Italian surveillance for pantropic canine coronavirus

The results of an epidemiological survey for pantropic canine coronavirus (CCoV) in Italy are reported. Samples collected from 69 pups dead as a consequence of acute, systemic disease were analysed and 7 dogs tested positive for CCoV in their internal organs. Six CCoV strains were characterised as CCoV-lla (potentially pantropic CCoVs), whereas the remaining strain was subtyped as CCoV-llb (recombinant strains with swine coronavirus). Viral RNA distribution in internal organs was variable, with titres generally low, and no pantropic strain was isolated on cell cultures. Sequence analysis of the 5' end of the spike protein gene showed the absence of specific genetic markers and the existence of high genetic and phylogenetic relatedness of the strains detected in the survey and prototype Italian and Greek viruses. The results of this survey demonstrate that pantropic CCoV is circulating in Italy, so that the virus should be enclosed in the diagnostic algorithm of the acute, systemic infectious diseases of the dog.