Deadly Ohio Dog Virus Spreading to Michigan UPDATE Confirmed circovirus

[LauraKY]

Deadly Ohio Dog Virus Hits Michigan - LIFE WITH DOGS

Dog owners of the midwest, beware: there’s a deadly disease striking dogs, and it may be spreading to them by their owners. Flu-like symptoms may be present, and can be fatal within 12-24 hours of contracting it.

Cases of the virus similar to circovirus (typically associated with pigs) have been reported all across Ohio, and now six Michigan dogs have died from it. There is no name for the mysterious illness, because veterinarians and scientists aren’t exactly sure what it is yet.

“The laboratory confirmation is important because the virus is newly isolated, however we are not prepared at this time to confirm that canine circovirus is the cause of the dog illnesses,” said State Veterinarian Dr. Tony Forshey. “Because the symptoms being exhibited can also be linked to other known illnesses, additional analysis and information is needed to determine if this virus alone or in co-infection contributes to illness and death in dogs.”

Symptoms can include lethargy, abdominal pain, lack of appetite, and most notably, vomiting and bloody diarrhea. Dogs displaying these symptoms should be rushed to a vet, especially if someone they’ve been in close contact with is also under the weather. Dogs can be saved, but only if they are treated immediately.

“Usually within about 12 to 24 hours of it starting,” said Dr. Lindsay Ruland of the Emergency Veterinary Hospital in Ann Arbor.

It is unknown how the virus is transmitted, but it may be spreading through saliva and feces. No humans or other animals are believed to have died from the virus, but doctors are recommending that people wash their hands thoroughly with antibacterial soap and hot water before and after touching their pets and their pets’ food, bedding, toys, etc. For the time, none of these items should be shared between animals, especially if people around them have had flu-like symptoms, and contact between dogs should be limited, or avoided altogether if it is known that a dog (or its human) has been sick recently.

“Traditionally we don’t pass viruses to our pets. This year, I think that there is potential that we are passing it to our pets,” Dr. Ruland said

[bascher]

Michigan State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine and our pathology department, the Diagnostic Center for Population and Animal Health, have released a statement and information for anyone that is concerned about the canine circovirus. I hope this helps give some more information and insight!

Circovirus identification not linked to cause of disease in dogs
Canine Circovirus Testing Available at MSU Diagnostic Center for Population and Animal Health
In spite of the recent and tragic deaths of dogs in Michigan, initial research shows that nearly 70% of dogs showing clinical signs of illness and found positive for circovirus were also infected with other viruses or bacteria known to cause disease. Currently, circovirus by itself is not associated with a specific disease process and has been found in the feces of healthy dogs. However, coinfection with canine circovirus and other pathogens may have the potential to cause disease as has been demonstrated in other species, for example pigs," says DCPAH acting director Thomas Mullaney.

There is no evidence to-date that canine circovirus can be transmitted to humans or cause human disease. Since many pathogens are transmitted from animals to humans (zoonotic diseases such as rabies, leptospirosis, salmonellosis) thorough hand-washing should be standard practice after handling animals, especially those showing signs of illness, or animal waste.

Matti Kiupel, section chief for DCPAH’s pathology laboratory adds, “In order to link circovirus to the cause of a disease process, a full diagnostic work-up (including a postmortem in the case of deceased animals) is essential. This also allows diagnosticians and pathologists to identify the full spectrum of infections and/or diseases that are present in a specific case.”

Recent publicity about circovirus in Michigan dogs is not cause for panic. Veterinarians should consider possible circovirus infection in animals showing clinical signs including vomiting, diarrhea (possibly hemorrhagic) only after other more common causes have been diagnostically excluded. Ascites, pleural effusion, hypovolemic shock, bicavitary hemorrhage, and disseminated intravascular coagulation may also be present, but as with gastrointestinal symptoms, more common causes should be excluded. According to the early research by Li et al, circovirus “should be considered in cases of unexplained vasculitis in dogs.” Please contact DCPAH at 517-353-1683 for more information on submitting samples for testing.

Based on recent cases in California and Ohio that may indicate the emergence of a new canine circovirus, the Diagnostic Center for Population and Animal Health (DCPAH) at the Michigan State University College of Veterinary Medicine has added two real time PCR assays for canine circovirus to its test catalog. Running two PCRs for this virus is important as the initial research on the virus indicates some genetic variation. The PCR assay can be run on fresh or formalin-fixed tissue. DCPAH has received requests for canine circovirus testing from Michigan clients and two positive results have been found. However, both animals also had simultaneous infections with other organisms; therefore identification of the circovirus was not necessarily linked to the cause of the disease shown by the animals. DCPAH is currently working on an in situ hybridization (ISH) technique which is a crucial next step. ISH is a method that uses DNA or RNA probes to detect virus in microscopic lesions.

Dog owners whose pets show signs of illness, including vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy, should contact their veterinarian and seek diagnosis and treatment.

The American Veterinary Medical Association website: has resources including Guidance regarding circovirus for veterinarians and FAQ regarding circovirus in dogs. MSU DCPAH provides information, including information regarding testing.

Contact:
Courtney Chapin
517-432-5832
chapinco@dcpah.msu.edu
Diagnostic Center for Population and Animal Health
Michigan State University College of Veterinary Medicine

[sdlbredfan]

It might not be a virus. It might be caused by toxic food, such as Beneful, IMO. I hope all of the Vets that are treating these dogs are getting extremely detailed reports of exactly what the dogs had been eating in the past week or so before onset of symptoms. That may be useful not only in treating the dogs, but for any possibly necessary report to regulatory bodies regarding the food.

[LauraKY]

There seems to be a correlation with a flu like illness with the dog’s owners/caretakers. The most important thing is to get your dog to the vet ASAP if they start exhibiting symptoms.

[Fairfax]

Alberta was hit as were most kennels (commercial) with the following: extreme high blood content in runny stool, dehydration, depression, vomiting and lethargy.

This started in June and reports came from the dog show circuits in California that they were experiencing the same

There was no distinct pattern. Three dogs from one person, who have been with me Mon-Fri 7 to 4 over the past 6 years had only one develope symptoms.

The older dog with lower immunity (I am assuming due to his age) was not impacted.

I gave electrolytes orally and Pepto Bismol 4 times daily, and it took ten days to get a solid stool that was also not infused with blood.

I did not see any relation to food…and over 1/2 of my clients dogs experienced the bloody stool. When I caught it quickly, they responded with no dehydration.

I tried Imodium and it did NOT work and that may have been because it can cause stomach cramps.

The kennels and blankets were washed with bleach many times per day…and after 6 weeks I did not have any occurance.

I also fed canned pumpkin (non spice) which is a natural binder for dogs stool and is very comforting to their stomach and intestinal tracts.

A shepard cross, who was hit the hardest, responded almost immediately to pumpkin and honey given in small doses as it kept her energy level up in addition to the pepto.

The vets did examine the first dog I took to them and this was the recommendation.

As for feeding…some of the dogs were on raw food diets, some on high level processed foods and others on the cheapest brand one could purchase.

[LauraKY]

Fairfax, I’m not sure if this is the same thing. This seems to be deadly without intensive vet intervention within 12 to 24 hours.

[vacation1]

God, that’s scary. Guess I’m getting the flu shot on time this year. Can you imagine the guilt of losing a pet to a virus you’d passed on?

[CrowneDragon]

Errr, that doesn’t sound good. Thanks for the heads up!

[LauraKY]

Confirmed circovirus in two dog deaths in Michigan.

http://www.examiner.com/article/michigan-dog-deaths-linked-to-circovirus-says-michigan-state-vet-hospital

So far six dogs have died from the yet unnamed disease [in Michigan], although symptoms have been similar to circovirus; a virus previously seen only in pigs. Death can occur within 12 to 24 hours of symptoms which include vomiting, abdominal pain, bloody diarrhea, and lethargy.

[LauraKY]

Now here’s another question for you scientists out there. Is it possible that humans are contracting the circovirus (possibly with no visible symptoms) from eating pork or due to contamination of vaccines?

http://www.virology.ws/2013/03/19/circovirus-in-shanghai/

[wendy]

but several of the dogs that died tested negative for circovirus?

[LauraKY]

[QUOTE=wendy;7200970]
but several of the dogs that died tested negative for circovirus?[/QUOTE]

So it seems. It could be a combination of viruses or a new emerging virus. It appears that no one yet knows.

[Canaqua]

Ugh. It sounded like the CDC knew what was going on for a while…saying the dog’s illness was cause by circovirus in concert with some other immune stressor, as it doesn’t usually make dogs that sick. But, now there are sick dogs with negative circovirus tests?

A deadly to piglets diarrheal illness (PEDV) entered the US earlier this year, starting in Iowa and Ohio, but that is a coronavirus that, supposedly, only sickens pigs, but I wonder something is mutating. The dogs who were sick and had positive procine circovirus tests could be red herrings…the positive circovirus showing only that they’d been exposed to pigs?

It’s just all so weird.

My son lives outside of Ann Arbor, with his dog, and there have been a number of cases there…I’ve been pestering him to keep his dog away from other dogs (and their poop) and know which 24 hour vet he can get to, since he doesn’t have a car.

[wendy]

of the four dogs that originally died in Ohio, only one tested positive for circovirus.

If I’m reading the CDC report of the San Diego dog deaths correctly, only 4 out of the 21 dead dogs tested positive for circovirus.

doesn’t sound like an open and closed case.

[SquishTheBunny]

One of the biggest issues with tracking diseased dogs vs. non diseases is that symptoms are so similar to that of a simple HGE.

If this virus is coming out in more dogs than the average population (how often were we testing for this virus before?) than I would have some concern that this virus does have some serious significance. With the caveat of course, that HGE happens for MANY reasons and is a normal find at your emergency hospital.

But yes, any signs of anorexia, repeat vomiting or bloody diarrhea should warrant a vet visit.