Canine parvovirus

Canine parvovirus (pronunciation: ka-nine par-vo-vi-rus) is a highly contagious virus that affects dogs. It is also known as CPV or parvo.

Etymology

The term "parvovirus" comes from the Latin parvus, meaning small, referring to the size of the virus. The prefix "canine" refers to dogs, the primary hosts of the virus.

Overview

Canine parvovirus is a member of the Parvoviridae family of viruses. It is a non-enveloped, single-stranded DNA virus that primarily affects the gastrointestinal tract of dogs, but can also affect the heart in puppies. The virus is highly resistant to heat, cold, humidity, and drying, and can survive in the environment for long periods.

Transmission

Canine parvovirus is transmitted through direct contact with an infected dog, or indirectly, by the fecal-oral route. The virus can also be brought into a dog's environment by way of shoes that have come into contact with infected feces.

Symptoms

Symptoms of canine parvovirus include fever, vomiting, diarrhea, loss of appetite, and lethargy. In severe cases, it can lead to sepsis and death.

Treatment

Treatment for canine parvovirus involves supportive care, including hydration, antibiotics, and controlling vomiting and diarrhea. There is no specific antiviral treatment for parvovirus.

Prevention

Prevention of canine parvovirus involves regular vaccination and good hygiene practices. Puppies should be vaccinated at 6, 8, and 12 weeks of age, and then annually.

Related Terms

• Parvovirus B19
• Feline parvovirus
• Parvovirus enteritis

External links

• Medical encyclopedia article on Canine parvovirus
• Wikipedia's article - Canine parvovirus

This WikiMD dictionary article is a stub. You can help make it a full article.

---

Languages: - East Asian 中文, 日本, 한국어, South Asian हिन्दी, Urdu, বাংলা, తెలుగు, தமிழ், ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian Indonesian, Vietnamese, Thai, မြန်မာဘာသာ, European español, Deutsch, français, русский, português do Brasil, Italian, polski