Genome Sequences of Canine Parvovirus Type 2c Prevalent in Western Mexico

Canine parvovirus type 2 (CPV-2) is one of the main etiologies of viral gastroenteritis in dogs across the globe. This disease is mainly characterized by the presence of diarrhea, abdominal pain, vomiting, anorexia, and dehydration. This virus is responsible for high mortality and morbidity rates in unvaccinated dogs and those younger than three months. The monitoring of viral variants in our region has demonstrated that in the last seven years, variant CPV-2c has been circulating exclusively, which is unusual if we consider that in the rest of the world, at least two variants co-circulate among dog populations. To the best of our knowledge, no studies in Mexico have reported genomic sequences of CPV-2, which are relevant for population comparisons at the genetic level. Therefore, the present study aimed to sequence genomes associated with CPV-2c. To meet this objective, rectal swab samples were collected from dogs with suspected CPV-2 infection. Five positive cases diagnosed by lateral flow testing and polymerase chain reaction were selected for viral genome sequencing. Comparative analyses illustrated that the obtained genome sequences were > 99% homologous to those reported for CPV-2 in the GenBank. On the other hand, 52 nucleotide mutations were identified in the vp1/vp2 gene, out of which three impacted amino acid transition (T226S, F267Y, and A440T). Phylogenetic analysis of the vp1/vp2 gene demonstrated that the five sequences clustered in a clade called "III", pertaining to sequences from USA and Uruguay. To our knowledge, this was the first report of genomic sequences associated with CPV-2 in Mexico, which is of great relevance for the epidemiological-molecular understanding and evolution of the virus.