Advice For Dealing With Canine Parvovirus 2c

You may have heard that there is a new Canine Parvovirus (CPV) variant in Australia. A study from Adelaide University has identified CPV-2c has been detected in Australia for the first time. This has generated a lot of interest from the press as well as concern from dog owners!

But what is CPV-2c and what does this mean for your dog? We’ve put together some helpful facts to educate pet owners on the causes, effects and how to protect your dog.

The Facts

• There are many strains of Canine Parvovirus. Including CPV-1, CPV-2 (now considered extinct in the wild), CPV-2a, CPV-2b and now CPV-2c. Each strain differs by 1-5 amino acids
• CPV-2c is new in Australia, however has been present on other continents. Including Europe, North America, South America, and parts of Asia. There is a significant body of research available to draw on

What are the signs of CPV-2c?

• The signs of CPV infection are the same in all of the infecting type. Making it impossible to differentiate between types based on clinical signs alone
• Common signs include vomiting, anorexia, lethargy, and haemorrhagic diarrhoea
• The more recent strains of CPV are associated with more rapid disease progression than the original CPV-2. However, there is not sufficient evidence to suggest that there are variations in severity between the more recent types
• From previously conducted overseas research on CPV-2c, there is nothing to suggest that the virus acts differently to previous strains

Testing your dog for CPV-2c

• Confirming if your dogs have CPV-2c requires the detection of the organism or genetic material in faeces from the dogs. Your vet can detect using a point-of-care kits
• Supporting information such as providing medical history (e.g. vaccination records) can also assist in the detection of CPV

How can you protect your dog?

• The best way to protect your dog against all strains of CPV is to vaccinate them!
• The current CPV vaccines in Australia use either the original CPV-2 or newer CPV-2b antigenic types. Studies showing both types providingcross-protectionn against all existing CPV antigenic variants (2a, 2b, and 2c)
• Vaccinations against CPV have historically been very effective and there is no data to suggest that CPV-2c will react differently

Based on the current understanding of the CPV-2c, which includes overseas experiences and published data, the presence of CPV-2c in Australia should have no significant impact on your dog. If you do have concerns, contact us for more information.