The importance of biochemical indices in assessing the degree of severity and treatment protocols in canine parvoviral enteritis

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.