The role of wild carnivore animals in the circulation of canine parvovirus type 2 (CPV-2) in Slovakia

Canine parvovirus type 2 (CPV-2) with its three antigenic variants (CPV-2a, CPV-2b, and CPV-2c) is the causative agent of a highly contagious viral disease affecting dogs and other carnivores worldwide, particularly the wild ones, which are considered as the main reservoir hosts. The main aim of the project is to conduct a molecular-epizootiological study of CPV-2 prevalence along with determining the dominant antigenic variant and detecting specific antibodies against CPV-2 in the population of free-ranging carnivores in the territory of the Slovak Republic, focusing on wolves, foxes, and bears. The presence of parvovirus will be confirmed in fecal samples using qPCR. Positive samples will be sequenced to determine the circulating antigenic variant. Phylogenetic analysis will evaluate the genetic relationships between CPV-2 variants circulating in the populations of domestic and wild animals. Cruor samples will be tested for the presence of specific antibodies against CPV-2. This study will provide, for the first time, a current overview of parvovirus circulation in the population of wild carnivore species in the territory of the Slovak Republic. The results of monitoring CPV-2 prevalence in the population of wild animals will be significant in elucidating their reservoir role in the spread of CPV-2 infection and could also be helpful in considering their possible vaccination against CPV-2.