Object of research: effect of parvovirus and coronavirus diseases on dogs’ organisms.
The purpose of the research: to study the special features of the epizootic situation with enteritis of different nosological profile and to conduct epizootological analysis of parvovirus and coronavirus enteritis, biological properties of their agents in dogs, features of blood morphological parameters, erythropoiesis and hematological integral indices, immunological parameters as well as pathomorphological features.
Methods of research: epizootological (epizootological analysis); clinical (to determine general clinical condition of animals); microbiological (qualitative and quantitative composition of microorganisms in the intestine content, to detect antibiotic sensitivity); pathoanatomical (to detect macroscopic changes); histological (assessment of the microscopic structure of animal organs at the cellular and tissue levels); virological (virus replication, study of infectious activity of the virus, biological test); histochemical (to detect acidic proteins, carbohydrates and glycoprotein); serological (to study of the level of antibodies in the blood serum); hematological (morphological, biochemical and immunological parameters of blood); molecular and genetic (to conduct polymerase chain reaction); statistical (to process digital data in order to determine the probability of changes in indicators).
Scientific novelty: The special features of the epizootic process of parvovirus and coronavirus enteritis in dogs have been specified.
Criteria for pathomorphological differential diagnosis in the context of spontaneous and experimental course of parvovirus and coronavirus enteritis in dogs have been developed from the standpoint of a comparative aspect. Determination of the level of class G (Ig G) immunoglobulin in puppies after weaning and up to one year for correction of the vaccination schedule has been experimentally substantiated.
The field strain of coronavirus Nick and the field strain of parvovirus Antei have been separated; and new data on their cultural properties has been obtained. Oligonucleotide primers have been constructed to detect and identify the genome of field parvovirus in dogs in a polymerase chain reaction.
A comprehensive study has been conducted to improve the diagnosis of parvovirus enteritis by separating Ig G to canine parvovirus through affinity chromatography with immobilized protein A Staphylococcus aureus.
Based on the analysis of leukopoiesis, the results of integrated indices have been calculated and proposed for further use to assess the degree of endogenous intoxication of dogs with enteritis of viral etiology. Features of morphological, biochemical parameters, as well as results of erythropoiesis and leukopoiesis under parvovirus and coronavirus infections have been determined.
Violation of immune homeostasis in the form of a decrease in subpopulations of immunocompetent cells has been found.
The Depository of the State Research and Control Institute of Biotechnology and Strains of Microorganisms issued a certificate of initial deposit of a strain of the microorganism – parvovirus strain Antei and coronavirus strain Nick.
The scientific novelty of the obtained results is confirmed by the patents of Ukraine for a useful model: “Method of culturing canine parvovirus” and “Method of culturing canine coronavirus”.
Proposals: The research results significantly enhance and deepen current knowledge about parvovirus and coronavirus enteritis as infectious diseases of dogs and can be used in the clinical practice of veterinarians for the diagnosis of enteritis of viral etiology.
Based on the results of scientific research, the doctoral candidate has published (co-authored) a monograph “Coronavirus Infection in Dogs” and a textbook “Parasitic and Infectious Diseases of Carnivores”. Methodological, as well as scientific and practical recommendations have been published, namely “Pathomorphological Diagnosis of Parvovirus and Coronavirus Enteritis in Dogs”, “Features of Culturing Viruses in Dogs of the Family Parvoviridae and Coronaviridae”, “Integrated Hematological Indices for Assessing the Degree of Endogenous Intoxication in Dogs”.
Implemented: The materials of the thesis are used in the educational process and research work at the faculties of veterinary medicine of higher educational institutions of Ukraine.
The results of the thesis are used in the scheme of laboratory diagnosis of enteritis of viral etiology: Center for Veterinary Diagnostics and Bald,veterinary laboratory (Kyiv); in the production process in veterinary clinics of such cities as Zhytomyr, Berdychiv, Vinnytsia, Kyiv, and also in breeding kennel of the cynological center of border troops of the Western Operational Command of Velyki Mosty, Sokal raion, Lviv oblast (military unit №. 2418).
