Canine adenovirus type 1 (CAV-1)

Test code: S0119 - Ultrasensitive qualitative detection of canine adenovirus type 1 by real time polymerase chain reaction

Infectious Canine Hepatitis (ICH) is caused by canine adenovirus type-1 (CAV-1), a pathogen closely related to but distinct from canine adenovirus type-2 (CAV-2). CAV-1 is found worldwide and is spread by body fluids including nasal discharge and urine. The primary mode of transmission is by direct contact with infected animals. Contaminated runs, cages, dishes, hands, boots, etc can also serve as a source of transmission.

Infected dogs may have sore throat, coughing, and occasionally pneumonia. When the virus enters the bloodstream, it can affect the eyes, liver, and kidneys. As the liver and kidneys fail, there may be seizures, increased thirst, vomiting, and/or diarrhea. Dogs with healthy immune systems can fight the virus by producing antibodies. However, the virus can remain in the kidneys and be shed in the urine for up to nine months, posing a threat to other dogs.

Unvaccinated dogs of all ages are at risk, but the disease is especially prevalent in dogs less than one year of age. Death can result as soon as two hours after the initial signs. Death can be so sudden it may appear as if the patient was poisoned.

Serological detection of CAV-1 is not reliable because of the possibility of cross-reacting with closely related virus, such as CAV-2 (Gore et al., 2005). Molecular detection of CAV-1 nucleic acid by PCR offers a rapid, sensitive and specific alternative for diagnosing the disease.

Utilities:

• Confirm the disease causing agent
• Ensure that animal groups and populations are free of canine adenovirus type 1
• Early prevention of spread of CAV-1 among a population
• Minimize human exposure to this virus
• Safety monitoring of biological products and vaccines that derive from susceptible animals

References:
Gore, T.C., Lakshmanan, N., Duncan, K.L., Coyne, M.J., Lum, M.A., and Sterner, F.J. (2005) Three-year duration of immunity in dogs following vaccination against canine adenovirus type-1, canine parvovirus, and canine distemper virus. Vet. Ther. 6:5-14.

Specimen requirement: Nasal swab, conjunctival swab, rectal swab or corneal scraping, or 0.5 ml feces or urine, or 0.5 ml whole blood in EDTA (purple top) or ACD (yellow top) tube, or 0.5 ml tissue, shipped overnight at room temperature.

For specimen types other than those listed here, please call to confirm specimen acceptability and shipping instructions.

For all specimen types, if there will be a delay in shipping, or during very warm weather, refrigerate specimens until shipped and ship with a cold pack unless more stringent shipping requirements are specified. Frozen specimens should be shipped so as to remain frozen in transit. See shipping instructions for more information.

Turnaround time: 2 business days

Methodology: Qualitative real time PCR

Normal range: Nondetected