Canine parvovirus diagnosis using real time polymerase chain reaction

Scale and supplementary material: 38 pages, 8 tables, 11 figures. Canine parvovirus (CPV) is one of the most important infectious pathogens that causes enteritis in dogs of all ages, but is mostly dangerous for young puppies. A considerable number of research has been conducted in Lithuania and various diagnostic methods have been used for diagnosis of CPV. However, the real time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) has not been implemented yet. This method is more sensitive than a conventional PCR and evaluates the number of DNA copies of the virus. The purpose of this thesis is to evaluate the infections caused by CPV in dogs using a real time PCR method. The research was conducted at the Institute of Microbiology and Virology in Veterinary Academy, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences. A total of 94 faecal samples were analyzed using a conventional PCR and a real time SYBR Green PCR methods. 30 samples were tested using immunochromatographic tests. 67 faecal samples of dogs with parvovirus enteritis – related symptoms were examined, of which 52.9 % were positive using a conventional PCR and 55.9 % using a real time SYBR Green PCR. Among the samples of clinically healthy dogs, there were 15.0 % positive samples using a conventional PCR and 20.0 % using real time SYBR Green PCR. All methods were 100.0 % specific. Immunochromatographic tests were 88.9 %, conventional PCR was 90.7 % and a real time SYBR Green PCR was 100.0 % sensitive. Clinically healthy dogs shed a lower amount of CPV DNA copies (2.4 ± 0.68 log10) than those with parvovirus enteritis (6.1 ± 2.64 log10) (p0.05). CPV was most commonly diagnosed in dogs under 6 months of age. Survival was 76.3 %. All non-surviving dogs belonged to the age group up to 4 months (p>0.05). When the samples of a litter of puppies were examined a month after the disappearance of clinical symptoms, 16.7 % of puppies still shed the virus (p>0,05)