Canine Parvovirus Enteritis (CPV) is not a notifiable or zoonotic disease (it is not reported to the government, APHA, if found, and can not be passed from animals to humans), but is highly contagious. Although it can affect humans, it requires a different strain, being family specific; Canine Parvovirus could not be passed to humans, but may spread within a family (Canids, i.e. foxes, wolves, coyotes dog, hyena), amongst genera [1] (plural for genus). There is a feline version, known as Feline Panleukopenia (FPV or feline distemper).
CPV is highly contagious, with an 80% [2] or over 90% for untreated dogs [3] fatality rate (proportion of deaths to cases), able to survive in the environment (outdoors, if protected from sunlight and drying out) for up to five months [4], allowing it to passed from infected animals and remain there to infect others for a long period of time. Among dogs less than six months old, intact (not neutered) males are more likely to become infected than intact females [5].
Causes & Transmission
The virus that causes canine parvovirus is called CPV-2, being the second type of CPV. The two trains prevalent causing the disease in the UK are CPV-2a and CPV-2b [6], though the strain CPV-2c has been found [7]. It attacks the gastrointestinal tract in dogs, with those unvaccinated being most susceptible.
The disease is mainly transmitted by the faeces of infected dogs, as well as being able to be spread by anything the infected animal has come into contact with (i.e. clothing, shoes, humans, environment).
Symptoms & Diagnosis
The incubation period (time between exposure to disease and symptoms appearing) is 3-7 days [8]. The initial clinical signs are nonspecific, and so could be attributed to many diseases, with symptoms such as lethargy, anorexia and fever. These could worsen within 24-48 hours [9], progressing to depression, rapid weight loss, malaise (discomfort with no obvious cause, in this case being the disease), severe vomiting, abdominal pain, loss of appetite, swollen lymph nodes, dehydration and hemorrhagic (containing blood) small-bowel diarrhoea.
This can progress extremely quickly, sometimes in the space of 24 hours [10], with death potentially occurring within 2-3 days following the onset of symptoms [11], so immediate veterinary attention is required. In puppies the disease may spread to the heart muscles, causing breathing difficulties and death within a few hours.
CPV is diagnosed by clinical signs, history, a physical examination and laboratory testing (performed on blood or faeces). It is suspected in any young, unvaccinated dog with the correct clinical signs. Blood tests are to check the number of white blood cells (leukocytes), as this is low in infected animals. ELISA (Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, a common laboratory technique which is used to measure the concentration of an analyte, usually antibodies or antigens, in solution) can be used to detect the presence of the virus in faeces.
[12][13][14][15]
Other methods of detecting CPV antigens in faeces include PCR testing, electron microscopy and virus isolation. [16]
Treatments
There are no treatments for CPV. All that can be done is to provide supportive care for the animal, such as medications to control vomiting and diarrhoea, fluid therapy (intravenous fluids to prevent dehydration), providing antibiotics and prevention of secondary infection.
[17][18]
"With appropriate supportive care, 68–92% of dogs with CPV enteritis will survive." [19]
Due to the inability to treat CPV and its fatality rate, vaccination is of the utmost importance to prevent it.
References - provided general understanding of the disease; including symptoms, causes and treatments
Parvo in Humans
http://www.petmd.com/dog/wellness/evr_dg_parvovirus_across_species
- Ability of the disease to travel between species/families/genera [1]
DEPI - Routine Healthcare for Dogs
http://www.depi.vic.gov.au/pets/dogs/dog-health/routine-healthcare-for-dogs
- Percentage fatality rate [2]
- Speed of progression of disease [10]
Canine Parvovirus: Vetlearn
https://www.vetlearn.com/_preview?_cms.fe.previewId=b07f2560-8276-11e1-806d-005056ad4734&WT.mc_id=lgFB;caninoparvocareguide
- Percentage fatality rate [3]
- Diagnosis of Parvovirus [12]
- Supportive care provided [17]
Canine Parvovirus: Diseases of the Stomach and Intestines in Small Animals: Merck Veterinary Manual
http://www.merckmanuals.com/vet/digestive_system/diseases_of_the_stomach_and_intestines_in_small_animals/canine_parvovirus.html
- Length of time for which CPV can survive in the environment [4]
- Likelihood of infection, males against females [5]
- Type CPV-2c becoming more prevalent, a new strain [7]
- Incubation period [8]
- Time period for initial symptoms to worsen, (progression of disease) [9]
- Diagnosis of parvovirus [14]
- Other methods to detect CPV antigens in faeces [16]
- Quote, estimate of survival rate of dogs receiving supportive care [19]
Canine Parvovirus Disease: CPV-2a and CPV-2bcommon in unvaccinated dogs in UK
http://www.future-of-vaccination.co.uk/canine-parvovirus-disease.asp
- The types of CPV [6]
Canine Parvovirus Causes & Risk Factors, Signs & Symptoms, Diagnosis - Canine Parvovirus (Parvo) - HealthCommunites.com
http://www.healthcommunities.com/canine-parvovirus/causes-symptoms.shtml
- Time between onset of symptoms and death [11]
- Diagnosis of parvovirus [13]
Parvo (Parvovirus) in Dogs: Symptoms, Prevention and Treatment
http://pets.webmd.com/dogs/parvo-parvovirus-dogs
- Diagnosis of parvovirus [15]
- Supportive care provided [18]
Charlotte O'Connor
CPV is highly contagious, with an 80% [2] or over 90% for untreated dogs [3] fatality rate (proportion of deaths to cases), able to survive in the environment (outdoors, if protected from sunlight and drying out) for up to five months [4], allowing it to passed from infected animals and remain there to infect others for a long period of time. Among dogs less than six months old, intact (not neutered) males are more likely to become infected than intact females [5].
Causes & Transmission
The virus that causes canine parvovirus is called CPV-2, being the second type of CPV. The two trains prevalent causing the disease in the UK are CPV-2a and CPV-2b [6], though the strain CPV-2c has been found [7]. It attacks the gastrointestinal tract in dogs, with those unvaccinated being most susceptible.
The disease is mainly transmitted by the faeces of infected dogs, as well as being able to be spread by anything the infected animal has come into contact with (i.e. clothing, shoes, humans, environment).
Symptoms & Diagnosis
The incubation period (time between exposure to disease and symptoms appearing) is 3-7 days [8]. The initial clinical signs are nonspecific, and so could be attributed to many diseases, with symptoms such as lethargy, anorexia and fever. These could worsen within 24-48 hours [9], progressing to depression, rapid weight loss, malaise (discomfort with no obvious cause, in this case being the disease), severe vomiting, abdominal pain, loss of appetite, swollen lymph nodes, dehydration and hemorrhagic (containing blood) small-bowel diarrhoea.
This can progress extremely quickly, sometimes in the space of 24 hours [10], with death potentially occurring within 2-3 days following the onset of symptoms [11], so immediate veterinary attention is required. In puppies the disease may spread to the heart muscles, causing breathing difficulties and death within a few hours.
CPV is diagnosed by clinical signs, history, a physical examination and laboratory testing (performed on blood or faeces). It is suspected in any young, unvaccinated dog with the correct clinical signs. Blood tests are to check the number of white blood cells (leukocytes), as this is low in infected animals. ELISA (Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, a common laboratory technique which is used to measure the concentration of an analyte, usually antibodies or antigens, in solution) can be used to detect the presence of the virus in faeces.
[12][13][14][15]
Other methods of detecting CPV antigens in faeces include PCR testing, electron microscopy and virus isolation. [16]
Treatments
There are no treatments for CPV. All that can be done is to provide supportive care for the animal, such as medications to control vomiting and diarrhoea, fluid therapy (intravenous fluids to prevent dehydration), providing antibiotics and prevention of secondary infection.
[17][18]
"With appropriate supportive care, 68–92% of dogs with CPV enteritis will survive." [19]
Due to the inability to treat CPV and its fatality rate, vaccination is of the utmost importance to prevent it.
References - provided general understanding of the disease; including symptoms, causes and treatments
Parvo in Humans
http://www.petmd.com/dog/wellness/evr_dg_parvovirus_across_species
- Ability of the disease to travel between species/families/genera [1]
DEPI - Routine Healthcare for Dogs
http://www.depi.vic.gov.au/pets/dogs/dog-health/routine-healthcare-for-dogs
- Percentage fatality rate [2]
- Speed of progression of disease [10]
Canine Parvovirus: Vetlearn
https://www.vetlearn.com/_preview?_cms.fe.previewId=b07f2560-8276-11e1-806d-005056ad4734&WT.mc_id=lgFB;caninoparvocareguide
- Percentage fatality rate [3]
- Diagnosis of Parvovirus [12]
- Supportive care provided [17]
Canine Parvovirus: Diseases of the Stomach and Intestines in Small Animals: Merck Veterinary Manual
http://www.merckmanuals.com/vet/digestive_system/diseases_of_the_stomach_and_intestines_in_small_animals/canine_parvovirus.html
- Length of time for which CPV can survive in the environment [4]
- Likelihood of infection, males against females [5]
- Type CPV-2c becoming more prevalent, a new strain [7]
- Incubation period [8]
- Time period for initial symptoms to worsen, (progression of disease) [9]
- Diagnosis of parvovirus [14]
- Other methods to detect CPV antigens in faeces [16]
- Quote, estimate of survival rate of dogs receiving supportive care [19]
Canine Parvovirus Disease: CPV-2a and CPV-2bcommon in unvaccinated dogs in UK
http://www.future-of-vaccination.co.uk/canine-parvovirus-disease.asp
- The types of CPV [6]
Canine Parvovirus Causes & Risk Factors, Signs & Symptoms, Diagnosis - Canine Parvovirus (Parvo) - HealthCommunites.com
http://www.healthcommunities.com/canine-parvovirus/causes-symptoms.shtml
- Time between onset of symptoms and death [11]
- Diagnosis of parvovirus [13]
Parvo (Parvovirus) in Dogs: Symptoms, Prevention and Treatment
http://pets.webmd.com/dogs/parvo-parvovirus-dogs
- Diagnosis of parvovirus [15]
- Supportive care provided [18]
Charlotte O'Connor