Canine enteric coronavirus PCR test
dog and cat assay data sheet
Canine
enteric coronavirus (CCV1 or CCoV1)
Test code:
S0107 - Ultrasensitive qualitative detection of canine enteric
coronavirus (type 1) by reverse transcription coupled real time
polymerase chain reaction. This assay does not detect canine
respiratory coronavirus (type 2).
S0107
is included on P0022 - canine
diarrhea panel
and P0051 - dog show panel
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. CCV1 is genetically
distinct from the group 2
respiratory coronavirus that can cause respiratory disease in
dogs.
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 CCV1 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 CCV1,
and specimens require less stringent handling.
Utilities:
-
Help confirm the disease causing agent
-
Shorten the time required to confirm a clinical
diagnosis of CCV1 infection
-
Help ensure that canine populations are free of CCV1
-
Early prevention of spread of this virus among a canine
population
-
Minimize human exposure to this virus
Specimen
requirements:
0.2 ml feces or
rectal swab.
Contact Zoologix if advice is needed to determine an appropriate specimen type for a specific diagnostic application. For specimen types not listed here, please contact Zoologix 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 coupled real time PCR
Normal range:
Nondetected
Canine enteric coronavirus PCR test
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