Vol. 10, Special Issue 11 (2021)

Author(s):
M Geetha and G Selvaraju

Abstract:
Canine parvovirus (CPV) is the leading cause of gastroenteritis associated mortality in puppies particularly of less than six months age. Canine parvovirus -2 and its subtypes CPV-2a, 2b and 2c are the etiological factors responsible for haemorrhagic gastroenteritis and myocarditis in puppies. Haemorrhagic gastroenteritis and myocarditis are the usual clinical entities reported in dogs affected with CPV but rarely erythema multiformae, nervous manifestations, retrograde urinary tract infection and phlebitis are reported. Three puppies of less than seven months age with clinical manifestations of pyrexia, vomition, foul smelling haemorrhagic gastroenteritis, significant dehydration were diagnosed for CPV infection by commercially available lateral flow assay kit. Haemogram revealed all three puppies had significant leucopenia of less than 1100 cells/µl on the second day of presentation. Absence of significant increase in leucocyte level was noticed in one puppy with severe leucopaenia (780 cells/ µl) even after administration of Fligrastim (human granulocyte colony stimulating factor (hG-CSF) at the dose rate of 10ug/kg body. All three puppies were succumbed due to CPV infection and it is concluded that severe leucopenia could be used as a prognostic indicator to determine the outcome of CPV infection. Hence it is recommended that periodical immunization of bitches together with weaning of puppies at 45 days age to enhance the passive immunity, immunization as early as 6 weeks with recommended boosters are the best strategies for prevention of CPV infection in dogs.