Fecal samples from both diarrheic (n=25) and non-diarrheic (n=8) dogs of both sexes, with varying ages and breeds, were examined by electronic microscopy (EM) in order to determine candidate viral pathogens which would be associated with gastroenteritis, particularly the canine gastroenteritis complex, in an attempt to correlate viral etiology and clinical and vaccination history. In addition to EM, 71 stool samples were tested by ELISA to detect either rotavirus or adenovirus antigens. Viral particles could be visualized by EM in 25 (75.8%) of the 33 samples. Type-I virus-like structures and parvoviruses were frequently detected, accounting for 44% and 36% of the virus-positive preparations. Bloody diarrhea was noted in 90.9% of dogs that were excreting viral particles.
Dog; gastroenteritis; diarrhea
