Red Foxes (<i>Vulpes vulpes</i>) and European Badgers (<i>Meles meles</i>) as Overlooked Wildlife Hosts of Canine Parvovirus in Slovakia: First Evidence by Molecular Characterization and Virus Isolation.

ABSTRACT: Wild carnivores are increasingly recognized as hosts or reservoirs of canine parvovirus (CPV), a major pathogen of dogs. To investigate CPV circulation in Central Europe, we examined 221 red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) and 53 European badgers (Meles meles) from seven Slovakian regions. Small intestines (n = 86), rectal swabs (n = 123), and feces (n = 65) were tested by real-time PCR, and positives were sequenced for the VP2 gene. Virus isolation was performed on MDCK cells. CPV was detected in 10.9% (30/274) of samples, with a prevalence of 10.9% (24/221) in foxes and 11.3% (6/53) in badgers. Phylogenetic analysis revealed co-circulation of CPV-2a, CPV-2b, and CPV-2c, with CPV-2b being prevalent (20/30, 66.7%) and CPV-2c detected in a single sample (1/30

SUBMITTER: Petrouskova P 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12566571 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature