Genomic characterization of Canine circovirus detected in a dog with intermittent hemorrhagic gastroenteritis in Brazil

ABSTRACT: Because Canine circovirus (CanineCV) is a new species of the genus Circovirus, several issues related to its epidemiology, pathogenesis and clinical disease remain unknown. Thus, this study aimed to perform the characterization of the first complete genome sequence of CanineCV detected in a dog with diarrhea in Brazil. A stool sample was collected of a ten-month-old female German Shepherd dog which had signs of intermittent hemorrhagic gastroenteritis, vomiting, and a history of eating raw pork. The complete CanineCV genome was sequenced by Next-Generation Sequencing. The sequence had 2,063 nucleotides, showed a typical genomic organization for circovirus, and was grouped with strain 214 described in the United States by phylogenetic analysis. One amino acid change was found in the replicase protein, and because of that it was considered unique to CanineCV. Therefore, the characterization of the complete genome of Brazilian CanineCV can be used in future studies of molecular epidemiology, pathogenesis and development of diagnostic tools for the prevention and control of this disease.