Parvo

Question 1

What type of bacteria is parvovirus?

Answer 1

small, non-enveloped, single strand DNA vrius

Question 2

What does parvovirus cause in dogs? in cats?

Answer 2

Dogs: gastroenteritis
Cats: panleukopenia

Question 3

Which breeds are predisposed to canine parvo virus?

Answer 3

Rotties, Pitties, Dobbies, English Springer, and German Shepherds

Question 4

What’s the pathogenesis of parvovirus?

Answer 4

They can’t induce mitosis in the cells it infects, so it relies on infecting rapidly cells to spread
- likes the bone marrow, thymus, spleen, and crypt cells

Feline parvo virus
- enhanced by FeLV, Clostridium piliforme, and feline coronavirus

Question 5

What are the earliest clinical signs of canine parvo infection?

Answer 5

Fever
Depression
Loss of appetite
- diarrhea, vomiting
- melena, hematochezia

Question 5

What happen with peracute feline parvo?

Answer 5

death can occur in young kittens within 12h
- septic shock, dehydration, hypothermia
- v/d may be minimal

Question 6

How is parvo virus transmitted?

Answer 6

fecal-oral route
- virus goes to the regional LNs (pharynx) and tonsils
- incubation period around 1-2 weeks

Question 6

What are the clinical features of bone marrow infection in parvo infection?

Answer 6

leukopenia, but thrombocytopenia is not a feature
- very susceptible to secondary infection

Question 7

What’s the most important ddx for parvo virus?

Answer 7

canine distemper

Question 8

What are some electrolyte disturbances with parvo infection?

Answer 8

hypokalemia
hypochloremia, alkalosis (severe)
hyperchloremia, acidosis (mild)

also hyper coagulable, no DIC

Question 9

What are the classic signs of feline parvo infection?

Answer 9

feline panleukopenia
- cerebellar atrophy, if infected in utero or early natal period
- virus destroys the purkinge cells and granule precursor cells
- may seizure

Question 10

What is the ultimate cause of death in parvo infection?

Answer 10

septicemia
endotoxemia
shock

Question 11

How is parvo diagnosed?

Answer 11

typical signalment, clinical signs, and PE/lab finding
- fecal antigen test (but shedding is intermittent)
- serology is seldom used

Question 12

How is parvo treated?

Answer 12

supportive therapy
- IV fluids
- KCl supplementation
- blood products? colloids
- oral deworming
- metoclopramide - for vomiting
- ampicillin/ amoxiclav, amikacin, metronidazole
- analgesics (buprenorphine, fentanyl)

Question 13

What’s the prognosis of parvo?

Answer 13

10% in untreated puppies
>90% with intensive care