Canine parvovirus infection in Nigeria

Abstract

ABSTRACTPups of Nigerian mongrel dogs randomly bought from two village markets for experimental purposes at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, were observed to be ill within 4 days of purchase. By 13 days after purchase 52.5 per cent of all the animals had died. All sick animals were anorectous and suffered from diarrhoea. The faeces were mostly dark yellow to light brown and a few contained spots of blood. Few animals responded to treatment with fluids, antibiotics and vitamins and death occurred within 24 hours of the onset of clinical signs. In most cases, post mortem and histopathological lesions were similar to those characteristic of canine parvovirus. The sera of the surviving animals tested for haemagglutination‐inhibition antibodies to canine parvovirus, using porcine red blood cells, were positive.