Feline Panleukopenia Virus With G299E Substitution in the VP2 Protein First Identified From a Captive Giant Panda in China
Shushuai Yi, Songrui Liu, Xianyong Meng, Pei Huang, Zengguo Cao, Hongli Jin, Jianzhong Wang, Guixue Hu, Jingchao Lan, Dongsheng Zhang, Yuwei Gao, Hualei Wang, Li Nan, Na Feng, Rong Hou, Songtao Yang, Xianzhu Xia
Abstract
indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFA), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) observation, and genetic analysis. Phylogenetic analysis based on the complete VP2 nucleotide sequences showed that it shared high homology with Chinese FPV isolates and grouped within FPV cluster 1. One unique substitution Gly(G)299Glu(E) in the capsid protein VP2 was first identified with Giant panda/CD/2018. The presence of the G299E substitution is notable as it is located on the top region of the interconnecting surface loop 3, which may be involved in controlling the host range and antigenicity of FPV. These findings first demonstrate that FPV with natural point mutation G299E in the VP2 gene is prevalent in giant panda and suggest that etiological surveillance and vaccination among all giant pandas are urgently needed to protect this endangered species against FPV infection.