Canine parvovirus type-2 (CPV-2) is a major etiological agent causing gastrointestinal enteritis in domestic and wild carnivores. Since the emergence of CPV-2 in the late 1970s, subtypes CPV-2a, CPV-2b, and CPV-2c have spread worldwide. CPV-2 prevalence differed according to region and season. This study aims to investigate the prevalence of CPV-2 infection in Korea. Samples were collected from 536 dog feces in animal shelters and 225 necropsied intestinal tissues of dog carcasses submitted in the Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency (APQA) for diagnostic purposes from 2016 to 2020 in Korea. Among the 761 samples, 181 (23.8%) were positive for the following subtypes: CPV-2a (n=138), CPV-2c (n=16), CPV-2b (n=14), and CPV-2 (n=2). Feline parvovirus (n=2) and co-infection with CPV-2a and CPV-2c (n=1) were also detected. There was no significant difference in the regional distribution of CPV-2 in Korea, which is prevalent in winter. This result shows the prevalence of CPV-2 according to various environments in Korea and will be useful in establishing an effective prevention strategy against CPV-2 that reflects the situation in Korea with continuous monitoring.

Canine parvovirus (CPV) type 2a (CPV-2a) has recently been identified as the main genotype circulating in the dog population in South Korea. Although CPV vaccines protect domestic dogs from CPV-2 infection, the efficacy of commercial live or inactivated CPV vaccines against CPV-2a has not been reevaluated. In this study, dogs were immunized with one of 7 commercial CPV vaccines (4 modified live and 3 inactivated vaccines) followed by challenge with CPV-2a strain, KV0901 that had been isolated from naturally infected dog in 2009. All dogs vaccinated twice with 4 commercial modified live CPV vaccines were seroconverted (geometric mean HI titer > 190.2) and most of dogs were completely protected against virulent CPV-2a strain infection. The dogs inoculated with 3 commercial inactivated CPV vaccines were also seroconverted and showed a slight loss of appetite and light diarrhea for 4 days after challenge and returned to normal at 5 days post challenge. However, the non-vaccinated dogs revealed the typical clinical signs of CPV infection including haemorrhgic diarrhea. In conclusion, the 4 live CPV vaccines licensed in Korea cross-protected dogs against virulent challenge with CPV-2a and are applicalble to pet dogs for the prevention of CPV infection.