Canine Distemper Virus Infection in the Free-Living Wild Canines, the Red Fox () and Jackal (), in Croatia

Overview

Journal Pathogens

Date 2023 Jun 28

PMID 37375523

Authors

Jelena Prpic

Ivana Lojkic

Tomislav Keros

Nina Kresic

Lorena Jemersic

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

The canine distemper virus (CDV), a paramyxovirus that is closely related to the human measles virus and rinderpest virus of cattle, is a highly contagious viral disease in dogs and wild carnivores worldwide. CDV represents a serious threat to domestic and wild animals, especially to the conservation of endangered wild carnivores. Our study aims to investigate the occurrence of CDV in free-living wild canines in Croatia. For this purpose, 176 red foxes and 24 jackal brain samples collected in the frame of the active surveillance of rabies during winter 2021/2022 were tested. This study provided the first comprehensive overview of the prevalence and spatial distribution of CDV in the wildlife of Croatia, including the molecular phylogenetic analysis of the H gene sequence of field CDV strains circulating in red fox and jackal populations of Croatia. The molecular characterization of hemagglutinin gene genomic regions confirmed the phylogenetic clustering of obtained sequences into the Europa 1 genotype. The obtained CDV red fox sequences were mutually very similar (97.60%). This study indicates the high genetic similarity of Croatian CDV red fox sequences and CDV red fox sequences from Italy and Germany, badger sequences from Germany, polecat sequences from Hungary, and dog sequences from Hungary and Germany.

Citing Articles

Study of Canine Distemper Virus Presence in Catalonia's Wild Carnivores through H Gene Amplification and Sequencing.

Huang J, Cortey M, Darwich L, Griffin J, Obon E, Molina R Animals (Basel). 2024; 14(3).

PMID: 38338078 PMC: 10854788. DOI: 10.3390/ani14030436.

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