Haematology and serum biochemistry of dogs naturally infected with canine parvovirus-2

Canine parvovirus is a deadly virus affecting the Canid family, causing virus-induced destruction of rapidly dividing haemopoietic precursor cells such as crypts of intestinal epithelial cells, thymus, lymph nodes, bone marrow precursor cells, blood cells and cardiac cells leading to multi-organ dysfunctions. The aim of this study was to determine the haematological, serum biochemical and electrolytic changes associated with canine parvovirus (CPV) -2 infection. An immunochromatographic test was used to differentiate the virus-positive and negative dogs using faecal samples. One hundred and sixty whole blood and serum samples were collected from apparently healthy and CPV-2-positive dogs in Plateau State, Nigeria. Haematological, serum biochemical and electrolytic analyses were done using standard methods. The data obtained were analyzed using descriptive statistics and a student t-test. Significance was accepted at probability values of p < 0.05. The haematological effect of CPV-2 showed a significant (P < 0.05) decrease in mean Packed Cell Volume (PCV), total red blood cell count, haemoglobin concentration, total white blood cell count, neutrophils, lymphocytes and platelet count. In addition, the CPV-2 significantly (P < 0.05) increased the mean aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, urea, creatinine, triglyceride and malondialdehyde, while the mean total protein, sodium, potassium, chloride and cholesterol significantly (P < 0.05) decreased in the infected dogs. From the findings, CPV infection variably and significantly affected some haematological and serum biochemical parameters of infected dogs. Therefore, clinicians should endeavour to incorporate haematinics, haptatonics and immune-modulators during the management of canine parvoviral infection as supportive drugs with fluid therapy to improve the survivability of infected animals.