Fatal Canine Parvoviral Enteritis Associated with Neutrophilia Rather Than Classical Leukopenia in a Juvenile German Shepherd Puppy

Canine parvovirus enteritis (CPVE) remains a highly contagious and frequently fatal viral disease affecting young dogs globally. This case report describes the clinical progression and postmortem findings of CPVE in a 7-week-old male German Shepherd puppy presented to the D.I.K Osori Veterinary Teaching Hospital, Sokoto, Nigeria. The patient presented with a two-day history of anorexia, vomiting, and foul-smelling diarrhea after being housed with a dog that had recently recovered from CPVE. Clinical examination revealed 5% dehydration, tachycardia, and tachypnea. A rapid fecal antigen test confirmed CPVE. Hematological analysis revealed normocytic normochromic anemia with moderate neutrophilia, suggesting an acute inflammatory response associated with severe intestinal injury and highlighting an atypical neutrophilic hematological response in CPVE. Despite aggressive fluid resuscitation with Ringer's Lactate and dual antimicrobial intervention, the patient succumbed to the infection three days post-admission. Gross necropsy revealed severe, diffuse mucohemorrhagic enteritis with a characteristic "ground-glass" serosal appearance, mesenteric lymphadenomegaly, and diffuse pulmonary congestion and edema. Histopathological evaluation confirmed severe lymphoid depletion in the mesenteric lymph nodes and proteinaceous alveolar exudates in the lungs. The combined clinical and pathological findings were consistent with severe systemic circulatory and inflammatory disturbances preceding death, highlighting the importance of recognizing atypical hematological presentations in CPVE.