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Exploring an Aptamer-Based Approach to Assess Canine Parvovirus Integrity After Disinfection Treatment
Md Anik Ashfaq Khan1, Ahmed Abd El Wahed1, Stefan Breuers2,3
1Institute of Animal Hygiene and Veterinary Public Health, University of Leipzig, An den Tierkliniken 1, 04103 Leipzig, Germany.
Viruses
|October 29, 2025
Summary
This study developed aptamers, which are DNA sensors, to detect inactivated canine parvovirus (CPV). These aptamers can differentiate between intact and disinfected virus particles, offering a new method for assessing disinfection effectiveness.
Area of Science:
- Molecular Biology
- Virology
- Biotechnology
Background:
- Virus inactivation kinetics vary based on virus structure and genome.
- Current methods for assessing virus disinfection, like cell culture, have limitations in sensitivity, cost, and speed.
- Nucleic acid aptamers offer a potential alternative for sensitive and rapid virus detection.
Purpose of the Study:
- To discover and characterize nucleic acid aptamers capable of distinguishing between intact and inactivated canine parvovirus (CPV).
- To develop a molecular sensor for assessing the efficacy of virus disinfection methods.
Main Methods:
- Automated Systematic Evolution of Ligands by Exponential Enrichment (SELEX) was used to select aptamers against recombinant CPV VP2 protein.
- Enriched DNA libraries were sequenced to identify potential aptamer candidates.
- Binding affinity and specificity of selected aptamers were tested against intact and disinfected CPV, as well as related viruses (FPV, PPV).
Main Results:
- DNA sequencing confirmed enrichment of specific aptamer sequences after 12 SELEX cycles.
- Selected aptamers demonstrated binding to heat- and peracetic acid-treated CPV, but not to intact CPV.
- No significant binding was observed for feline panleukopenia virus (FPV) or porcine parvovirus (PPV), indicating specificity.
Conclusions:
- Aptamers were successfully selected that bind to denatured (inactivated) CPV but not intact CPV.
- These aptamers show potential for developing a novel molecular assay to accurately determine virus disinfection efficacy.
- This approach could overcome limitations associated with traditional cell-based assays.
