In newborn puppies it multiplied in heart muscle causing myocarditis leading to sudden death of heart failure or permanent scarring of the heart muscle. The virus is now endemic in all wild and domestic canid populations. The disease has changed considerably in recent years. Due to immunity transferred by most bitches to pups, infection of newborn animals is rare. Parvoviral enteritis now affects mainly young animals from weaning to 1 year of age.
Most infections are mild or inapparent.
In some cases it still causes an acute enteritis which, with supportive therapy resolves in a few days. It can occasionally be fatal. When presented with a dog or cat showing signs consistent with parvovirus infection choose a strategy for confirming your diagnosis 3. Know the limitations of the test you select 4. Explain the virological basis for pathology and histopathology seen in a fatal case of parvovirus enteritis 5.