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.