Isolation and genetic characterization of parvoviruses from domestic cats reveals emergence of CPV-2c in India: A first report.

The objective of the present study was to isolate and characterize the VP2 gene of parvoviruses from domestic cats in India. For that, 38 fecal samples were screened by PCR with 36.84% positivity. Sequence analysis of those isolates showed canine parvovirus type-2c (CPV-2c) as the predominant variant, followed by feline panleukopenia virus (FPV) and 2a. Phylogenetic analysis of the CPV-2c sequences revealed clustering with Singaporean, South Korean, Mongolian and Bangladeshi dog 2c sequences. Phylogenetic analysis of the 2a isolate (MZC 2) was found to be clustered with Indian, Thai and Singaporean dog 2a isolates. Similarly, all the four FPV sequences were ancestrally related to Indian dog and cat FPV sequences hinting towards interspecies transmission between dogs and cats. Both synonymous and non-synonymous mutations were evident in CPV-2c, 2a and FPV sequences indicative of active evolution. In cell culture medium, CPV-2 showed cytopathogenic effects at the third passage level. In conclusion, the study provided the first report of CPV-2c in cats from India, which demands for extensive epidemiological surveillance to monitor interspecies spread and to shed more light on viral phylogenomics, their distribution in the country and in the Southeast Asian region and usage of current vaccines.