CANINE PARVOVIRUS VACCINE ELICITS PROTECTION FROM THE INFLAMMATORY AND CLINICAL CONSEQUENCES OF THE DISEASE

Inflammatory changes following infection are central to the clinical m anifestation of disease. However, information regarding such changes i n animal disease is limited. In canine parvovirus infected puppies we measured the levels of acute phase proteins and changes in leukocyte p henotypes and cell trafficking by flow cytometry. These parameters cor related with conventional assessment of clinical disease in a vaccine efficacy study. Seropositive (CPV-2) 6-week-old puppies given three do ses of a CPV-2 containing vaccine developed significant antibody titer s and remained healthy after experimental infection with CPV-2b. Unvac cinated controls developed clinical signs and shed virus. Importantly, acute phase proteins became elevated, and lymphopenia, neutropenia an d modulation of neutrophil-CD4 were detected in controls but not in va ccinates. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd.