Echocardiographic measurements and investigation of some heart biomarkers in dogs with parvoviral enteritis

In the presented study, 25 dogs, regardless of gender or breed, between the ages of 2-12 months and without a history of vaccination against any strain of CPV, were used. Fifteen dogs (8.49±4.21 kg) whose clinical symptoms and the anamnesis given by the patient's owner were consistent with parvoviral enteritis and whose rapid test results were positive for parvovirus antigen were included in the patient group. Ten dogs (18.10±10.85 kg) without any clinical symptoms, without any disease symptoms during the clinical examination, without any negative situation in the anamnesis given by the patient's owner and whose rapid test results were negative for parvovirus antigen were included in the control group. Blood samples of the dogs included in the patient and control groups were taken from the vena cephalica antebrachii in accordance with the technique into biochemistry tubes. After the anticoagulant-free blood samples taken for biochemical parameters were centrifuged, their sera were obtained and the cardiac biomarkers NT proBNP, cTn-I and CK-MB parameters were measured from these sera. Echocardiographic examinations were performed in the patient and control groups in the right parasternal position using an echocardiography device. As a result of the echocardiographic examination, 2-D, M-mode and Doppler echocardiographic data were obtained. In our study, the cardiac biomarkers NT-proBNP (p<0.05), cTn-I (p=0.05) and CK-MB (p>0.05) were found to be higher in the patient group than in the control group. Statistically significant differences were also found in the echocardiographic parameters we measured, namely LA Diam, LVEDV, LVESV, LVIDd, LVIDs, IVSs, LVPWs and LV Mass. Considering the results of the presented study, we believe that the determination of NT proBNP, a cardiac biomarker, plays an important role in the diagnosis of myocarditis cases. In the right parasternal echocardiographic examinations, data supporting the effect of CPV-2 infection on the heart were obtained, especially in the parameters related to the left ventricular internal diameter and volume, and it was concluded that more literature studies are needed, especially in terms of Doppler echocardiography and right heart measurements in CPV-2 positive dogs. Keywords: Cardiac troponin, Creatine kinase, Echocardiography, Natriuretic peptide, Parvoviral enteritis