Parvovirus,
commonly
called
parvo,
is a genus
of the
Parvoviridae
family of
DNA viruses.
Parvoviruses
are some of
the smallest
viruses
found in
nature. Like
all members
of the
parvoviridae
family, they
infect only
mammals.
Parvoviruses can cause disease in some animals. For example, Canine parvovirus is a particularly deadly disease among young puppies, causing gastrointestinal tract damage and dehydration. Mouse parvovirus 1, however, causes no symptoms but can contaminate immunology experiments in biological research laboratories. The most accurate diagnosis of parvovirus is by ELISA. Dogs and cats can be vaccinated against parvovirus.
Many
types of
mammalian
species have
a strain of
parvovirus
associated
with them. A
parvovirus
tends to be
specific
about the
taxon of
animal it
will infect.
That is, a
canine
parvovirus
will affect
dogs,
wolves, and
foxes, but
will not
infect cats
or humans.
Parvovirus
B19, which
causes fifth
disease in
humans, is a
member of
the
Erythrovirus
genus of
Parvoviridae
rather than
Parvovirus.
Canine
distemper
is a disease
affecting
animals in
the families
Canidae,
Mustelidae,
Mephitidae,
Procyonidae,
and possibly
Felidae
(though not
domestic
cats; feline
distemper or
panleukopenia
is a
similar, but
different
virus
exclusive to
cats). Dogs
from four
months to
four years
old are
particularly
susceptible.
It prevails
most in
spring and
autumn. The
disease
generally
manifests
itself by a
dullness of
the eye,
jaundice
(yellowing
of eyes),
husky cough,
shivering,
loss of
appetite and
energy, and
occasional
fits. While
afflicted
with canine
distemper,
dogs should
be allowed
to run on
grass and
their diet
should be
sparse.
Canine
distemper
virus has a
tropism for
lymphoid,
epithelial,
and nervous
tissues.
Therefore,
the typical
pathologic
features of
canine
distemper
include
lymphoid
depletion,
interstitial
pneumonia,
encephalitis
with
demyelination,
and
hyperkeratosis
of foot pads
. Histologic
examination
reveals
intranuclear
and
intracytoplasmic
eosinophilic
inclusion
bodies in
numerous
tissues.
There exist
a number of
vaccines
against
canine
distemper
for dogs and
domestic
ferrets,
which in
many
jurisdictions
are
mandatory
for pets.
The type of
vaccine
should be
approved for
the type of
animal being
inoculated,
or else the
animal could
actually
contract the
disease from
the vaccine.
Animals
should be
quarantined
if infected.
Kennel cough or tracheobronchitis is a highly contagious canine illness characterized by inflammation of the upper respiratory system. It can be caused by viral infections such as canine distemper, or bacterial infections such as Bordetella bronchiseptica. Symptoms can include a harsh, dry cough, retching or gagging.
The disease can last from 10-20 days, and antibiotics or cough suppressants can be administered. It is so named because the infection can spread quickly among dogs, such as in the close quarters of a kennel.
