wildlife and zoo assay data sheet
Canine parvovirus
Test code:
S0091 - Qualitative detection of canine parvovirus by polymerase
chain reaction
Canine
parvovirus (CPV) is a highly contagious viral infection in
canids and felines. The virus is transmitted by oral ingestion
of viral contaminated feces. Several studies have shown that
canine parvovirus and feline panleukopenia virus may undergo
mutual interspecies transmission between dogs and cats, and it
is postulated that they may cause disease in some adventitious
hosts.
The
incidence of the disease is highest in young dogs and tends to
start some time after the pup has lost its maternal antibody.
Any age can be infected but most dogs are infected between the
ages of 2 and 6 months when maternal antibody decreases below a
protective level. Symptoms are usually mild to nonexistent.
However, a full blown case of parvovirus untreated can easily be
fatal.
Once inside
the body, the virus infects local lymph nodes, quickly
multiplies and then via the blood moves to the small intestine
where signs of the disease begin in approximately 5-6 days. The
virus damages the lining of the small intestine leading to
breakdown of crucial disease defense barriers and disturbance of
digestive enzyme secretion and nutrient absorption.
Additionally, the normal bacterial flora of the small intestine
which aid in digestion are now exposed to ulcerated mucosa,
providing a direct route into the blood stream. Fluid loss from
both vomiting and diarrhea is dramatic and dehydration ensues.
The onslaught of bacteria and toxins into the blood will
ultimately cause death.
Because of
the severity of parvovirus-induced disease and the highly
contagious nature of the virus, several assays have been
developed to detect the virus in the feces of infected canids.
Usually, feces from diarrheic dogs are screened using ELISA or
hemagglutination (HA) assays, but these techniques have very low
sensitivity. In contrast, methods based on detection of viral
DNA by PCR have been shown to be more sensitive and specific.
Utilities:
-
Help confirm the
disease causing agent
-
Help ensure that
animal groups and populations are free of canine parvovirus
-
Early
prevention of spread of this virus among a population
-
Minimize
human exposure to this virus
-
Safety
monitoring of biological products and vaccines that derive
from susceptible animals
Specimen requirement: 0.2 ml whole blood in EDTA (purple top) tube, or 0.2 ml feces, or rectal swab, or 0.2 ml fresh, frozen
or fixed tissue.
Contact Zoologix
if advice is needed to determine an appropriate specimen type
for a specific diagnostic application. For specimen
types not listed here, please contact Zoologix to confirm
specimen acceptability and shipping instructions.
For all
specimen types, if there will be a delay in shipping, or during
very warm weather, refrigerate specimens until shipped and ship
with a cold pack unless more stringent shipping requirements are
specified. Frozen specimens should be shipped so as to remain
frozen in transit. See shipping
instructions for more information.
Turnaround time:
2 business days
Methodology:
Qualitative PCR
Normal range:
Nondetected