CLINICAL AND PATHOLOGIC FEATURES OF PARVOVIRAL DIARRHEA IN POUND-SOURCE DOGS

  • 1 January 1984
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 185  (6) , 651-655
Abstract
From June 1980 through May 1982, 161 pound-source dogs that developed diarrhea while being used in research were evaluated in determine whether canine parvovirus (CPV) type 2 was the etiologic agent. Evaluation included notation of clinical signs, determination of serum CPV-specific IgM and IgG titers, virus isolation attempts and histologic examination of tissues. Criteria for diagnosis of canine parvoviral enteritis were serum CPV-specific IgM antibodies, isolation of CPV from feces and histologic evidence of intestinal crypt cell necrosis. Upon arrival, 67 clinically normal pound-source dogs were evaluated to determine the prevalence of fecal shedding of CPV and to determine their antibody titers to CPV. Parvovirus was not isolated from any of these dogs, although 76% had IgG antibodies and 3% had IgM antibodies. Of the 161 dogs with diarrhea, 40 (25%) had parvoviral enteritis. Of dogs with parvoviral enteritis, 71% had IgG antibodies and 68% had IgM antibodies. Canine parvovirus was isolated from 18 dogs. Serum IgG antibodies were found in 85% of dogs with diarrhea due to other causes. The geometric mean titer of IgG antibodies to CPV was not significantly different among the 3 groups. Clinical signs that appeared significantly (P < 0.05) more often in dogs with parvoviral enteritis included bloody diarrhea, anorexia, fever (.gtoreq. 39.4.degree. C) and leukopenia (WBC [white blood cells] < 6000/mm3). Cases occurred throughout the year, without apparent seasonal variation. The duration between arrival and onset of diarrhea was significantly (P < 0.05) shorter for dogs with parvoviral enteritis. Crypt cell necrosis, villous atrophy, hematopoietic depletion and lymphoid necrosis were found with significantly (P < 0.05) greater frequency in dogs with diarrhea due to CPV than in dogs with diarrhea resulting from other causes.

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