Parvovirus as a cause of enteritis and myocarditis in puppies

A gastro-enteritis syndrome mimicking feline panleukopaenia was diagnosed in young dogs in the Republic of South Africa. Parvovirus was demonstrated by electron microscopy in the faeces of these animals. In addition an acutely fatal, acute to sub-acute non-purulent interstitial myocarditis occurred in pups in the same area. Histopathologically large basophilic intranuclear inclusion bodies were seen in the myocardium of these cases. The two syndromes generally occurred separately, but in two cases were found in the same individuals. The literature on the subject is briefly reviewed and the clinical and pathological findings in these outbreaks are reported.