Aphylogenetic study on the NP gene of detected canine distemper virus in (2008-2011) Iran

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Canine Distemper (CD) is a lethal systemic<br />disease affecting a wide variety of terrestrial carnivores.<br />OBJECTIVES: This study was performed to survey epidemiological<br />and molecular characteristics of the canine distemper virus<br />(CDV) strains circulating in Iran. METHODS: In this study, 19<br />CDV-suspected unvaccinated dogs from Northeast and center of<br />Iran were analyzed for presence of CDV nucleoprotein (NP) gene<br />using Nested-PCR during 2008- 2011. Different biological samples<br />of 14 dogs were positive. RESULTS: The phylogenetic analysis<br />based on partial NP gene sequences indicated the presence of two<br />major clusters that are clearly different from vaccine strains in Iran.<br />One cluster belongs to the European group and the other one to the<br />Arctic group. CONCLUTIONS: Due to a lack of phylogenetic<br />analysis on CDV in countries bordering Iran, except Turkey, the<br />ancestor of Iranian sequences specially Iranian Arctic sequences<br />could not be definitely identified. This study is the first report on<br />phylogenetic analysis of CDV from domestic dogs in Iran.