Clinical Effectiveness of Autohemotherapy as an Adjunct Treatment of Canine Parvovirus

Background: Canine parvovirus is highlighted among the gastroenteric diseases that are common medical occurrences in small animals due to its clinical evolution. Although the treatment is often successful, the success rate has remained unchanged over the years, reflecting a clear need for searching more efficient protocols in order to reduce hospitalization, treatment cost and increase survival rates. Autohemotherapy efficacy has been demonstrated for several diseases and identified as a stimulating tool and immune mediator. Thus, the objective of this research was to determine the clinical effectiveness of autohemotherapy as an adjunct in the treatment of dogs suffering from parvovirus. Materials, Methods & Results: Twenty dogs suffering from parvovirus, diagnosed via immunochromatography, were distributed (n = 10) into two groups: autohemotherapy (GAHT) and control (GCO). Both groups were treated with the appropriate support therapy for hemorrhagic gastroenteritis (GHE), while the dogs of the GAHT group were also treated with the adjunct autohemotherapy (AHT). The AHT consisted of the administration of blood collected by jugular venipuncture, without anticoagulant, immediately injected in equal proportion in the semitendinosus and semimembranosus muscle region. The blood volume injected was based on animal weight: up to 5 kg/2.5 mL; between 5-10 kg/5 mL; 10-15 kg/7.5 mL; above 15 kg/10 mL. The dogs of the control group were injected a NaCl 0.9% solution instead of blood. The vital parameters, heart rate (HR), respiratory rate (RR), and rectal temperature (RT), as well as the clinical parameters, mucous color, dehydration, level of consciousness, abdominal tenderness, anorexia, diarrhea and vomiting were evaluated and recorded. The hematological and parasitological stool analyses were also performed. The parameters were measured upon hospital admission; time zero (M0) and every 12 h during 48 h (M12, M24, M36 and M48). The vital parameters were submitted to ANOVA or Friedman test. For the hematological variables and remission of clinical signs of paired samples the t test or Wilcoxon test was performed. The comparison of averages/medians was performed by either the t test or Mann-Whitney test. The level of significance used was 5% (P < 0.05). All clinical parameters that indicated remission of the disease were statistically significantly different in the GAHT dogs, which lead to early hospital discharge. The GAHT animals exhibited more effective recovery signs, evidenced by the reduction of recovery time in half. The hospital discharge record shows that one dog was discharged after 33 h and another two dogs, after 46 h. Discussion: During the hospitalization, complete remission of clinical signs initially cited was observed, but this was not homogeneous, as can be seen in GCO, in which three animals needed to be treated for a longer period. Two of them presented endotoxemia and one died 72 h and 70 h after starting the treatment. The comparison shows that animals of GAHT recovered more effectively, evidenced by the recovery time half as long as that needed for the dogs of the GCO. Thus, the autohemotherapy proved to be clinically effective, and resulted in premature recovery of patients suffering from parvovirus. Furthermore, no side effects or systemic organic impairment was observed in this treatment, revealing benefits as an alternative therapy and adjunct to treatment of this disease.