Risk factors for death from canine parvoviral-related disease in Australia

Abstract

Canine parvovirus (CPV) is a highly contagious cause of serious and often fatal disease in dogs worldwide despite the availability of safe and efficacious vaccines. Although a number of studies have focussed on identifying risk factors in disease development, risk factors associated with death from CPV are largely unknown. In this study we analysed a total of 1451 CPV cases reported from an Australian surveillance system - using univariate and multivariate techniques - to determine significant risk factors associated with death and euthanasia. A crude case fatality rate of 42.3% was estimated - higher than has been reported previously. We found that 3.3% of CPV cases had a history of vaccination in the previous 12 months, despite having completed the primary puppy vaccination course. The majority (89.5%) of these cases occurred in dogs <12 months of age, indicating failure of the primary vaccination course to provide protective immunity (most likely due to interference of the vaccine antigen with maternal antibodies but other reasons are discussed). Extending the age at which the final puppy vaccination is administered might be one of several strategies to consider. The final multivariate model showed that in non-litter CPV cases, risk of death was significantly associated with season of diagnosis (summer) and pedigree type (hounds and non-sporting dogs). Euthanasia in non-litter CPV cases was significantly associated with season of diagnosis (summer), state of residence (Northern Territory/South Australia/Tasmania combined), age (<six months) and vaccination status (unvaccinated and unknown). No significant risk factors associated with death were identified in cases in which there was more than one puppy in a litter infected. The risk factors identified in this study can be used as prognostic indicators for veterinarians faced with CPV cases. The possible explanations for the associations identified and their clinical relevance to CPV case outcome are discussed.

Biomarkers in canine parvovirus enteritis

“…Low bodyweight was found to be a significant risk factor for death, even after adjusting for age (Dossin et al 2011). In a recent study, the highest mortality rates were seen in dogs less than 6 months of age, yet this parameter failed to achieve significance (Ling et al 2012). Interestingly, the above study also demonstrated higher case fatality rates in summer compared to other seasons; putatively ascribing it to improved viral particle transmission and increased use of boarding and kennel facilities during the warmer holiday months (Ling et al 2012).…”

“…In a recent study, the highest mortality rates were seen in dogs less than 6 months of age, yet this parameter failed to achieve significance (Ling et al 2012). Interestingly, the above study also demonstrated higher case fatality rates in summer compared to other seasons; putatively ascribing it to improved viral particle transmission and increased use of boarding and kennel facilities during the warmer holiday months (Ling et al 2012). Data on the seasonality of CPV enteritis is conflicting, most likely owing to different climatic conditions and other varying risk factors in different countries (McCaw and Hoskins 2006, Kalli et al 2010, Pospischil and Yamaho 1987.…”

“…The CPV literature (in common with most of the veterinary literature) is thus replete with small, single-center, geographically-biased and largely retrospective studies with resultant conflicting data on seasonal occurrence, breed predisposition and measures of disease severity. Importantly, the retrospective nature of some studies has several shortcomings such as missing data on outcome (Kalli et al 2010), non-uniform management of cases and varying diagnostic criteriae (Ling et al 2012) and many other unknown and known confounders. These confounders include owner socio-economic status; disparate patient vaccination status; varying canine population kinetics and human population densities; differing CPV strains involved in outbreaks; reporting bias and varying emotional bonds between clients and their pets -all of which have significant effects on mortality-and euthanasia rates and other inferences drawn from these studies.…”

A Comparative Study on Canine Parvovirus Infection of Dog in Bangladesh and India

“…The clinical manifestations of CPV infection depends on the age and immune status of the dogs, virulence of the virus, dose of the virus and pre-existing or concurrent parasitic, bacterial or virus infections (McAdaragh et al, 1982) Factors that predispose parvovirus infection in puppies are lack of protective immunity, intestinal parasites, overcrowded, unsanitary, and stressful environmental conditions (Hoskins, 1997). It has been stated that Doberman, Rottweiler and German shepherd (GS) dogs seem to be more susceptible to Parvovirus infection than other breed (Ling et al, 2012) Unvaccinated puppies aged between six weeks and six months are at greatest risk of developing CPV related disease (Godsall et al, 2010) The prevalence of canine parvovirus infection was reported as 77-80.4% in Thailand, 82.9% in Korea and 6% in Lithuania (Grigonis et al, 2002). The outbreak of CPV disease in dogs was also reported in Belgium and France (1977), Thailand, USA(1978), Portugal, Pakistan, Italy, Spain, Germany (Lamm and Rezabek, 2008).…”

Incidence of Canine Parvo Virus-2 with Ancylostomosis and Complication by E. coli in a Young Pup

“…Parvo virus infection is most commonly manifested by vomiting, haemorrhagic diarrhea and severe leukopenia in dogs of all age, and myocarditis with subsequent heart failure in pups of less than 3 months of age (Nandhi et al, 2010). Pavo viral cases, if untreated, can rapidly progress to severe dehydration, complication by secondary invaders predominantly Escherichia coli which lead to endotoxaemia, septicaemia and disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) resulting in a high case fatality (Monika Ling et al, 2012). However, CPV infections have been misdiagnosed, unfortunately due to the symptoms akin to some nematode infections viz., the hook worm infestation which could further negatively influence the recovery in the very young pups due to the prenatal transmission of the larvae (Goddard and Leisewitz, 2010).…”