Molecular Characterization of Circulating Canine Parvovirus Type 2c (CPV-2c) and Baseline Haemato-Biochemical Profiling of Parvoviral Enteritis in Unvaccinated Dogs from Guwahati, Assam
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.48165/ijvsbt.22.5.18Keywords:
Canine parvovirus, CPV-2c, Epidemiology, Guwahati, Haematology, BiochemistryAbstract
The present study was aimed to characterize the circulating Canine Parvovirus (CPV) strain in Guwahati, Assam, and evaluate the efficacy of rapid diagnostic screening against the polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and documented the clinical manifestation of the infection. 57 faecal samples were screened between July 2024 and December 2025, from unvaccinated dogs exhibiting severe haemorrhagic enteritis were screened. PCR analysis confirmed 32 positive cases. The rapid antigen test (RAT) demonstrated a sensitivity of 78.12% and specificity of 96.0%, failing to detect 7 active infections. Sequencing of the partial VP2 gene amplicons and subsequent phylogenetic analysis revealed that the isolates from Guwahati strictly clustered within the CPV-2c clade, displaying close genetic proximity to regional and transboundary strains from Arunachal Pradesh, India and Sri Lanka. Epidemiological profiling of the 32 PCR-positive cases highlighted a profound susceptibility in young puppies (average age 52.32 days) and indigenous non-descript (56.25 %) dog population. Clinically, 100% of the positive cases presented had severe haemorrhagic diarrhoea, anorexia, and lethargy, and all were unvaccinated dogs. Baseline haemato-biochmeical evaluation (n=32) at the time of admission revealed profound, leukopenia (3.15± 0.13 ×103/µL), neutropenia (2.11± 0.08×103/µL) and lymphopenia (0.652± 0.04×103/µL), accompanied by marked elevations in serum AST (38.7± 0.55 U/L) and depletion of serum albumin (3.28± 0.04 g/dL). This study provides definitive molecular evidence for the active regional circulation of the highly contagious CPV-2c variant in Assam and underscores the critical necessity of PCR-based molecular surveillance, comprehensive baseline haemato-biochmeical profiling, and rigorous early vaccination adherence to curb the high morbidity associated with this evolving pathogen.
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