Serological and Molecular Survey on Domestic Dog Hepadnavirus in Household Dogs, Italy

Abstract

The discovery of hepadnaviruses in cats (domestic cat hepadnavirus, DCH) and of a DCH-like virus in dogs has raised several questions regarding the role of these viruses in pets, with particular emphasis on their potential impact on animal health and epidemiology, as well as possible zoonotic implications. In this study, by screening an age-stratified collection of 600 canine serum samples for DCH with an ELISA assay based on the recombinant core antigen (DCHCAg), specific antibodies were found with an overall prevalence of 10.0% (60/600), with a higher prevalence in younger and older dogs. By retesting the canine DCHCAbs-positive sera with an ELISA test based on the recombinant surface protein of DCH (DCHSAg), a total of 18 sera (30%, 18/60) also contained IgG anti-DCHSAg. All the sera were also assessed molecularly using either a consensus hepadnavirus PCR or a specific real-time PCR for DCH. Hepadnavirus DNA was detected in four seronegative dogs, with a prevalence rate of 0.7% (4/600). On sequence analysis of the polymerase region amplified with pan-hepadnavirus primers, the amplicons displayed the highest nucleotide identity (97.3–99.6%) to DCH sequences detected in cats and to the domestic dog hepadnavirus recently identified in a canine serum sample from Italy.

Hepadnavirus Infection in a Cat with Chronic Liver Disease: A Multi-Disciplinary Diagnostic Approach

“…Since the identification of DCH in cats in 2018, numerous global studies have been In order to investigate the serological response against DCH, the sera samples collected in November 2021 and in February 2022 were tested using two in-house ELISA assays based on a recombinant DCHcAg and DCH surface antigen (DCHsAg) [8,29]. Only IgG anti-DCHcAg was detected, whilst both sera resulted as negative for IgM anti-DCHcAg and IgG anti-DCHsAg.…”