Diagnostic tools in the detection of Canine parvovirus (CPV) infection in dogs

Canine parvovirus-2 (CPV-2) is one of the most common viral infections among all the enteric pathogens of dogs affecting all age groups causing high morbidity (100 percent) and frequent mortality up to 10 percent in adult dogs and 91 percent in pups. Early detection of the infection is of significant importance for the confirmation of the Canine parvovirus. In the present study, it was aimed to detect the parvovirus using various diagnostic tools like haemato-biochemical studies, pathological changes, isolation in cell cultures, transmission electron microscopy and molecular characterization by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). A total of 59 samples were screened out of which 39 tested positive for CPV-2 by the molecular assay polymerase chain reaction and an amplicon size of 630 bp was obtainedwith VP2 (Viral protein) specific primers. The common haematological andbiochemical findings were anaemia,thrombocytopenia, pancytopenia andhypoproteinaemia. The virus produced amarked cytopathic effect in Madindarby canine kidney (MDCK)cell lines and transmission electronic microscopy (TEM) revealed spherical virus like particles of approximately 20 nm in diameter. Thus, the above tools used in the diagnosis of Canine parvovirus (CPV) were very useful for providing a better therapy in protecting the dogs.