Parvovirus: An Infection Process

Sam Fanelli ENGL 202C, Sect. 014 March 16, 2012

AUDIIENCE AND PURPOSE UD ENCE AND URPOSE

This document is intended as an educational supplement for veterinary or pre-veterinary students, as well as an informational piece for pet owners on the infection process of parvovirus. The document ultimately aims to provide information about a common but easily preventable disease, including how it infects an animal, how this infection manifests into symptoms, and what measures can and should be employed to stop it. Future veterinarians are likely to encounter this virus in their careers, and owners have the greatest ability to prevent it. Thus, these two audiences could benefit the most from the information provided.

MEET PARVOVIIRUS: AN INTRODUCTIION EET ARVOV RUS N NTRODUCT ON

Puppies are notorious for finding their way into places they are not supposed to be; trash cans, dirt piles, and neighbors yards provide a treasure trove of mischief that they can never resist. In their adventures and acquisition of fellow playmates, however, they often find a bigger and more dangerous world of trouble: viruses. Viruses are small infectious agents that can cause a variety of illnesses and are spread through numerous types of vectors. One such virus that puppies are likely to stumble upon is parvovirus which causes a serious and highly contagious infection of the intestinal tract. Parvovirus is complex in its manifestation, and comprehension of how it works is the best start to preventing it.

HOW THE DIISEASE SPREADS OW THE SEASE PREADS

Entrance to the Body
Viruses can spread through saliva, blood, the mucous membranes, the air, insect vectors, or often a combination of factors. Parvovirus is transmitted through direct contact with an infected animal or its feces. Infected animals can shed the virus for up to 3 weeks after infection or even serve as carriers and shed the virus periodically for the rest of their lives. After ingestion, the virus enters the digestive tract and begins to replicate.

Viral Replication
There are 6 basic steps that comprise replication of viruses: 1. Adsorption The virus first physically attaches to cells. In the case of parvovirus, the viral particles attach to the lymphoid tissue of the oropharynx (the tissue in the back of the throat between the mouth and the esophagus responsible for the bodys immune response). 2. Penetration The virus enters the cell by fusing with the membrane and crossing over through direct diffusion. In other species of viruses, an acidic pH is utilized as an activator before penetration is permitted. 3. Uncoating Further acidification of the coat surrounding the nucleic acid causes the components to shift, uncovering the viral core containing the genetic material (deoxyribonucleic acid, or DNA) to allow for replication. 4. Viral Genome Replication Actual replication of the genome encoding a virus DNA varies by species of virus, but in general, transcription of DNA into its counterpart ribonucleic acid (RNA) and translation of RNA into protein occurs. 5. Assembly/Maturation New viral particles assemble from the newly replicated DNA. They mature into complete viruses and are ready to infect new cells. 6. Release Accumulation of parvovirus particles prevents mitosis within the cell, causing it to eventually die. The particles lyse from the cell and move on to infect new cells.

Fig 1. Viral Replication in the Cell Replication occurs in several areas throughout the body that contain rapidly dividing cells such as those found in the intestine, bone marrow, and white blood cells. Small crypts in the intestine harbor breeding grounds for the virus and are the eventual link to the symptoms and ailments seen with parvovirus.

SYMPTOMS YMPTOMS
A wide degree of variation exists in symptoms depending on the amount of virus that was exposed to the dog and other extenuating circumstances such as stress, age, or pre-existing bacterial infection that might exacerbate the disease. Three main degrees of manifestation exist: Asymptomatic No symptoms are seen, and this usually occurs in dogs over the age of one who have built up an immunity or have been vaccinated. They may still shed the virus in their feces. Cardiac This far less common manifestation causes severe inflammation and death of the tissue that makes up the heart muscle. This leads to extreme difficulty breathing and ultimately leads to death in young, more susceptible animals. Intestinal This occurs most commonly, and victims display bloody diarrhea, vomiting, fever, and loss of appetite. This is due to the sloughing off of large portions of the lining of the gastrointestinal tract and makes the puppy much more susceptible to opportunistic bacteria that can cause a secondary infection. Some acute cases see

drastic drops in white blood cell count, anorexia, and extreme dehydration and can die in as little as 2 days with these symptoms.

CAN IT BE FIIXED?: DIIAGNOSIIS AND TREATMENT AN T E XED AGNOS S AND REATMENT

Diagnosis can be performed based on clinical signs and an analysis of a fecal sample for viral particles. Blood work can also be performed to test white blood cell counts or blood clotting factors indicative of disease. Diarrhea and vomiting are fairly common in puppies, however, so the only definitive diagnosis is fecal sample analysis. Treating the disease is directed at supportive therapy as no specific treatment for parvovirus exists. Replacement of lost water with intravenous (in the vein) or subcutaneous (under the skin) fluids containing electrolytes is essential to ensuring the puppys survival. Drugs may be administered to control excessive vomiting, and broad-spectrum antibiotics can help prevent a secondary infection from bacteria. This virus is extremely stable and difficult to kill. A survival rate as low as 9.1% exists for untreated cases and only 64% for patients who do receive treatment. Vaccination for parvovirus exists and is extremely effective in preventing the disease. Care should still be taken to avoid exposure to the disease, but vaccination is the only successful method to fight the virus itself. All other methods are done after infection has already occurred.

CONCLUSIION ONCLUS ON
Parvovirus is a serious disease that requires attention to ensure vaccinations are administered to as many puppies as possible. It is highly transmissible, and even small amounts can lead to big infections under the right conditions. Viral replication is extremely efficient and thus highly dangerous to growing puppies that have yet to acquire immunological defense mechanisms. Symptoms can vary from mild diarrhea to death with little control without vaccination. Vaccinating puppies against parvovirus and other potentially harmful diseases might be expensive and seemingly unnecessary; bearing in mind the very real hazards of not protecting your animals, however, it is extremely difficult to justify foregoing the vaccination that could save your puppys life.

Works Cited Figure 1: Riley, Robert. "The Dangers of Dog Vaccines You Need to Know Now." Dog Directory. Web. 12 Mar. 2012. <http://www.dogdirectoryx.com/2010_12_01_archive.html>. Figure 2: Wong, Benjamin. Replication of Viruses. Virology Online. Diagram. 12 Mar. 2012. <http://virology-online.com/general/Replication.htm>.