My Vet Candy: New images of canine parvovirus may help predict how virus may jump to new species

My Vet Candy, August 9, 2021

Canine parvovirus (CPV) is a highly infectious pathogen that causes severe diseases in unvaccinated dogs, including inflammation of the heart and acute gastrointestinal illness. Originating in cats, the virus is a rare example of a DNA-based virus that can jump between species, and a team of researchers' discovery may help in predicting this and the virus's ability to evolve, which could have implications for current vaccines used in dogs. 

In a new study, researchers discovered that a location on CPV where dog antibodies bind -- called an antibody binding site -- overlaps with a location on CPV where the virus attaches to cells -- called a receptor binding site -- in a fashion that is similar to SARS CoV-2 and influenza viruses. As a result, when antibodies attach to this antibody binding site on the virus, they prevent the virus from then attaching to and infecting cells. 

Click to read more ...