Virological investigation of canine parvovirus infection in dogs housed in pet boarding houses

Canine parvovirus (CPV) infection is a common disease worldwide, particularly affecting puppies aged 4-8 weeks with high morbidity and mortality rates. This study aimed to determine the presence and prevalence of parvovirus infection in dogs displaying gastroenteritis symptoms in pet boarding facilities. Fecal samples were collected from 188 dogs older than 6 months, of various breeds, genders, and ages, some of which were vaccinated against the infection while others were not. The collected fecal samples were tested for the presence of CPV antigen using the direct Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) method. The analysis revealed that 18.62% (35/188) of the samples tested positive for canine parvovirus antigen. The difference in antigen positivity rates between genders and different age groups was found to be statistically insignificant (P˃0.05). This study virologically demonstrated the presence and prevalence of CPV infection in dogs housed in pet boarding facilities. These findings indicate that parvovirus infection remains a significant health risk for dogs in pet boarding facilities despite preventive measures.