Introduction
Carnivore protoparvovirus 1 (CPPV-1) is a member of the genusProtoparvovirus of the family Parvoviridae . Like other
parvoviruses, these are non-enveloped, small icosahedral viruses having
a linear, single-stranded DNA genome of approximately 5.2 kb containing
two major open reading frames (ORFs) (Cotmore et al., 2014). The
first ORF encodes two non-structural proteins (NS1 and NS2), while the
second ORF encodes the structural proteins VP1 and VP2 (Reed et
al., 1988). CPPV-1 comprises several closely-related lineages
previously considered different species, including feline parvovirus
(FPV), canine parvovirus (CPV), mink enteritis virus, and raccoon
parvovirus (Cotmore et al., 2014). These viruses are significant
pathogens of veterinary relevance and affect both wild and domestic
animals in the order Carnivore (Behdenna et al ., 2019;
Chen et al ., 2019; Cotmore et al ., 2014; Cotmore et
al ., 2019). A fatal CPV-2 infection was recently described in a rescued
Taiwanese pangolin, providing the first evidence of CPV-2 infection in a
non-carnivore species (Wang et al ., 2019).
FPV and CPV share a common recent ancestor that likely infected felids
or a related wild carnivore species (Truyen et al ., 1992). When
CPV-2 emerged, it only infected canids. This first CPV-2 type was soon
replaced by a new lineage that regained the ability to infect felids and
spread worldwide in few years. The high mutation capacity of CPV
promoted the emergence of new genetic variants, including the
antigenic/genetic variants known as 2a, 2b y 2c (Shackelton et
al ., 2005). These variants recovered the ability to infect felines and
started to pose a thread for non-dog species (Truyen et al .,
1996; Ikeda et al ., 2000).
In South-America, genetic and antigenic variants were described. The
analysis of complete genome from several countries evidenced two
migration events from Europe, an introduction from Asia and a lineage
that likely diverged in South-America (Grecco et al ., 2018).
Chile, Uruguay and Argentina have a similar scenario with the
predominance of 2c strains of European origin (Castillo et al .,
2020) and the existence of 2a strains belonging to two different
lineages (Pérez et al ., 2014; Gallo-Calderón et al .,
2015).
In wild species from South-America, there is antigenic evidence of the
circulation of CPPV-1 in wild animals, including culpeo, grey and
crab-eating foxes (Lycalopex culpaeus ; Lycalopex griseus;
Cerdocyon thous ) (Martino et al ., 2004; Acosta-Jammet et
al ., 2014), maned wolves (Chrysocyon brachyurus ) (de Almeida
Curi et al ., 2012) and Geoffrey’s cats (Leopardus
geoffroyi ) (Uhart et al ., 2012). Recently, a CPV-2c strain was
isolated and genetically characterized from a dead coati (Nasua
nasua) in Argentina (Bucafusco et al ., 2019).
Chile has a little information on the circulation of CPV in both
domestic dogs and wild animals. Two serological studies evidenced the
presence of antibodies against CPV-2 in domestic dogs and wild canids
(Acosta-Jammet et al ., 2014; Acosta-Jammet et al ., 2015).
A more recent study characterized the strains using VP2 sequence
analysis and evidenced the existence of a predominant 2c variant of
European origin (Castillo et al ., 2020).
The guiña (Leopardus guigna ) is a small felid inhabiting central
and southern Chile and some areas in southwestern Argentina (Napolitanoet al ., 2014). According to the red list of the International
Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), its conservation status is
vulnerable, and the main causes are the reduction and fragmentation of
its habitat (UICN, 2015). In recent years, feline viral immunodeficiency
(FIV) and feline viral leukaemia (FeLV) infections have been reported in
guiña populations and in both cases, phylogenetic analyses suggested a
high association between wild and domestic animals viruses (Moraet al ., 2015).
The main objective of this study was to characterize the CPV in guiña
and to establish the phylogenetic relationship with CPV strains obtained
from domestic dogs inhabiting the near geographic area.