Lesions of spontaneous canine viral enteritis

Spontaneous enteric disease characterized by hemorrhagic diarrhea and high mortality occurred in puppies from commercial kennels in three midwestern states. Microscopic lesions resembling those of panleukopenia in cats were seen in the intestines. The predominant features were necrosis of crypt epithelium, collapse or dilation of crypt lumina and villous atrophy. Viral particles morphologically resembling parvovirus were found in the feces by direct electron microscopy. The canine virus reacted with antibody to feline panleukopenia virus by immunoelectron microscopy and fluorescent antibody technique. Fluorescent antibody was used to detect virus in the crypt epithelium of affected dogs. Feline kidney cells inoculated with fecal preparations had cytopathic effect and positive fluorescence by fluorescent antibody technique.