Evaluation of maternal antibodies against parvovirus in puppies with vaccinated and unvaccinated bitches in Mazandaran Province, Iran

ABSTRACT Canine parvovirus 2 (CPV-2) is a contagious high-risk virus in dogs, which emerged as an important pathogen in 1978. There are limited investigations that explore maternally derived antibody (MDA) in canine parvovirus in puppies around the world. Furthermore, there is no such research in any province of Iran. This study measured the serum level of MDA against parvovirus in 42 puppies (21 puppies with vaccinated bitches and 21 puppies with unvaccinated bitches) and the serum level of canine parvovirus antibodies of their bitches (n=28) (21 vaccinated and 7 unvaccinated bitches). Antibodies against parvovirus were measured using quantitative, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Our results showed that 62% (13 out of 21) of puppies from vaccinated bitches and 76% (16 out of 21) of puppies from unvaccinated bitches were positive for anti-parvovirus antibodies, which wasn’t significantly different (P=0.253). Moreover, puppies’ titers weren’t statistically different in vaccinated and unvaccinated groups (P=0.476). There was a similar condition between vaccinated and non-vaccinated bitches (P=0.583). There was no relationship between breed and sexuality with vaccination status (Ps>0.05).