Abstract: Background. Canine-parvovirus (CPV) is a highly contagious disease of dogs that causes acute gastrointestinal illness. Treatment is supportive and symptomatic. Fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) is method where stool of a healthy donor is transplanted into the intestinal tract of a diseased recipient with promising results.
Objectives. To examine FMT as an adjunct to treatment of CPV. The potential causes of variability in outcome of this procedure were evaluated.
Animals. Dogs with confirmed CPV were recruited (n=50). Blood for CBC, and stool, for genetic characterisation, were collected.
Methods. Cases were assigned to a conventional treatment group (CT) (n=25) and another that received FMT+CT (n=25). Outcome, days to symptom-resolution, and days to complete recovery was recorded. Data were assessed for normality; parametric/non-parametric tests were applied accordingly. Rotated component matrix analysis was conducted to detect any cumulative effects of variables.
Results. Presence of two or more risk factors increased the susceptibility to infection (P < 0.05). Young age and and large breeds were over-represented. Three antigenic variants (CPV-2a, CPV-2b and CPV-2c) were isolated.
For the CT group, 13 (52%) cases died; 12 cases (48%) took on average 4 days to resolution of symptoms and 5 to achieve full recovery (5.33±1.97). For the FMT group, 3 cases died (12%); 22 cases (88%) took on average 2 days to symptom resolution and 3 to recover (2.86±0.64). The difference between groups was significant (P < 0.001).
Conclusions. FMT is an effective adjunct to treatment for CPV with significant reduction in time required for treatment. Hospitalisation of dogs isn’t required.
