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Veterinary Medicine vocabulary · Animal Diseases

Parvovirus

Meaning in veterinary medicine, with examples

/ˈpɑːvəʊvaɪrəs/nounCore term

In veterinary medicine, parvovirus means: A tough, highly contagious virus that causes severe vomiting, bloody diarrhoea and dehydration, mainly in young unvaccinated dogs. A related parvovirus causes panleukopenia in cats.

In Turkish: parvovirüs, parvo

How it is used

Usually just called parvo in clinics: a parvo puppy, parvo-positive. Cases are kept in isolation, and because the virus survives for months in the environment, cleaning needs specific disinfectants. A quick in-clinic snap test detects it in faeces.

Example sentences

  1. The puppy tested positive for parvovirus and has gone into isolation.

  2. Parvovirus can survive for months on floors and shoes.

Common collocations

  • canine parvovirus
  • parvovirus infection
  • parvovirus test
  • parvo puppy
  • isolation ward
  • canineRelating to dogs. As a noun it also means a dog in formal writing, and in anatomy it is the long pointed tooth next to the incisors.
  • core vaccineA vaccine that every animal of a species should receive, wherever it lives, because it protects against widespread and serious diseases.
  • vomitingForcefully bringing up the contents of the stomach through the mouth. The technical word is emesis.
  • diarrhoeaLoose or liquid faeces passed more often than normal, a sign of a problem in the intestines. US spelling: diarrhea.
  • dehydrationA state in which the body has lost more water than it has taken in, often because of vomiting, diarrhoea, fever or not drinking.

More terms: Animal Diseases

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This page explains English vocabulary for learners. It is not medical advice.