Background: There are approximately 1.6 million dogs in Bangladesh and almost 83% of these dogs live on the street and accordingly 17.0% dog population are kept as pet mostly in the metropolitan cities with major population in Dhaka, Chottogram and Sylhet in Bangladesh. Some promiscuous research findings on Canine parvovirus enteritis (PVE) and Canine influenza virus (CIV) have been reported in inland literature.
Objective: To determine the prevalence and associated risk factors of canine parvovirus and canine influenza virus infections in dogs supported with brief review for future direction of research and prevention
Materials and Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted on total of 173 pet dogs for the prevalence of CIV and 70 dogs for CPV infections of different breed, age and gender by collecting nasal swab samples for CIV and rectal swabs for CPV infection. Each of the collected nasal swabs was tested by RapiGen Canine influenza Ag test kit and rectal swab samples with RapiGen Canine parvovirus Ag test kit (RapiGen INC., South Korea, 2012). Chi-square test was used detect the significance of risk factors of the infections in dogs.
Results: All the 173 nasal swabs of pet dogs collected from different thanas of the Dhaka district showed negative with RapiGen CIV Ag test kit test. Out of four published reports on the prevalence of CIV infection in dogs, of which two reports showed 10.71 to 13.33% prevalence rate of CIV whereas two reports (including this one) showed negative result with the same test. An overall 7.14% prevalence of CPV infection in pet dogs was recorded in this study. The prevalence of CPV in relation to breed was found 22.22% in German shepherd and 2.86% in Labrador whereas local, Bull mastiff and Samoyed breeds found negative for CPV infection. The higher prevalence of CPV infection was recorded in puppies up to six months of age (14.81%) than in growing dogs aged between >6 to 12 months (7.14%) whereas adult (>1 to 2 years) and older (> 2 years) dogs found negative to this infection. Comparatively higher prevalence of CPV infection was detected in male (8.33%) than in female (5.88%) dogs. No CPV infection was recorded in vaccinated dogs, whereas 19.23% unvaccinated dogs affected with this infection. All the rectal swab samples of apparently healthy dogs (no sign of diarrhea) showed negative to CPV infection, whereas 25.0% dogs with diarrhea sign found positive to CPV infection. Review of inland literature reveals that out of nine articles published on CPV infection of which RapiGen CPV Ag test kit has been used in four, PCR in one and clinical method of diagnosis in four articles, whereas only RapiGen CIV Ag test kit has been used for the diagnosis of CIV infection.
Conclusion: The prevalence of CPE associated with diarrhea in 7.14% pet dogs has been recognized in this investigation with supports of earlier reports whereas the prevalence of CIV in pet dogs varied widely from negative to 13.33% prevalence in dogs. Age and vaccination of dogs have been recognized as primary risk factors which should be considered in planning a control program whereas others factors like breeds, season, geographical areas can be considered as secondary risk factors varied widely in different reports and countries. Comparative evaluation of different diagnostic tests to find out the ‘gold standard’ and vaccination against CPI in puppies may be suggested to control this disease in dogs.
Keywords: Prevalence, Risk factors, CIV, CPV, Dogs, Breeds, Dhaka district, RapiGen Ag test kit, Brief review
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