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Carnivore protoparvovirus 1 (canine parvovirus 2, CPV-2) has undergone a rapid evolution through mutations in the capsid protein VP2, giving rise to variants associated with unique clinicopathological and immunological features. VP2 is a major capsid protein involved in key steps of virus biology, including interactions with cellular receptors and with the immune system. This study analyzed the complete VP2 coding sequence of 38 CPV-2 isolates obtained from dogs with clinical parvovirosis in southern Brazil. Amplicons encompassing the whole VP2 coding region were subjected to nucleotide sequencing, and predicted amino acid sequences were analyzed to identify molecular markers of viral variants. Viral variants were classified as CPV-2a, -2b or -2c based on the presence of the amino acid Asn, Asp or Glu, respectively, at VP2 residue 426. Amino acid sequence analysis identified 20 CPV-2c and four CPV-2b isolates. Eleven viruses were identified as New CPV-2a, two as New CPV-2b, and one resembled the original CPV-2 and was designated CPV-2-like. In addition to the mutation at amino acid 426 of VP2, new 2a/2b variants containing a Ser297Ala mutation at residue 297 were identified. CPV-2-like samples contained some mutations that were also present in the original CPV-2 isolate, including as Leu, Thr, Ala and Asp at residues 87, 101, 300 and 305, respectively. The New CPV-2a isolates had three additional mutations (Phe267Tyr, Tyr324Ile and Thr440Ala) associated with selective pressure and development of disease in vaccinated dogs. The resemblance of the CPV-2-like isolate to CPV-2 suggests reemergence of CPV-2 and/or evolution from vaccine strains. Phylogenetic analysis grouped the variants with their respective reference strains, in general, according to amino acid changes. These results demonstrate the high VP2 diversity of CPV circulating in dogs in southern Brazil and indicate the emergence of new viral variants that differ markedly from the current vaccine strains.

Infectious enteritis is highly prevalent among dogs worldwide and, in some cases, it can be fatal. This study describes the clinical and laboratorial findings of single and mixed infections associated with severe enteritis in 76 dogs from Southern Brazil. Intestinal segments and/or fecal samples were subjected to histopathology and molecular detection of DNA viruses, bacteria and protozoa. Severe intestinal lesions were observed in most cases. Single infections were detected in 52.6% of cases, double (36.8%) and triple (10.5%) infections were also identified. Carnivore protoparvovirus 2 (CPV-2) was the most frequent agent in single infections (36.8%). Coinfection by CPV-2 and Giardia spp. was the most common in dual infections (19.7%), followed by CPV-2 and Cryptosporidium spp. (10.5%). The most frequent triple infection was CPV-2, Giardia sp. and Cryptosporidium spp. (6.6%). Our results shown that single and mixed infections are associated with severe enteritis in dogs in southern Brazil, mainly involving CPV-2 and Giardia sp. RESUMO: Enterites infecciosas são altamente prevalentes entre cães em todo o mundo e, em alguns casos, podem ser fatais. Este estudo descreve os achados clínicos e laboratoriais de infecções simples e mistas associadas a enterites graves em 76 cães do sul do Brasil. Segmentos intestinais e/ou fezes foram submetidos à análise patológica e detecção molecular de vírus de genoma DNA, bactérias e protozoários. Lesões intestinais severas foram observadas na maioria dos casos. Infecções únicas foram detectadas em 52,6% dos casos, e infecções duplas (36,8%) e triplas (10,5%) também foram identificadas. O Protoparvovírus carnívoro 2 (CPV-2) foi o agente mais frequente nas infecções simples (36,8% do total). Coinfecção por CPV-2 e Giardia sp. foi a mais comum em infecções duplas (19,7%), seguido por CPV-2 e Cryptosporidium spp. (10,5%). A tripla infecção mais frequente foi CPV-2, Giardia spp. e Cryptosporidium spp. (6,6%). Nossos resultados demostraram que infecções simples e mistas estão associadas a enterites graves em cães no sul do Brasil, envolvendo principalmente CPV-2 e Giardia sp.

Canine visceral leishmaniasis (CVL) is a parasitic disease caused by the protozoan Leishmania infantum . Neurological infection occurs due to the parasite's ability to cross the blood–brain barrier. It is known that dogs can remain infected with a subclinical infection for life, potentially acting as reservoirs for L. infantum when bitten by sandflies. In this context, the objective of this study was to evaluate the occurrence of Leishmania spp. in the brains of dogs from the metropolitan region of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, without a history of neurological disease but residing in an endemic area for L. infantum . A total of 200 samples, from 2022 to 2023, were evaluated using conventional Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) with the primers Leishmini-F GGKAGGGGCGTTCTGC and Leishmini-R STATWTTACACCAACCCC, aiming to amplify a product of 120 base pairs for Leishmania spp. To identify the species, a multiplex PCR was used, differentiating L. braziliensis (127 bp), L. amazonensis (100 bp), and L. infantum (60 bp), with the molecular target being the conserved region of the kinetoplast DNA (kDNA) minicircle, specific to Leishmania spp. Of the 200 samples evaluated, 26.5% (53/200) tested positive in the conventional PCR reaction for Leishmania spp., with the PCR multiplex the only species detected was Leishmania infantum . The average age of the positive animals was 5.08 years, with 47.2% being females and 52.8% being males; among these, mixed-breed dogs were the most predominant, representing 43.4% of the total. Clinical signs varied: hepatomegaly in two dogs, pronounced neutrophilic hepatitis in one, splenomegaly in one with lymphoid hyperplasia, and glomerulonephritis and nephritis in two animals. Mild anemia and thrombocytopenia were found in eight, with pale mucous membranes in three, and diffuse alveolar edema in one case. Notable pathological findings included suspected distemper in one animal and lymphoplasmacytic meningitis in another. Histopathological findings revealed alveolar edema and acute renal failure. A third dog exhibited bilateral hydrocephalus and diffuse edema in the brain. Additional changes, such as mild inflammatory infiltrate and slight vacuolar degeneration, were observed in 11.3% of the analyzed brains. There was no clinical suspicion of leishmaniasis in any of the studied cases. Therefore, the detection of L. infantum DNA in the brains of dogs suggests that animals with subclinical infection may play a crucial role in the spread of leishmaniasis, and infection by Leishmania spp. should be considered as a differential diagnosis for neurological disease in endemic areas for the protozoan.

Infectious enteritis is highly prevalent among dogs worldwide and, in some cases, it can be fatal. This study describes the clinical and laboratorial findings of single and mixed infections associated with severe enteritis in 76 dogs from Southern Brazil. Intestinal segments and/or fecal samples were subjected to histopathology and molecular detection of DNA viruses, bacteria and protozoa. Severe intestinal lesions were observed in most cases. Single infections were detected in 52.6% of cases, double (36.8%) and triple (10.5%) infections were also identified. Carnivore protoparvovirus 2 (CPV-2) was the most frequent agent in single infections (36.8%). Coinfection by CPV-2 and Giardia spp. was the most common in dual infections (19.7%), followed by CPV-2 and Cryptosporidium spp. (10.5%). The most frequent triple infection was CPV-2, Giardia sp. and Cryptosporidium spp. (6.6%). Our results shown that single and mixed infections are associated with severe enteritis in dogs in southern Brazil, mainly involving CPV-2 and Giardia sp. Key words: gastroenteritis, dogs, bacteria, virus, protozoa, diagnosis. Enterites infecciosas são altamente prevalentes entre cães em todo o mundo e, em alguns casos, podem ser fatais. Este estudo descreve os achados clínicos e laboratoriais de infecções simples e mistas associadas a enterites graves em 76 cães do sul do Brasil. Segmentos intestinais e/ou fezes foram submetidos à análise patológica e detecção molecular de vírus de genoma DNA, bactérias e protozoários. Lesões intestinais severas foram observadas na maioria dos casos. Infecções únicas foram detectadas em 52,6% dos casos, e infecções duplas (36,8%) e triplas (10,5%) também foram identificadas. O Protoparvovírus carnívoro 2 (CPV-2) foi o agente mais frequente nas infecções simples (36,8% do total). Coinfecção por CPV-2 e Giardia sp. foi a mais comum em infecções duplas (19,7%), seguido por CPV-2 e Cryptosporidium spp. (10,5%). A tripla infecção mais frequente foi CPV-2, Giardia spp. e Cryptosporidium spp. (6,6%). Nossos resultados demostraram que infecções simples e mistas estão associadas a enterites graves em cães no sul do Brasil, envolvendo principalmente CPV-2 e Giardia sp. Palavras-chave: gastroenterite, cães, bactérias, vírus, protozoários, diagnóstico.

We report a natural case of Trypanosoma cruzi infection in a dog from Brazil that died after presenting apathy, anorexia, diarrhea, mucous pallor, and hypoglycemia. At necropsy, lymphadenopathy and enlargement of the spleen, liver, and heart were observed and also fibrin deposition over the liver capsule and spleen. The lungs were edematous with a reddish-to-blueish color. The liver had severe multifocal to centrolobular congestion, with slight hepatocyte dissociation, vacuolation, and severe necrosis. Lymph nodes showed multifocal follicular to coalescent lymphoid hyperplasia, and the heart had severe multifocal to coalescent lymphoplasmacytic inflammatory infiltrate. Cysts containing basophilic structures compatible with Trypanosoma sp. were observed in cardiomyocytes, and trypomastigotes were observed in blood smears. T cruzi DNA was detected using a molecular method in the myocardium. The necropsy findings, age, and clinical history confirmed a congenital infection. The present report reinforces the importance of continuous surveillance for similar cases of trypanossomiasis in dogs in endemic areas, as well as for a potential role of dogs as reservoirs of T.cruzi infection for humans.