American countries (Navarro, Nair, et al., 2017). During 2020, CPV‐2 was associated with an outbreak of haemorrhagic gastroenteritis in household dogs on Nevis Island that resulted in the death of 27 animals (Gainor et al., 2021c). The same study also reported for the first time the complete coding sequences of CPV‐2 strains circulating in the Caribbean region and corroborated the hypothesis that recurrent parallel evolution and reversion might play important roles in evolution of the virus (Gainor et al., 2021c).…”

“…During 2020, CPV‐2 was associated with an outbreak of haemorrhagic gastroenteritis in household dogs on Nevis Island that resulted in the death of 27 animals (Gainor et al., 2021c). The same study also reported for the first time the complete coding sequences of CPV‐2 strains circulating in the Caribbean region and corroborated the hypothesis that recurrent parallel evolution and reversion might play important roles in evolution of the virus (Gainor et al., 2021c). During a serological study (2002‐2003) in North Trinidad, 80.4% ( n = 96) of stray dogs tested seropositive to CPV‐2 by Dot Blot ELISA (Adam et al., 2011).…”

Novel Cyclovirus Species in Dogs with Hemorrhagic Gastroenteritis

“…During August-October 2020, 39 rectal swabs/fecal samples from household dogs with hemorrhagic gastroenteritis on Nevis Island tested positive for the CPV-2 antigen and/or DNA [30]. Eighteen of the samples were available for the present study, whilst the remaining samples lacked sufficient volumes for further analysis.…”