parvovirus

American  

[pahr-voh-vahy-ruhs] / ˈpɑr voʊˌvaɪ rəs /

noun

parvoviruses plural

1. Veterinary Pathology. a highly contagious, often fatal viral disease of dogs, characterized by vomiting, severe diarrhea, and depression and accompanied by high fever and loss of appetite.

2. any of several small DNA-containing viruses belonging to the genus Parvovirus, of the family Parvoviridae, especially the virus that causes the disease parvovirus in dogs or distemper in cats.

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parvovirus British  

/ ˈpɑːvəʊˌvaɪrəs /

noun

1. any of a group of viruses characterized by their very small size, each of which is specific to a particular species, as for example canine parvovirus

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parvovirus Scientific  

/ pär′vō-vī′rəs /

1. Any of a group of small DNA viruses of the family Parvoviridae that cause disease in many vertebrates, especially a febrile infection in dogs resulting in vomiting, diarrhea, and sometimes death. In humans it commonly causes an acute contagious infection called fifth disease, marked by a facial rash.

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• parvoviruses
  plural

Etymology

Origin of parvovirus

1960–65; < Latin parv ( us ) small + -o- + virus

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

parvovirus

The provincial livestock office had earlier said preliminary tests showed the tigers had been infected with feline parvovirus.

From BBC ● Feb. 23, 2026

For a pregnant mother, parvovirus can be devastating.

From Slate ● Jan. 2, 2025

These included rabies for dogs and cats, canine parvovirus and canine distemper for dogs, and feline panleukopenia and feline Bordetella for cats.

From Science Daily ● Dec. 22, 2023

Precautions here are strict because of a recent canine parvovirus outbreak that sickened some of the puppies.

From Seattle Times ● Oct. 1, 2023

Ten more puppies were brought in the next day and their parvovirus had advanced to such a point “that there was no other choice than to humanely euthanize them,” Cohen said.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 12, 2023