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Since our founding in 1948, Morris Animal Foundation has funded hundreds of health research studies to protect, treat and cure the world's companion animals and wildlife.
Our studies have led to major advances in veterinary care, including vaccines and other preventions, diagnostic tools and new therapies for the diseases and health conditions that threaten the lives of the animals we love. Search our completed study database by species and/or disease to learn more about how our work has given animals longer, healthier lives.
Category
D07MS-614: Molecular Evaluation of Canine and Feline Parvoviruses in Southern California
principal investigator: Kimberly Ann Bridges, Veterinary Student Scholar, Western University of Health Sciences
completed
Results
New Virus Strain Found in California Dogs
The student processed DNA samples from feces of infected dogs and used a laboratory technique, polymerase chain reaction (PCR), to make multiple copies of the DNA. She was able to determine the genetic makeup of the viruses in the samples and compare them to the known parvovirus sequences. She learned that canine parvovirus type-2c was the most prominent strain in Southern California. This information is significant because the type-2c strain was recently identified within the United States in 2007 but was not known to exist in California. The current vaccine design does not include strain type-2c, so vaccine manufacturers may need to include this strain in their vaccine designs. In addition, this information could affect pet owners and their pets, as pets may not be protected against this new parvovirus strain. When analyzing data from the four collected feline samples, the majority of the patients presented with cardiac murmurs and all of these samples were determined to be feline panleukopenia virus. The student presented her project at Western University’s Vet Med Research Symposium and received an award for the most professional presentation.
