Canid herpesvirus 1 (CHV-1)–related disease in older puppies and CHV-1 shedding in the vagina of adult pregnant dogs

Abstract

A large breeding kennel of Bulldogs (n = 57) experienced several Canid herpesvirus 1 (CHV-1)–related diseases in older puppies (9 weeks of age) in Arkansas. CHV-1 has been repeatedly confirmed in the kennel in several animals for 3 years (January 2012–February 2015) using various virology tests. I was able to detect a partial sequence of CHV DNA (~120 bp) in archived formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue blocks after 3 years of storage. CHV-1 is persistently circulating in this kennel in spite of high serum antibody titers in the adult dogs. The dogs were negative for canine brucellosis antibodies based on Brucella canis rapid card test.