Serum Cardiac Troponin-I in dogs with CPV-2 infection

The objective of study was to determine the clinical significance of serum cTn-I level in dogs infected with Canine parvovirus-2 (CPV-2). The study material consisted of 4- to 10-week-old puppies of either sexes and 8 different breeds of twenty five dogs with CPV-2. Control group consisted of 4- to 10-week-old puppies of either sexes and 7 different breeds of twenty five dogs. Although treatment, 12 of the dogs with serum cTn-I level > 0.8 ng/mL died within 24 hours of admission. Remaining 13 dogs, had the serum cTn-I level <0.156 ng/mL (cut-off). Of 13 dogs, 4 died within 24-72 hours of admission and 9 were recovered. In terms of cTn-I concentration, whether below 0.156 ng/mL or above 0.8 ng/mL there was a statistically significant difference between survivor and non-survivor animals (p<0.001). Construction of Kaplan-Meier, survival curves revealed dogs with a cTn-I concentration > 0.8 ng/mL had survival time of 1 day, whereas dogs with a cTn-I concentration <0.156 ng/mL had a median survival time of 2.5 days (p<0,001). No statistically significant difference was determined between the mean ages of two groups (dogs with cTn-I concentration <0.156 and > 0.8 ng/mL) (p>0.05). At necropsy, the histopathological examination of the heart revealed the presence of pathological myocarditis findings in 12 of the non-survivor dogs (cTn-I > 0.8 ng/mL), whilst in the other non-survivor 4 dogs (cTn-I<0.156), no pathological alteration was observed in the myocardium. The present study demonstrated that serum cTn-I concentrations > 0.8 ng/mL were indicators of poor prognosis and increased serum cTn-I concentrations were consistent with short survival times in dogs with CPV-2.