Research Communications of the 27(th) ECVIM-CA Congress: Intercontinental, Saint Julian's, Malta, 14th to 16th September 2017

The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of fecal shedding of CPVs in asymptomatic shelter-housed cats in Australia. One hundred stool samples from unvaccinated cats housed in a dual canine/feline shelter were collected and stored at À80°C until testing. Viral DNA was extracted from feces by homogenization of a 10% w/v solution of feces in phosphate buffered saline (PBS), boiling of the supernatant after centrifugation, chilling on ice and repeat centrifugation. To identify PCR inhibition in fecal DNA extracts, dilutions (1:10 and 1:20) of supernatant were spiked with feline genomic DNA (138 ng) and tested using a PCR amplifying the feline GAPDH gene. Feline GAPDH was amplified in all spiked fecal samples at a 1:20 dilution, and in 99 samples at a 1:10 dilution. PCR inhibition of GAPDH in one sample at 1:20 dilution was abolished at a 1:50 dilution.