Estimation of cardiac troponin I level in canine parvovirus infected dogs

Canine parvovirus (CPV) primarily targets gastrointestinal tract, bone marrow and myocardial tissues, with myocarditis mainly seen in foetus and very young puppies. Cardiac troponin I (cTnI) serves as a sensitive biomarker of cardiomyocyte injury. The present study assessed cTnI as a marker of myocardial injury in 36 CPV infected dogs under one year of age. Serum cTnI measured on day of presentation was within the normal range in 86.1 percent of CPVinfected dogs (30 ngL; mean 36.5 1.74 ngL), indicating myocardial involvement. These findings suggest that puppies suffering from myocardial injury due to CPV infection was generally low but when myocardial involvement occurred it would be severe in nature.