Molecular characterization of Cachavirus firstly detected in dogs in China

Canine Cachavirus was novel parvovirus species has been firstly identified in dogs in USA and was classified within the proposed Chaphamaparvovirus genus. To investigate Cachavirus infection in dogs in China, 408 rectal swabs from healthy and diarrheic dogs obtained during 2018–2019 were screened. The rate of Cachavirus positivity was 0% and 1.55% in healthy or diarrheic dogs, respectively. However, statistical analysis suggested no association between the presence of the virus and clinical signs (p > 0.05). Nucleotide identity was 98.2%–98.9% for NS1 and 98.6%–99.1% for VP1, and amino acid identity was 97.9%–98.7% for NS1 and 98.8%–99.6% for VP1 between the five Chinese strains and Cachavirus-1A and Cachavirus-1B detected in the United States. Phylogenetic analysis also indicated that these Cachavirus strains are genetically related to Cachavirus-1A and Cachavirus-1B. This study confirms the presence of Cachavirus in pet dogs in China and provides novel findings on its molecular characteristics.