Paraoxonase activity assessment as a potential biomarker of parvovirus infection in dogs

Parvovirus enteritis is one of the most common causes of acute diarrhea and death in dogs younger than 6 months of age. Paraoxonase/arylesterase 1 acts as an antioxidant enzyme and acute phase protein in dogs. The aim of the present study was to evaluate any changes in paraoxonase activity in dogs suffering from parvovirus infection compared with normal dogs. For this purpose, blood samples were taken from 27 infected dogs (test group) and 9 normal dogs (control group) that were presented to the Hospital of Veterinary School of Shahid Bahonar University of Kerman, Iran. Samples were sent to the laboratory for complete cell blood count and also biochemical factors assessment (paraoxonase/arylesterase 1 activity, liver, kidney and metabolic profiles). Infected dogs significantly showed an increase number of segmented and band neutrophils and lymphopenia compared with normal dogs. Moreover, albumin, total protein level and paraoxonase/arylesterase 1 enzyme activity were lower in infected dogs rather than healthy ones; however, alanine aminotransferase enzyme was higher. Significant decrease in paraoxonase/arylesterase 1 enzyme activity was also seen in dogs with neutropenia or leukocytosis when compared to control group. It seems that paraoxonase/arylesterase 1 enzyme activity could have been used as a diagnostic biomarker beside the cell blood count in parvovirus infected dogs.