The serological and virological investigation of canine adenovirus infection on the dogs.

Two types of Canine Adenovirus (CAVs), Canine Adenovirus type 1 (CAV-1), the virus which causes infectious canine hepatitis, and Canine Adenovirus type 2 (CAV-2), which causes canine infectious laryngotracheitis, have been found in dogs. In this study, blood samples taken from 111 dogs, which were admitted to the Internal Medicine Clinic of Selcuk University, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, with clinical symptoms. Seventy-seven dogs were sampled from Isparta and Burdur dog shelters by random sampling, regardless of the clinical findings. Dogs showed a systemic disease, characterized by fever, diarrhea, vomiting, oculonasal discharge, conjunctivitis, severe moist cough, signs of pulmonary disease and dehydration. Two dogs had corneal opacity and photophobia. In serological studies, 188 serum samples were investigated on the presence of CAV antibodies by ELISA. Total 103 (103/188-54.7%) blood samples were detected to be positive for CAV antibodies by ELISA. However, 85 (85/188-45.2%) blood samples were negative. Blood leukocyte samples from dogs were processed and inoculated onto confluent monolayers of MDCK cells using standard virological techniques. After third passage, cells were examined by direct immunoflourescence test for virus isolation. But positive result was not detected. In conclusion, this study clearly demonstrates the high prevalence of CAV infection in dogs.

Characterization of a canine homolog of hepatitis C virus.

An estimated 3% of the world's population is chronically infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV). Although HCV was discovered more than 20 y ago, its origin remains obscure largely because no closely related animal virus homolog has been identified; furthermore, efforts to understand HCV pathogenesis have been hampered by the absence of animal models other than chimpanzees for human disease. Here we report the identification in domestic dogs of a nonprimate hepacivirus. Comparative phylogenetic analysis of the canine hepacivirus (CHV) confirmed it to be the most genetically similar animal virus homolog of HCV. Bayesian Markov chains Monte Carlo and associated time to most recent common ancestor analyses suggest a mean recent divergence time of CHV and HCV clades within the past 500-1,000 y, well after the domestication of canines. The discovery of CHV may provide new insights into the origin and evolution of HCV and a tractable model system with which to probe the pathogenesis, prevention, and treatment of diseases caused by hepacivirus infection.

An endocytic CARriage tale: Adenoviruses internalization and trafficking in neurons.

In immune-competent hosts, adenoviruses (Ads) are mild pathogens that cause mainly infections of the respiratory and ocular tracks. The advent of Ad-based gene transfer vectors made the understanding of their interaction with the host cellular machinery an intensive field of research over the last decade. As studies focused primarily on epithelial-like cells, the mechanism of neuronal uptake of Ads was still missing. Using a combination of biochemical and cell biology approaches, we characterized the axonal trafficking pathway used by the canine adenovirus serotype 2 (CAV-2) to reach the neuronal soma. We showed that CAV-2 and CAR (coxsackievirus and adenovirus receptor) are entering a vesicular pathway coupled to the axonal transport machinery. The lumen of the multivalent Rab7 (+) vesicles that transport CAV-2 and CAR is, surprisingly, pH neutral. Among other issues, our study opens numerous questions concerning the neuronal function of CAR.

Canine adenoviruses and herpesvirus.

Canine adenoviruses (CAVs) and canine herpesvirus (CHV) are pathogens of dogs that have been known for several decades. The two distinct types of CAVs, type 1 and type 2, are responsible for infectious canine hepatitis and infectious tracheobronchitis, respectively. In the present article, the currently available literature on CAVs and CHV is reviewed, providing a meaningful update on the epidemiologic, pathogenetic, clinical, diagnostic, and prophylactic aspects of the infections caused by these important pathogens.

Distribución de ß-galactosidasa por transferencia adenoviral como modelo de terapia génica intralinfonodal en perros con linfosarcoma multicéntrico espontáneo / Distribution of ß-galactosidase by adenoviral transfer as a model for intralymphonodal gene therapy in dogs with spontaneous multicentric lymphosarcoma

La terapia génica en cáncer se administra principalmente por vía intravenosa e in situ mediante el empleo de vectores virales y no virales. La administración sistémica del vector transfiere el gen terapéutico al tejido neoplásico, pero también a otros órganos. El objetivo de este estudio fue evaluar la distribución de expresión del gen reportero Lac Z insertado en un vector adenoviral y administrado vía intralinfonodal (ILN) en perros con linfosarcoma multicéntrico espontáneo. La distribución de la expresión de la proteína ßgalactosidasa de un adenovirus no replicativo recombinante (Adßgal) fue evaluada 72 h después de su administración ILN en 6 perros con linfosarcoma multicéntrico espontáneo mediante la exposición al sustrato cromogénico X-gal. Se emplearon dosis de 0 (control), 1,35 X 10 a la 10, 2,53 X 10 a la 10, 6,10 X 10 a la 10, 18,38 X 10 a la 10, y 153,85 X 10 a la 10 partículas virales (PV)/kg. La expresión se presentó en un 100 por ciento del tejido linfocítico neoplásico que incluye, linfonodos y bazo, con menor intensidad se expresó en órganos infiltrados con linfocitos neoplásicos: hígado, médula ósea y pulmones. La expresión de ßgal fue exclusiva en tejido linfocítico neoplásico y en sitios de metástasis.Esto permite mejorar la eficiencia en la transferencia del gen terapéutico con menores dosis y reducir los riesgos detoxicidad y también potencialmente menos inmunogénico. La terapia génica adenoviral vía intralinfonodal tiene un elevado potencial para su aplicación en animales y humanos con linfosarcoma y también para metástasis linfonodales.

Gene therapy administration in cancer is mainly performed by intravenous, oral, and in situ routes, with viral or nonviral delivery vector systems. Systemic administration frequently transfers the therapeutic gene to neoplastic tissue and as well as to other organs. The objective of this study was to evaluate the distribution expression of Lac Z reporter gene by adenoviral transfer administered by intralymphonodal route (ILNR) in dogs with lymphosarcoma. The distribution of b-galactosidase protein expression by a non replicative recombinant adenovirus (Adb-gal) delivery was determined in six dogs with spontaneous multicentric lymphosarcoma, 72 h after ILNR administration using X-gal chromogenic substrate. The doses administered were 0 (control), 1.35 X 1010, 2.53 X 1010, 6.10 X 1010, 18.38 X 1010 and 153.85 X 1010 viral particles (VP) /kg. The expression was manifested in 100% of lymphocytic tissue, including lymph nodes and spleen. The infiltrated organs with neoplastic lymphocytes: liver, bone marrow and lungs were positive but with lower intensity. Conclusion. The expression of b-gal was restricted to neoplastic lymphocytic tissue and metastatic sites. The ILNR would enhance gene therapy efficacy to a specific cell type and permit the delivery of lower doses, which result in reduced toxicity and may also potentially be less immunogenic. This suggests that adenoviral gene therapy by ILNR is a potential model of administration in animals and human beings with lymphosarcoma and also for metastasis to lymph nodes.

Canine adenovirus type 2 attachment and internalization: coxsackievirus-adenovirus receptor, alternative receptors, and an RGD-independent pathway.

The best-characterized receptors for adenoviruses (Ads) are the coxsackievirus-Ad receptor (CAR) and integrins alpha(v)beta(5) and alpha(v)beta(3), which facilitate entry. The alpha(v) integrins recognize an Arg-Gly-Asp (RGD) motif found in some extracellular matrix proteins and in the penton base in most human Ads. Using a canine adenovirus type 2 (CAV-2) vector, we found that CHO cells that express CAR but not wild-type CHO cells are susceptible to CAV-2 transduction. Cells expressing alpha(M)beta(2) integrins or major histocompatibility complex class I (MHC-I) molecules but which do not express CAR were not transduced. Binding assays showed that CAV-2 attaches to a recombinant soluble form of CAR and that Ad type 5 (Ad5) fiber, penton base, and an anti-CAR antibody partially blocked attachment. Using fluorescently labeled CAV-2 particles, we found that in some cells nonpermissive for transduction, inhibition was at the point of internalization and not attachment. The transduction efficiency of CAV-2, which lacks an RGD motif, surprisingly mimicked that of Ad5 when tested in cells selectively expressing alpha(v)beta(5) and alpha(v)beta(3) integrins. Our results demonstrate that CAV-2 transduction is augmented by CAR and possibly by alpha(v)beta(5), though transduction can be CAR and alpha(v)beta(3/5) independent but is alpha(M)beta(2), MHC-I, and RGD independent, demonstrating a transduction mechanism which is distinct from that of Ad2/5.

Survey on viral pathogens in wild red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) in Germany with emphasis on parvoviruses and analysis of a DNA sequence from a red fox parvovirus.

The seroprevalence of canine parvovirus (CPV), canine distemper virus (CDV), canine adenovirus (CAV) and canine herpesvirus (CHV) infections in red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) was determined in fox sera collected between 1991 and 1995. A total of 500 sera were selected and the seroprevalences were estimated to be 13% (65 of 500 sera) for CPV, 4.4% (17 of 383 sera) for CDV, 35% (17 of 485 sera) for CAV, and 0.4% (2 of 485 sera) for CHV, respectively. No statistically significant differences were observed between the two (rural and suburban) areas under study. Parvovirus DNA sequences were amplified from tissues of free-ranging foxes and compared to those of prototype viruses from dogs and cats. We report here a parvovirus sequence indicative of a true intermediate between the feline panleukopenia virus-like viruses and the canine parvovirus-like viruses. The red fox parvoviral sequence, therefore, appears to represent a link between those viral groups. The DNA sequence together with a significant seroprevalence of parvovirus infections in foxes supports the hypothesis that the sudden emergence of canine parvovirus in the domestic dog population may have involved the interspecies transmission between wild and domestic carnivores.

Characterization of the genome of a vaccine strain of canine adenovirus type 1.

Restriction endonuclease cleavage maps have been constructed for the genome of a canine adenovirus type 1 (CAV-1) vaccine strain (CLL; Connaught Laboratories, Ltd., Willowdale, Ontario). Restriction enzyme analyses were also carried out on CAV-1 (CLL) genomes isolated from viral stocks over 8 serial passages in a dog kidney cell line (DK 6722). The right hand 20% of the genome became more heterogeneous in size with increasing passage in DK 6722 cells due to deletions up to 3-4 kb, whereas the left terminal region was stable throughout these passages. A comparative study of CAV-1(CLL) and a virulent strain of CAV-1, Glaxo, revealed that the genome of CAV-1(CLL) was the shorter, by about 480 bp, within the region covering 0.83-0.91 map units. By virtue of its location within the genome and its dispensable nature for viral growth, this region would appear to encompass a genetic sequence corresponding to the E3 region of human adenoviruses. In terms of viral attenuation, the possible importance of the observed differences between CAV-1(CLL) and CAV-1(Glaxo) is discussed.