Disease Study by

Week 1 : Disease of Choice

kristonhamilton — 2023-10-20 01:43:02 UTC

Parvo -Canine parvovirus type 2

Week 2 : Point Of Origin

kristonhamilton — 2023-10-20 12:57:05 UTC

The Parvo virus emerged in 1976 in Europe. It quickly spread worldwide by 1978.
Canine parvovirus type 2 is very similar to feline panleukopenia and it is believed that it is the result of several mutations from the feline virus.
Parvo is a highly contagious enteric virus, meaning it usually manifests in the intestinal tract causing severe gastroenteritis. The virus is easily spread with nose to nose contact or contact with contaminated surface or feces.

Week 3 : Disease Spread

kristonhamilton — 2023-10-27 02:11:56 UTC

In 1978 the parvo virus emerged in Europe, Asia, Australia and America. It was at this point that the virus quickly split into two strains known as canine parvo virus 2a and canine parvo virus 2b. Within two to three years the parvo virus had spread world wide. Even more recently in 2000 the canine parvovirus type 2c emerged in Italy. This third strain does not seem to have spread as far as quickly, but can be found in the Americas, Asia, other European countries and Africa. It is unclear the exact amount of infections but is it suspected that thousands of dogs dogs as well as infecting millions world wide. A map of the areas canine parvovirus type 2c has been found can be seen at the below link:

https://cdnintech.com/media/chapter/52760/1512345123/media/F2.png

Week 4 : Virulence

kristonhamilton — 2023-11-06 02:46:39 UTC

Parvo virus is considered "highly virulent" , and often referred to as the most dangerous and continuous canine disease. Virulence is measured by how harmful a virus actually is.

The virus has been highly virulent since the very beginning. Furthermore, it has 5 variants most of which have proved to be virulent as well. As discussed in the previous week, one strain has been slower spreading.

Week 5: Medical Advances

kristonhamilton — 2023-11-09 03:03:04 UTC

Parvovirus was extremally virulent and was considered an epidemic in its first year of emergence. Luckily by 1979 a vaccine had been created. It was not without trial however, initially there were a few vaccine trials. They started with a vaccine for what they thought was a closely related parvovirus in cats and then moved on to trial a vaccine specifically made for dogs but unfortunately it had unreliable results. Just two years later in 1981 a more reliable vaccine had been distributed. The vaccine has become a 'core vaccine'' or one that is considered standard protocol to protect the population.

Treating the virus is pretty generic but typically requires in patient car, antibiotics, subcutaneous fluids, and sometimes blood transfusions.

Recently, in May 2023 there was a major announcement for the future treatment of parvovirus. The new treatment is the Canine Parvovirus Monoclonal Antibody. Considered to be a therapeutic treatment in hopes to reduce the number of inpatient treatments and improve survival rates and target the virus. The treatment is said to actually treat the clinical signs of the virus such as vomiting, diarrhea etc., which intern helps the body recover faster. The treatment is still in it's infancy but good results have been linked to the treatment so far.

Week 6: Leadership Response

kristonhamilton — 2023-11-21 02:31:09 UTC

The American Animal Hospital Association, established in 1933, and the American Veterinary Medicine Association, established in 1863 have both adopted the concept that the canine parvovirus vaccine is considered a core vaccine. A core vaccine is a vaccine considered to be necessary for all dogs unless a medical condition prevents the safe administration of the vaccine.

Vaccination is currently the most crucial form of disease combatant. This is considered a form of prevention instead of treatment. It is said that within the first 48-72 hours after disease symptoms occur is when the most deaths occur. The disease itself is highly virulent causing high death rates, with better survival rates at early detection.

Canine parvovirus still to this day remains one of the most destructive viruses amounts the canine population with a mortality rate around 91% in puppies contracting the disease. One things that could help the fight this disease would be to provide free parvo vaccinations. Being that prevention is still the best tool to fighting the disease offering a free vaccination encourages those who otherwise would not pursue the vaccination due to financial reasons.

Week 7: Social Effect

kristonhamilton — 2023-11-21 02:59:18 UTC

We actually see a larger case load reported in areas with higher education and wealth were as in area of the world with lower education an wealth we see fewer reported cases. This is mostly in part to just that, education of the disease as well as the finances available to diagnose and treat the illness. As a society today, we generally understand what parvovirus is and that it is devastating if untreated. We currently take protocols to vaccinate our pets. We also see that there have been protocols set up for how and when we introduce puppies into the world after said vaccinations. There are even protocols for introducing mature adult dogs and even people from outside the household to the puppies within the household. Boarding and training facilities largely require vaccination records and pets must possess their "core vaccines'. As time goes on we tend to see these protocols become everyday life and extend to even more activities in the pet world.

Today, the virus is still a very deadly disease amongst the canine population. We have both learned and ignored the information obtained from observing the virus. There are bigger obstacles at play here as well. Geographic, societal, and demographic roles contribute the current view of the disease.

Final Reflection

kristonhamilton — 2023-11-24 17:34:48 UTC

The most reveling aspect of learning about this disease is how easy it is to prevent but still we have high numbers of cases all over the world. This surprised me mostly because you would think that efforts would be wider spread to further impose guidelines and mandates for reduction of the spread. This brings me to a whole section of information that was not discussed in depth in our assignment but would have been a great topic to cover. The geographic, societal, and demographic issues that ultimately effect the spread and control of the disease across the world and the larger issues that control or have shaped the current status of the disease.