Canine parvoviral enteritis: an update on the clinical diagnosis, treatment, and prevention

Abstract

Canine parvovirus type 2 is the cause of a highly contagious acute enteritis associated with high morbidity and mortality, with very low survival rates in untreated dogs. Although severe clinical disease typically occurs in dogs younger than 6 months of age, adults with insufficient immunity may potentially be affected. In this article, the current state of knowledge is reviewed regarding the diagnostic aspects of parvoviral enteritis, with special emphasis placed on the clinical relevance of the detection of viral antigens in the feces, detection of viral antibodies in the serum, or the polymerase chain reaction-based amplification of the viral DNA in the feces. In addition, the components of the supportive and symptomatic treatment aiming to optimize the outcome of the disease in the clinical setting are thoroughly reviewed. Immunization guidelines for the prevention of the disease are also updated.

Amelioration of oxidative stress using N‐acetylcysteine in canine parvoviral enteritis

“…In absence of suitable antiviral therapy to protect the dogs against CPV infection, supportive treatment is the only option to reduce the mortality due to this disease. Therapeutic efficacy of recombinant feline interferon ‐ω and recombinant canine granulocyte colony‐stimulating factor has been evaluated in CPV, but there are limitations like commercially nonavailability in all the places and exorbitant price make these therapeutics for regular use (De Mari, Maynard, Eun, & Lebreux, ; Duffy, Dow, Ogilvie, Rao, & Hackett, ; Mylonakis, Kalli, & Rallis, ). Oseltamivir, a neuraminidase inhibitor, has also been tried for the treatment of CPV without any substantial benefit in terms of survival or duration of hospitalization (Savigny & Macintire, ).…”

Socioeconomic, geographic and climatic risk factors for canine parvovirus infection and euthanasia in Australia

“…The decision to euthanize a dog diagnosed with CPV infection is also likely be influenced by the severity of clinical disease. Severe cases of CPV are considered painful (Mylonakis et al, 2016;Prittie, 2004;Sos, 1983) and prognosis can be poor (Prittie, 2004;Schoeman et al, 2013). This can lead a veterinarian to recommend euthanasia on humane grounds, or for the pet owner to elect for this course, with or without such a recommendation.…”

“…Canine parvovirus (CPV) is a small non-enveloped single-stranded DNA virus of the genus Carnivore Protoparvovirus that first emerged in the mid-to-late 1970s, with a global pandemic occurring shortly after (Hoelzer and Parrish, 2010). Subsequent capsid mutations have led to a number of strains currently circulating globally, classified as CPV-2a, 2b and 2c (Mylonakis et al, 2016). All current strains are able to infect a range of carnivores and felids (Shackelton et al, 2005).…”

“…Although infections can be subclinical, CPV can cause gastroenteritis, dehydration, immune suppression and death, and disease typically occurs in dogs under 6 months of age. Adults can also be affected (Allison et al, 2014;Altman et al, 2017;Ling et al, 2012;Mylonakis et al, 2016). Euthanasia is the leading cause of death from CPV in Australia (Ling et al, 2012) with 20,000 CPV cases estimated annually and higher reporting in rural and remote areas and lower socioeconomic regions (Kelman et al, 2019).…”

“…The reasons for this distribution are not fully understood, however lack of vaccination or an incomplete vaccination course due to affordability issues in these areas is one suggested explanation (Brady et al, 2012;Kelman et al, 2019;Zourkas et al, 2015). Breed, stress, co-infection with other pathogen(s), immunosuppression, and geographic region are reported predisposing factors for infection (Goddard and Leisewitz, 2010;Kalli et al, 2010;Mylonakis et al, 2016). Breed-susceptibility may relate to hereditary immunodeficiency in some animals (Day, 1999).…”