01/12/2021
CANINE PARVOVIRUS
Etiology and Pathophysiology.
Canine parvovirus (CPV) is a highly contagious and relatively common cause of acute, infectious GI illness in young and/or unvaccinated dogs. Although its exact origin is unknown, it is believed to have arisen from feline panleukopenia virus. It is a nonenveloped, single-stranded DNA virus, resistant to many common detergents and disinfectants, as well as to changes in temperature and pH. Infectious CPV can persist indoors at room temperature for at least 2 months; outdoors, if protected from sunlight and desiccation, it can persist for many months and possibly years. In North America, clinical disease is largely attributed to CPV-2b; however, infection with a newer and equally virulent strain, CPV-2c, is increasingly common, having been identified in at least 15 states. To date, no association has been identified between CPV strain and severity of clinical disease.
Young (6 week to 6 month old), unvaccinated or incompletely vaccinated dogs are most susceptible. Breeds described as at increased risk include:
1. Rottweilers
2. Doberman Pinschers
3. American Pit Bull Terriers
4. English Springer Spaniels
5. German Shepherds
Assuming sufficient colostrum ingestion, puppies born to a dam with CPV antibodies are protected from infection for the first few weeks of life; however, susceptibility to infection increases as maternally acquired antibody wanes. Stress (eg, from weaning, overcrowding, malnutrition, etc), concurrent intestinal parasitism, or enteric pathogen infection (eg, Clostridium spp, Campylobacter spp, Salmonella spp, Giardia spp, coronavirus) have been associated with more severe clinical illness. Among dogs >6 months old, intact male dogs are more likely than intact female dogs to develop CPV enteritis.
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