The first report of concurrent detection of canine parvovirus and coronavirus in diarrhoeic dogs of Iran

Abstract

Two male dogs at the age of 3 and 5 months of Doberman pinscher and German shepherd breeds were referred to the Veterinary Hospital of Ahvaz University with clinical signs of depression, vomiting, haemorrhagic diarrhoea, profound dehydration, fever and anorexia. The affected dogs had not the history of vaccination. Concurrent infection of canine parvovirus and coronavirus was detected in dogs by means of immunochromatography assay. The haemogram showed lowered white blood cell counts as leukopenia, neutropenia and lymphopenia. The dogs received supportive treatment to correct the life-threatening dehydration and prevention of secondary bacterial infections. Despite treatment, one dog (Doberman pinscher) died within 3 days after the onset of clinical signs, and the second dog recovered after 4 days. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of concurrent infection of canine parvovirus and coronavirus in diarrhoeic dogs in Iran.