Occurence of canine parvovirus and canine coronavírus in dogs from a portuguese intermunicipal shelter

To better understand the occurrence of canine parvovirus and canine coronavirus in dog shelters, an epidemiological study was conducted in an intermunicipal official shelter in Northeast Portugal. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Samples were collected as part of routine plan for control and monitoring of infectious diseases in dogs at the lntermunicipal Official Shelter of Terra Quente Transmontana. This shelter house stray dogs from the five municipalities of Terra Quente Transmontana (Aifandega da Fe, Carrazeda de Ansiaes, Macedo de Cavaleiros, Mirandela and Vila Flor), which has permanent veterinary medical and nursing assistance with daily exams, identification, registration, vaccination, deworming and neutering procedures. Feces were sampled during periodic checks carried out by the veterinarian in charge of the shelter, from October 2018 to May 2021 . A total of 1 09 samples were collected from stray dogs housed at the shelter. A fecal sample was collected individually from each dog during medical routine check-ups. Blood was collected from the cephalic vein. To detect of Canine Parvovirus (CPV) and Canine Coronavirus (CCoV) antigens in feces, a kit based on the immunochromatographic technique (Uranotest® Parvo-Corona, Urano®vet, S.L, Barcelona, Spain) was used in accordance with manufacturer's instructions. This test allows simultaneously qualitative detection of qualitative detection of CPV and CCoV in feces. The Uranotest® Parvo-Corona reported a sensitivity of 1 00% versus hemagglutination and specificity of 99% versus hemagglutination, for CPV, and a sensitivity of 94% versus RT-PCR and a specificity of 97% versus RTPCR, for CCoV RESULTS: A total of 1 09 stray dogs from lntermunicipal Official Shelter were tested during the study period. The sample consisted of 60 females (55.0%) and 49 males (45.0%). The mean age was 2 months (ranging from 25 to 99 days). The overall occurrence of canine parvovirus and canine coronavirus was 17.4% (19/1 09, 95% Cl: 11.5-25.6%) of the dogs tested. The proportion of dogs only positive to CPV was 3.7% (411 09, 95% Cl: 1.4-9.1 %), the proportion of dogs only positive to CCoV was 6.4% (711 09, 95% Cl: 3.2-12. 7%), and to both CPV and CCoV was 7.3% (8/1 09, 95% Cl: 3.7-13.8%), respectively. CONCLUSION: The results indicate that the overall occurrence of CPV and CCoV in stray dogs entering the lntermunicipal Official Shelter was very high and risk factors associated to occurrence need to be analyzed in further studies.