Canine coronaviruses

Test code: S0107 - Ultrasensitive qualitative detection of canine enteric coronavirus type 1 by reverse transcription real time polymerase chain reaction.  This assay does not detect canine respiratory coronavirus type 2.

Test code: S0134 - Ultrasensitive qualitative detection of canine respiratory coronavirus type 2 by reverse transcription real time polymerase chain reaction.  This assay does not detect canine enteric coronavirus type 1.

Canine coronavirus type 1 (CCV1) causes sporadic outbreaks of enteritis in dogs. Although dogs of all ages are susceptible to canine coronavirus, young pups are more prone to develop clinical symptoms. The normal route of transmission is fecal-oral. Infected dogs can release CCV1 in their feces for 6-9 days, but shedding can be prolonged in some pups even after clinical signs have disappeared.

The virus is highly contagious. CCV1 is resistant to acidic conditions, passing through the stomach without any damage. The surface epithelium of the small intestine is the main target of CCV1, while the colon is resistant to the infection.

Incubation time is very short once dogs are infected. Vomiting and diarrhea start to develop 1-3 days post infection and are followed by full-blown symptoms. Feces may be mucoid or watery, sometimes streaked with blood, and the feces are exceptionally malodorous. Infected pups can quickly become dehydrated even if fluid therapy is started early, and they may become depressed and anorexic. While the infection is generally afebrile, elevated body temperature has been observed in some cases.

Secondary infections by bacteria, parasites or other viruses such as parvoviruses or rotaviruses develop easily and can cause prolongation of illness. Dogs usually recover spontaneously from CCV within one week, but illness sometimes lasts two weeks or longer. The mortality rate for canine coronavirus infection alone is usually very low, but deaths have been reported in some kennels, especially in pups.

Canine coronavirus-induced enteritis is very difficult to differentiate from enteritis caused by other agents. Clinical testing is important to correctly identify the pathogen. Assays which have been used for the detection of CCV1 in fecal samples include electron microscopy (EM) and isolation on appropriate cell cultures. However, detection by EM is very expensive and labor intensive and is not available in most clinical testing laboratories. Cell culture is neither very specific nor very sensitive, and requires delicate care in handling and shipping specimens. On the other hand, molecular detection by PCR offers a rapid, sensitive and specific method for identifying CCV type 1, and specimens require less stringent handling.

Utilities:

• Confirm the disease causing agent
• Shorten the time required to confirm a clinical diagnosis of CCV1 or CCV 2 infection
• Ensure that canine populations are free of CCV1 or CCV2
• Early prevention of spread of these viruses among a canine population
• Minimize human exposure to these viruses

Specimen requirements:

S0107 (CCV1) - 1 ml feces, shipped overnight at room temperature.
S0134 (CCV2) - Nasal swab or throat swab, 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 reverse transcription real time PCR

Normal range: Nondetected