Parvovirus infection in translocated raccoons

Abstract

Severe enteritis attributed to parvovirus infection was diagnosed in raccoons (Procyon lotor) purchased from a commercial animal dealer for interstate translocation. Intestinal lesions included edema, hyperemia, and focal mucosal necrosis. Microscopically, intestinal villi were reduced markedly, and there was necrosis of the glandular crypts. Intranuclear inclusions were seen in many crypt cells. A parvovirus that was infective for Crandell feline kidney cells and primary canine kidney cells was isolated from the spleen of a sick raccoon. The raccoon virus was distinguished from feline panleukopenia virus by the former's ability to hemagglutinate swine erythrocytes at a pH of 7.2. Serum neutralization testing of infected raccoons indicated that the raccoon isolate differed from feline panleukopenia virus and may have been canine parvovirus.