Different outcomes of Canid alphaherpesvirus 1 infection in a litter of puppies: The silent viral spread

Canid alphaherpesvirus 1 causes worldwide infection with different outcomes in neonatal puppies and adults, followed by latency. Here, we report the varied outcomes of Canid alphaherpesvirus 1 infection in a Dalmatian litter of 12 puppies in Italy. The diagnosis of Canid alphaherpesvirus 1 was obtained by polymerase chain reaction on internal organs of one of the dead puppies. Another three puppies (one stillborn and two dead within the first 3 days of life) were not investigated (owner's request). Based on a positive result, an epidemiological investigation was performed. The outcome of the infection was particularly variable within the litter (one dead puppy, three healthy polymerase chain reaction-positive and another five virologically negative puppies). The present case report indicates the relevance of early detection of infection, how the features of herpetic infection can vary in the same litter and how viral spread can be underestimated in asymptomatic dogs. Effective control of Canid alphaherpesvirus 1 infection should include hygienic measures and screening tests, especially in situations in which dogs, even asymptomatic, are mixed.