In vitro Evaluation of Antiviral Efficacy of Himachali Pahari Cattle Urine against Canine Parvovirus

Abstract

Background: Canine Parvovirus is a common virus found amongst canines and felines species causing severe gastroenteritis. Many inactivated and live attenuated vaccines have been introduced till now, the emergence of new antigenic variants have raised concerns regarding the efficacy of commercial vaccines. As no specific antiviral therapy has been introduced till date and only symptomatic treatment is done. Therefore, there is need to find alternatives to cure for CPV related issues. According to Ayurveda, cow urine has already been proven effective against various diseases having antibacterial, antifungal, anthelminthic, anticancer property etc, but it has not been tested for its antiviral property till now thus in this study we, have focussed on using Himachali Pahari cattle urine to test its antiviral effects against CPV. Methods: CPV was confirmed through PCR from faecal samples of diarrhoeic dogs presented to the clinics and was adapted to MDCK cells and different preparations (Raw urine, Cow urine distillates (CUD) and Extracts) of Pahari pregnant and Pahari non pregnant cattle urine were tested at different concentration for cytotoxicity on MDCK cells and final safest concentration was used further against TCID50 value of CPV. Result: The results showed that raw urine was found to be cytotoxic at minimum concentration used and CUD of Pahari pregnant urine were found to be effective. Extracts of both the Pahari pregnant and Pahari non pregnant urine were found to be ineffective against CPV. Pahari pregnant urine distillates (CUD) was found to have mild antiviral effects against CPV as it reduces some virus titre and further studies need to be done for its substantial efficacy.