Isolation and genetic characterization of two G3P5A[3] canine rotavirus strains in Italy

Two strains of canine rotavirus were isolated from pups with clinical signs of gastroenteritis. Both strains were identified by polymerase chain react ion (PCR) as G3P5A[3], although restriction endonuclease analysis of the PC R amplicons revealed a genetic difference between the two isolates in the V P7 gene. The: isolation in Italy of canine rotaviruses displaying the same VP7 and VP4 specificities as in the USA and in Japan. suggests that the G3 and P5A[3] types are highly conserved among canine rotavirus strains. (C) 2 001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.