MYOCARDIAL INJURY IN DOGS WITH PARVOVIROSIS
Parvovirus, biomarkers, Doppler echocardiogram, electrocardiogram.
Canine parvovirus is a disease caused by a virus from the Parvoviridae family. It mainly affects young unvaccinated animals or those with an incomplete vaccination protocol. Infection occurs through contact with animals carrying the virus or contaminated fomites. The main clinical signs observed are apathy, anorexia, vomiting and diarrhea. When the virus is translocated into the bloodstream, it can reach cardiomyocytes, causing inflammation, degeneration and cardiomegaly. These changes can interfere with contractility and heart rhythm, being observed on Doppler echocardiogram and electrocardiogram respectively. However, electrocardiographic and Doppler echocardiographic findings may be manifested later or even not be identified, therefore, research into cardiac biomarkers is necessary to complete the diagnosis of myocardial injury caused by the virus.