Unique genetic features of canine adenovirus type 1 (CAdV-1) infecting red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) in northern Norway and arctic foxes (Vulpes lagopus) in Svalbard

Abstract

Canine adenovirus type 1 (CAdV-1) is the aetiological agent of infectious canine hepatitis (ICH) in domestic dogs (Canis familiaris). In spite of the widespread use of vaccination, CAdV-1 continues to circulate in the dog population. Although a high number of serological screenings have indicated that CAdV-1 is widespread in fox species, little is known about the potential role of foxes as reservoirs of CAdV-1. Furthermore, very little data exist on the molecular features of this virus in foxes. To add to existing knowledge on CAdV-1 circulating in wild carnivores, tissue samples from CAdV-seropositive red foxes (Vulpes vulpes, n = 10) from the northern mainland of Norway and arctic foxes (Vulpes lagopus, n = 10) from the Svalbard archipelago, Norway, were investigated using a molecular approach to detect CAdV-1 DNA and important structural and non-structural genes of the detected viruses were sequenced and analysed. Amplicons characteristic for CAdV-1 were amplified from 14 out of 20 foxes (7 red foxes and 7 arctic foxes) and spleen and lymph node tissues resulted optimal targets for the viral DNA detection. The nucleotide sequences showed unique features that distinguished the viruses detected in this study from the CAdV-1 to date identified in wild carnivores and dogs. Greater attention should be given to genetically different CAdV-1 circulating in wild carnivores that may be transferred to dogs, potentially causing disease and reducing the effectiveness of available vaccines.

Adenoviruses across the animal kingdom: a walk in the zoo

“…Its prevention is a constant component in the vaccination schedule of puppies worldwide. CAdV‐1 causes encephalitis in foxes and was found to infect a number of other predators including wolf, coyote, jackal, otter, raccoon, and bear . A genomic variant, CAdV‐2, is associated with the so‐called kennel cough of dogs.…”

Integrated Use of Molecular Techniques to Detect and Genetically Characterise DNA Viruses in Italian Wolves (Canis lupus italicus)

“…The genus Mastadenovirus , within the family Adenoviridae , includes two types of Canine adenoviruses (CAdV), CAdV-1 and CAdV-2, which infect dogs and cause infectious canine hepatitis (ICH) and infectious tracheobronchitis, respectively. Apart from domestic dogs, several members of the Canidae [ 25 , 26 , 27 , 28 , 29 ], Ursidae [ 30 ], and Mustelidae families are susceptible to CAdV-1 and can even die from infection [ 31 ]. Although few studies on CAdV-1 infection in wild carnivores were carried out, it was frequently reported in association with encephalitis [ 27 , 28 , 32 ], including in wolves.…”

Development of an Immunochromatographic Strip for Rapid Detection of Canine Adenovirus

“…CAdV-1 and CAdV-2 are also widespread in wildlife. CAdV-1 primarily causes subclinical infection, but can be epizootic in wild carnivores belonging to the Canidae, Mustelidae and Ursidae families (Hechinger et al, 2017;Dowgier et al, 2018;Balboni et al, 2019). CAdV-1 has been reported in different fox species in several geographic areas (Thompson et al, 2010;Walker et al, 2016a,b).…”