Acute parvoviral enteritis in a closed beagle dog colony

An outbreak of acute canine parvoviral enteritis occurred over 2 months in a closed beagle dog research colony containing approximately 1840 dogs. Of the 183 puppies housed in the whelping kennel, the morbidity and mortality were 36% and 12%, respectively. Four cases occurred in the adult population with three deaths. The disease was characterized clinically by anorexia, diarrhea, rapid dehydration, and panleukopenia. It was more prevalent in weaned puppies than in nursing puppies or adult dogs.