Heterogeneity of Feline Parvoviruses Genotypes and Determination of Distinct Genetic Lineages in Circulation in Turkey

Feline parvovirus (FPV) infection, which is common in cats around the world, progresses with leukopenia, gastroenteritis and can lead to death in young animals. The virus is a non-enveloped, single-stranded DNA virus; located in the genus of Carnivore protoparvovirus 1. Feline panleukopenia virus (FPLV) and Canine Parvovirus (CPV-2), which causes the disease, are genetically closely related and show a high genomic similarity. Groups are formed according to the genomic differences of parvoviruses, especially in the VP2 gene. There are 3 groups as G1, G2, G3 in FPV and 3 groups as 2a, 2b and 2c in CPV-2. The present study aimed to determine the presence of infection, to perform molecular characterization of the virus at the VP2 gene level, and to investigate genomic differences. FPLV DNA was detected in 7 (36.84%) of the stool samples collected from 19 cats with diarrhea and vomiting symptoms. Genotyping and phylogenetic analysis of the positive samples were performed. It was observed that five of the FPLV positive samples obtained were in the G3, one sample was in the G1, and one sample was in the CPV-2b group. FPV was investigated for the first time in Balıkesir province and the data of the feline parvovirus sequence was defined to Genbank. Current phylogenetic information about the FPV in Turkey was obtained in the present study.