Sample collection
Two sub-adult female Chinese pangolins (bodyweight: 1.1 kg), designated P1 and P2, were found by local inhabitants in areas of natural forest and taken to the Guangdong Wildlife Rescue Center (Guangzhou), although both subsequently died within a week of rescue.
Pathological observation andImmunohistochemistry
Following post-mortem examination conducted at the Guangdong Wildlife Rescue Center, entailing gross observations, tissues were collected from different parts of the intestines, including the duodenum, jejunum, ileum, colon, rectum and mesenteric lymph nodes, as well from other major organs. These tissues were fixed in 10% neutral formalin, then sliced to give 5-μm sections, which were subsequently processed for hematoxylin and eosin staining or immunochemical analyses using standard protocols. Immunochemistry was performed using and in-house CPV monoclonal antibody (mouse-origin; two-fold dilution) as the primary antibody and horseradish peroxide (HRP)-conjugated anti-goat IgG (Sigma; 1:1000 dilution) as the secondary antibody. The histological features and immunohistochemical results were observed and images captured using an Olympus light microscope.