Canine parvovirus and pseudorabies virus coinfection as a cause of death in a wolf (Canis lupus) from southern Italy

Pseudorabies virus (PRV) or suid herpesvirus 1 (SHV‐1) is the causative agent of Aujeszky's disease, a highly contagious viral infection which causes neurological fatal illness in mammals other than suids. Here we report a case of a young wolf (Canis lupus) of around 2 years found dead by a hun...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Veterinary Medicine and Science
Main Authors: Amoroso, Maria Grazia, Di Concilio, Denise, D’Alessio, Nicola, Veneziano, Vincenzo, Galiero, Giorgio, Fusco, Giovanna
Format: Text
Language:English
Published: John Wiley and Sons Inc. 2020
Subjects:
Case Report
Canis lupus
Online Access:http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7397906/
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/32301259
https://doi.org/10.1002/vms3.270
Description
Summary:Pseudorabies virus (PRV) or suid herpesvirus 1 (SHV‐1) is the causative agent of Aujeszky's disease, a highly contagious viral infection which causes neurological fatal illness in mammals other than suids. Here we report a case of a young wolf (Canis lupus) of around 2 years found dead by a hunter in the province of Avellino, Campania Region. Necropsy showed pathological findings consistent with encephalitis and gastroenteritis. Organs were analysed by microbiological and molecular investigations following standard procedures to ascertain the possible cause of death. Real‐time PCR revealed the presence of PRV in the brain and of canine parvovirus 2b in organs like intestine, liver, brain, kidney and pancreas. Death probably occurred very shortly after SHV‐1 infection in an animal already weakened by parvovirosis.

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