Short communication, Co-infection with feline and canine parvovirus in a cat

• Main Authors: Mara Battilani, Andrea Balboni, Massimo Giunti, Santino Prosperi
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell'Abruzzo e del Molise G. Caporale 2013-03-01
• Series: Veterinaria Italiana
• Subjects: Canine parvovirus; Cat; Feline panleukopenia virus; Italy: Multiple infections; Virus
• Online Access: http://www.izs.it/vet_italiana/2013/49_1/127.pdf

In this study we reported a case of co-infection with canine parvovirus (CPV) type 2a and feline panleukopenia virus (FPV) in a 3-month-old male kitten, with the presence of a parvovirus variant which is a true intermediate between CPV and FPV. The report of a viral variant which contained FPV- and CPV-specific epitopes stresses the importance of the mechanism of multistep mutation in the production of new variants and in the emergence of new viruses. This type of multistep adaptation has already been documented during the emergence of CPV and on the basis of our results, it was hypothesized that CPV had presumably started a new process of readaptation in the feline host, confirming the importance of viral host switching as a mechanism for the emergence of new viruses.