Evaluation of the efficacy of blood gases and hemogram parameters in the diagnosis of non neurogenic distemper and parvoviral enteritis in dogs with acute gastroenteritis

Abstract

Canine parvovirus (CPV) and canine distemper virus (CDV), which are seen mostly in dogs younger than 6 months (mos) old with high mortality despite early diagnosis and treatment, cause various hematological abnormalities and clinical symptoms accompanied by gastroenteritis findings. Since the methods developed for definitive ante-mortem diagnosis are time-consuming and require expertise and equipment, routine laboratory tests such as blood gases and hemogram analyzes still maintain their importance in the diagnosis and monitoring the complications associated with the viruses. The animal material of the study was consisted of a total of 50 dogs: 40 dogs (Experimental Group; 24 male, 16 female) aged between 2-6 mos, from medium to large breeds such as Anatolian shepherd, Boxer and mixed breed with gastroenteritis symptoms; 10 healthy dogs (Control Group; 8 male, 2 female) aged between 2-6 mos, from similar breeds. All were brought to the hospital either for diagnosis/treatment or for routine check-up. Based on the results of rapid antigen tests performed following the clinical and laboratory analyzes, the Experimental Group was divided into two subgroups: Canine Parvovirus Group (CPV Group, n=22) and Canine Distemper Virus Group (CDV Group, n=18). As a result of laboratory analyzes, differences in respiratory rate, capillary refill time and body temperature (P=0.000) in the clinical examinations; leukocyte (WBC) (P=0.003), granulocyte (P=0.000) and mean corpuscular volume (MCV) (P=0.001) levels in the hemogram; pH (P=0.001), lactate (P=0.004) and HCO3 (P=0.001) levels in the blood gases analysis were detected in the CPV and CDV groups. Based on the Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) evaluation of the parameters, which were determined to vary in the Experimental Group, it was concluded that low pH and HCO3 with high lactate levels in blood gases along with low WBC, granulocyte and high MCV levels in the hemogram may be useful parameters in establishing a routine laboratory test panel for diferentiation between CPV and CDV.