Detection of Infectious Canine Hepatitis Virus in Vaccines by PCR

摘要

Canine adenovirus 1 (CAV– 1) and CAV– 2 cause infectious canine hepatitis (ICH) and infectious canine laryngo– tracheitis (ICLT) in dogs, respectively. The disease is characterized by fever, anorexia, increased thirst and abdominal pain with swollen liver and, in case of CAV-2, respiratory symptoms are also seen. The corneal opacity (blue eye) and interstitial nephritis may occur 1– 3 weeks after the clinical recovery as a consequence of the deposition of circulating immune complexes after CAV– 1 infections in dogs. CAV– 1 is genetically and antigenically distinct from canine adenovirus 2 (CAV– 2). Both viruses are shed in faeces and urine of the infected or recovered dogs, thus urine and faeces are important sources of infection to healthy dogs. A galaxy of immunoprophylactic agents based on CAV– 2 is available in the market for use in dogs to control infectious canine hepatitis in dogs. In spite of vaccination against CAV infections in dogs, the outbreak has been reported occasionally in dogs in India. In this study, PCR has been employed to amplify the genomic DNA of CAV in the vaccines and it has been found that CAV– 2 strains are present in 4 of 7 vaccines tested