Investigating the Impact of a Newly Discovered Virus

While some dogs infected with canine circovirus remain clinically healthy, others develop diarrhea and, occasionally, fatal disease. Factors that determine these different outcomes, as well as the geographical footprint of the virus within the United States, are unknown. To fill this knowledge gap, researchers will establish how many dogs in the United States are exposed to the virus, and whether differences in viral strains determine if infected dogs develop mild or severe disease – critical information for developing prevention and control strategies.