Retrospective longitudinal study on canine and feline parvovirus infections in Al Ain, United Arab Emirates

Background: There is a lack of epidemiological data on parvovirus infections in cats and dogs in the Al Ain, United Arab Emirates (UAE). Objective: To conduct retrospective longitudinal study on parvovirus infections in cats and dogs treated at the Claws and Paws Veterinary Clinic in Al Ain, UAE. Methods: Data on clinical examination and laboratory tests were extracted in March 2020 retrospectively from case records of cats and dogs treated at Paws & Claws Veterinary Clinic in Al Ain between February 2019 to March 2020. Results: Of the total 2247 cases of small animals treated at Claws and Paws clinic for different health problems between February 2019 and March 2020, 68 were parvovirus infection cases constituting 3% (95% confidence interval, CI: 2.3%, 3.8%) of the total small animal cases treated at the Clinic during the indicated time. Seventy-two percent of the parvovirus cases were feline parvovirus (FPV) cases (feline panleukopenia) while the remaining 28% of the cases were canine parvovirus (CPV) cases. The difference in the proportions of CPV and FPV was significant (chi(2) = 26.14; p<0.001). Overall, the number of cases was low during most months of the year; but increased in November and December 2019 reaching its peak in January 2020 after which it declined. Significant (Cochran's Q test=141.54; p<0.001) difference was observed in the proportions of animals exhibited different clinical signs. Conclusion: This study indicated the endemicity of CPV and FPV infections in Al Ain. Additionally, increase in number of cases was observed between November January, suggesting seasonality of the epidemics requiring for vaccination prior to the epidemic period.