Up to now, the significant role of CHV-1 in the fertility and neonatal mortality has been precisely determined. Moreover, recent researches indicate this virus is enzootic in the dog population of numerous countries [9, 13]. The present survey is the first molecular study to detect CHV-1 in vaginal samples of the kennel and farm Iranian dogs. The results show that the majority of the kennel and farm bitches have been infected by CHV-1.
After the first recognition of CHV-1 by Carmichael et al. in 1965 [10], various studies have been done all around the world regarding this cytopathic pathogen. Krogenæs et al. (2014) reported a seroprevalence of 85.5% using immunoperoxidase monolayer assay (IPMA) in the Norwegian adult dog population [18]. Yeşilbağ et al. (2012) also investigated the Turkish dog population. They found a higher antibody prevalence (39.3%) by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) compared with the virus neutralization test (VNT) (29.4%) with a difference statistically significant [19]. A research performed by Dahlbom et al. in 2009 showed that the seroprevalence of CHV-1 was 81.5% in Finnish breeding kennels with and without reproductive problems, which the higher antibody titers were related to the dogs with reproductive problems [20]. In another study accomplished in South Africa, the sera of 328 dogs from 38 breeding kennels were evaluated using serum neutralization test (SNT), and ELISA, and 22% of sera were reported positive for the antibody of CHV-1 [2]. Only one study has been performed in the southeast of Iran that used indirect immunofluorescence antibody (IFA) assay [17]. In the mentioned study, a total seroprevalence was presented as 20.7%, which was 22.9% and 19.1% for kenneled and owned dogs, respectively [17]. In comparison, CHV-1 was detected in 21 out of 63 (33.3%) vaginal samples using real-time PCR in the current study, which positive specimens were contributed to the 50% and 77.7% kennel and farm dogs respectively.
In the present study, vaginal samples were collected and evaluated using PCR. Selection of vaginal specimens was made according to an experimental research accomplished by Li et al. in 2016, which shown a better capacity of replication and invasion in vaginal mucosa rather than respiratory mucosa [21]. Serological techniques are not a good choice to detect CHV-1 infections due to poorly immunogenic characteristics of the virus, non-standardized and invalidated tests, and variation in the level of positivity among different laboratories [1]. This emphasizes that PCR is the best technique to detect active and latent CHV-1 infections [1, 4, 5]. In the study of Lara et al. conducted in 2016, CHV-1 infections were confirmed in dead puppies using histopathological evaluation, direct immunofluorescence, electron microscopy, and PCR for DNA polymerase and glycoprotein B genes [22]. The author could find an association between the macroscopic and microscopic findings of necropsied pups and the presence of CHV-1 DNA [22]. Decaro et al., 2010 also described a real-time PCR as a useful tool to confirm a clinical diagnosis, to study viral pathogenesis, and to evaluate the efficacy of vaccines and antiviral drugs [4]. Moreover, Kapil (2015) also optimized a CHV-1–specific PCR targeting gB gene to detect DNA in formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissues and offered gB gene as an appropriate target [23].
Researches in which molecular assays were used to detect CHV-1 in various samples were little. Infection with CHV-1 was determined using VNT and PCR in puppies presenting dyspnea, pale mucous membranes, abdominal pain, and finally death by Cargnelutti et al. in 2015 [9]. These cases showed focal hemorrhage and necrosis of parenchymatous organs such as the liver and kidneys [9]. Another study performed in Denmark by Larsen et al. (2015) presented that CHV-1 was found in 22.8% of tissue pools of the dead puppies using real-time PCR (qPCR), however histopathological and in situ hybridization findings were inconsistent [24]. Moreover, CHV-1 infection associated with respiratory diseases was detected in 32 out of 100 nasal and oropharyngeal swabs of dogs and 6 out of 32 pleural effusions using multiplex PCR in Thailand [14]. In another study conducted in Brazil, CHV-1, as a respiratory virus, was found in 6% of the nasal secretions of shelter dogs via PCR [25]. In contrast, other studies were not identified CHV-1 infections using molecular assays. Ronsse et al. (2005) assessed 27 breeding bitches during one reproductive cycle. Despite seroconversion, CHV-1 DNA was not found in any of the vaginal and nasal samples or buffy coats [11]. Moreover, in the study of Pratelli et al. (2014), any vaginal swabs were not positive for CHV-1, while an overall seroprevalence of 14.6% and 18.6% were determined using SNT and IFA respectively [26]. Bottinelli et al. (2016) could not find CHV-1 infection in a dog breeding kennel using SNT and nested PCR assays [15].
In the current study, similar to previous researches, detection of CHV-1 was independent of age [2, 15, 27]. On the contrary, CHV-1 infection was significantly higher in dogs older than three years old compared with younger ones [17]. An increase of CHV-1 antibody titer with age was also reported by Ronsse et al. (2004) [7]. Fourteen different breeds were evaluated for CHV-1 in the present study, but any significant association was not found between breed and status of diseases. This finding was similar to the study of Bottinelli et al. in 2016 [15]. In comparison, Yeşilbağ et al. in 2012 determine the highest CHV-1 prevalence in Golden Retrievers (56.2%), followed by Terriers (50.0%) without any significant association [19].
CHV-1 can establish latent infection in adults, which reactivates following immunosuppression. Ledbetter et al. (2009) describe viral reactivation and ocular disease recrudescence after administering the systemic prednisolone to adult dogs latently infected with CHV-1 [5]. Malone et al. (2010) also reported a case of disseminated CHV-1 infection in an immunocompromised adult dog which infection was confirmed via PCR CHV-1-positive of vaginal and blood specimens [28]. On the contrary, a case of fatal CHV-1 infection in a 9-year-old spayed female Bichon Frise dog with no history of immunosuppression was reported in another study [8]. It has well been known that stressful conditions such as pregnancy result in viral reactivation and shedding and subsequently, neonatal infections [1]. In this study, 6 out of 63 (9.5%) dogs were pregnant in the time of sampling that half of these samples were positive. Still, there was not any statistical association between pregnancy status and CHV-1 infection. Similarly, Ström Holst et al. in 2012 could not detect any dependable variation in antibody titers in pregnant and non-pregnant phases [3]. Ström Holst et al., 2012 also stated, "pregnancy alone does not seem to cause reactivation of the infection when management is good, and other stressing factors are absent" [3]. Moreover, Krogenæs et al., 2012 determined no association between CHV1 antibody titers and reproductive parameters like pregnancies [27].
In the current study, reproductive disorders were established in 25 (39.7%) dogs that 7 out of these 25 dogs were infected with CHV-1. However, no significant association was identified regarding reproductive disorders. Interestingly, only one dog had vaginal papules consistent with CHV-1 infection in the vaginal examination at the time of sampling. Fouladi kennel had a history of stillbirth, abortion, and neonatal mortality and showed the highest prevalence in breeding dogs. In agreement with our findings, other researchers could not determine any significant differences in CHV-1 infections between bitches with reproductive disorders compared with healthy fertile dogs [7, 11, 26]. Ronsse et al., 2004 also demonstrated a tendency towards serological results and a history of abortion in bitches [7]. According to Krogenæs et al., 2012, no significant associations was observed between titer of antibody and breeding status, including the history of mattings, whelping, infertility, and conditions of puppies [27]. On the contrary, Dahlbom et al., 2009 observed significant higher CHV-1 titers in dogs from kennels with reproductive problems rather than kennels with no history of reproductive disorders [20].
In this study, the percentage of positive specimens was higher in the farm dogs (7 out of 9) compared with the kennel dogs (14 out of 33). The association between detection of CHV-1 and housing type was highly significant. It is in agreement with Yeşilbağ et al., who also determined a higher CHV-1 seroprevalence in the colony dogs (62.1%) compared with the individual dogs (39.0%) [19]. In contrast, other researchers could not find any differences between privately owned dogs and kenneled dogs. Raising status (owned or kennels) was not perceived as a predisposing factor in the study of Babaei et al. in 2010 [17]. Pratelli et al., 2014 also described no association between disease status and housing type [26]. Colony size, management, and hygienic conditions can influence the incidence of CHV-1 infection via the reactivation of latent infections and subsequent viral spread [20]. Sampling during fall and winter months when the kennel ambient temperature is set below 21 °C, predisposes newborn puppies to CHV-1 due to hypothermia [23]. In the present study, dogs from 5 breeding kennels and seven farms in Iran were sampled during fall and winter months. In the kennels, most dogs were housed individually in a cage, but sometimes during the day, the animals were being kept outdoors in fenced areas to run and exercise; so, the dogs of varying ages had contact with each other. The hygienic and dietary conditions were not suitable for all of the times, and the dogs were fed once daily. Also, dogs were occasionally kept in farm households in contact with other animals, usually including sheep, cow, and horses. Poor sanitary and nutritional conditions were also seen. The difference between the detection of CHV-1 in various kennels and farms may be attributed to diverse hygienic and dietary requirements and the dog crowding/density of the husbandry. Due to reactivation and reinfection, there is a persistent CHV-1 infection and its consequence on adults and newborn puppies.
Neonatal mortality is considered as an unavoidable problem in breeding kennels ranged between 5–35% [29–31]. Despite significant importance and economic loss, the mortality of puppies either in parturition time or after that is poorly documented. According to the stillborn and dead neonatal puppies, CHV-1 seems to be common in Iran, but its significance as a pathogenic cause of neonatal death remains unclear. Since dog breeders did not submit dead puppies for necropsy, histopathological examination and other diagnostic methods to determine and confirm the agent. So, CHV-1 infection expected to be underdiagnosed. Kapil, 2015 demonstrated the shedding of CHV-1 in the vaginal canal during parturition as a risk factor for newborn puppies [23]. Long-term shedding of CHV-1 in neonatal puppies was documented by Losurdo et al. in 2018 [13]. Immunosuppression following administration of systemic prednisolone to the latently infected adult dogs can also reactive the virus [5].