Abstract:
Canine parvovirus is considered one of the most dangerous viral diseases affecting dogs, especially young dogs, with
high variability of clinical severity depending on age, level of immunity (vaccination and maternal antibodies), foreign
virulence, nutritional status and secondary bacterial comorbidities. Despite the wide diversity of vaccine strains for dog
immunization, as well as well-systematized vaccination protocols, cases of the disease continue to be recorded in young
dogs and cause fatal cases due to viremia states and complications related to dehydration and severe damage to the
gastrointestinal tract and cardiovascular system. This study aimed to establish the importance of changes in some
biochemical and hematological indices in dogs contaminated with the canine parvovirus enteritis virus. The study was
conducted on 12 dogs, with a median age of 4 months, on which a retrospective-descriptive analysis was performed,
diagnosed with parvovirus (CPV) based on the antigenic test (CPV Ag in all cases). The vaccination status was: 8/12
unvaccinated, 2/12 fully vaccinated, 2/12 incompletely vaccinated. The results of the research conducted found that
parvovirus remains severe in young canines with a 2.5–6 month age range, affecting mainly unvaccinated individuals or
those with uncertain immunity. Systemic inflammation marked by CRP ≥150 mg/L was established in 9 out of 12 dogs
(75%), signs of hypoperfusion (TRC >2 s) are extremely common and may precede severe leukopenia. Profound
myelosuppression (WBC <2, marked NEU) was found to be rare but critically associated with
hypoglycemia/hypoalbuminemia and risk of sepsis/shock. At the same time, leukopenia was established in 2 of 12 dogs
(16.7%), of which severe leukopenia (<2×10⁹/L) in 1 of 12 (8.3%), neutropenia in 3 of 12 (25%), thrombocytopenia in 4
of 12 (33.3%), hemorrhagic diarrhea in 2 of 12 cases (16.7%). Documented mortality was 1 case (8.3%). There are
indications of vaccine inefficiency in fully vaccinated dogs; vaccine audit and (where possible) viral typing are
necessary. Ag HI titers at presentation do not guarantee clinical protection and management should be guided by
clinical status and biomarkers, not isolated titers. The above confirms that clinical severity is driven by pronounced
systemic inflammation even without severe leukopenia established in all patients. This explains the critical need for
early aggressive fluid therapy and prophylaxis/antibacterial therapy for enteric translocation.
