Antigenicity

  • 2 Canine Viruses:
    • Canine Parvovirus 1 (CPV1): avirulent, ubiquitous in canine population
    • Canine Parvovirus 2 (CPV2): new virus emerged in the late 1970's
  • Antigenic variants occur

Hosts

  • Dogs
  • CPV 2a/2b can cause disease in cats

Pathogenesis

  • Oropharyngeal infection followed by viremia
  • 2 distinct syndromes:
  1. Myocarditis in puppies aged 3-8 weeks
    • Virus targets rapidly dividing myocardium
    • Sudden death, fading puppy syndrome
    • Now rare due to widespread passive immunity
  2. Enteritis in puppies >8 weeks of age
    • Virus targets intestinal crypts
    • Villi shorten, then destruction of cypt cells
    • Gray, persistent, foul-smelling diarrhoea or hemorrhagic enteritis
    • High morbidity, low mortality (10%)

Epidemiology

  • Orofecal transmission
  • Host range is controlled by only a few amino acids

Diagnosis

  • HA or ELISA for virus

Control

  • Vaccination, usually in combination with distemper and hepatitis. With first vaccination at 8-10 weeks and the second vaccination two weeks after the first, 10-12 weeks.
  • Thorough disinfection after disease