Evaluation of the antigenic relationships among canine parvovirus type 2 variants.

The antigenic relationships among the original canine parvovirus type 2 (CPV-2) and the variants CPV-2a, -2b, and -2c were evaluated. Cross-antigenic evaluation revealed clear differences among the CPV variants, which were more appreciable by serum neutralization (SN) than by hemagglutination inhibition. Antigenic differences were found mostly between the original CPV-2 and the variants, but they were also observed among the variants CPV-2a, -2b, and -2c. The variant CPV-2c exhibited a unique antigenic pattern, since it was poorly recognized by the sera of animals immunized with CPV-2, CPV-2a, and CPV-2b. However, animals immunized with CPV-2c exhibited higher SN titers to CPV-2b than to the homologous virus CPV-2c. The observed antigenic differences might drive selection of CPV strains by generating differential immune pressure in the canine population, which raises concerns about vaccine efficacy.