Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) Amplification of Parvoviral DNA from the Brains of Dogs and Cats with Cerebellar Hypoplasia

Abstract

Cerebellar hypoplasia in cats is caused most commonly by an in utero or perinatal infection with feline panleukopenia virus (parvovirus). Cerebellar hypoplasia has been reported infrequently in dogs, but no viral etiology has been identified to date. DNA was extracted from archival, paraffin-embedded, cerebellar tissue from 8 cats and from 2 canine littermates with cerebellar hypoplasia, 2 canine littermates with cerebellar cortical abiotrophy, 6 dogs with congenital cerebellar vermal defects, 1 dog with congenital hydranencephaly, and 15 dogs and cats with various encephalitdes. The DNA extracted from each cerebellum was subject to polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification by 3 primer pairs specific for parvovirus DNA. Sequence analysis of PCR products from each of the 8 cats and 2 dogs with cerebellar hypoplasia confirmed their identity with parvoviral DNA. The 6 dogs with cerebellar vermal defects, 2 dogs with cortical abiotrophy, 1 dog with congenital hydranencephaly, and all control samples were PCR negative for parvovirus. Parvoviral structural proteins were not identified by immunohistochemistry in either dog with cerebellar hypoplasia. This study shows that parvoviral DNA can be amplified from feline and canine archival brain tissue and that cerebellar hypoplasia in dogs might be associated with in utero parvovirus infection.

Does a Feline Leukemia Virus Infection Pave the Way forBartonella henselaeInfection in Cats?

“…FPV infection was detected by histopathology and standard PCR of bone marrow and peripheral lymph nodes of all cats, using primers targeting the VP2 gene (GenBank accession no. GQ169552) of FPV (37).…”

Naturally Occurring Parvovirus-associated Feline Hypogranular Cerebellar Hypoplasia—A Comparison to Experimentally-induced Lesions Using Immunohistology

“…A primer pair was used to amplify a 214-bp product from the histone 3.3 gene and to assess successful deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) extraction and sample integrity. 52 DNA extraction was performed with a phenol, chloroform, isoamyl alcohol mix (50,48, and 2%, respectively) and a chloroform, isoamyl alcohol mix (96 and 4%, respectively) with intermediary centrifugations, followed by isopropanolol precipitation and 75% ethanol washing. The 3 parvovirus primer pairs (Eurogentec, Liege, Belgium) were previously described and PCRs were carried out in a 20-ml reaction mixture that included 4 ml buffer (Promega, Madison, WI), 0.8 ml deoxynucleotide mix (dNTP, 20 mM; Eurogentec), 1 ml forward primer and reverse primer (1 mg/ml), 0.1 ml DNA polymerase (5 mg/ml, Go Taq DNA Polymerase, Promega), and 1 ml DNA extract sample.…”

“…In the present study, we took advantage of 2 methodologic progresses: the advent of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests by using paraffinembedded samples that prove the presence of FPLV in naturally occurring cases, 52 and the Vet Pathol 44:831-841 (2007) mastering of immunohistology that allows cellspecific or cell processes-specific staining. 49 Such cell-specific or cell processes-specific descriptions on PCR-confirmed naturally occurring cases have not been attempted before.…”

Dandy‐Walker‐Like Syndrome in a Quarter Horse Colt

“…The 4th ventricle was markedly dilated, and, in the caudal fossa, dorsal to the rostral and caudal cerebellar peduncles in the region of the vermis, there was marked hypodensity (Figs 1 and 2). CT numbers in this location were consistent with (cerebrospinal fluid) (6)(7)(8)(9)(10)(11)(12)(13)(14)(15)(16)(17)(18)(19)(20), and markedly hypodense to the surrounding brain parenchyma (30-45). The lateral cerebellar hemispheres were considered normal, and there was no contrast enhancement.…”