Recombinant human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor for treatment of puppies with neutropenia secondary to canine parvovirus infection.

Objective: To determine the effect of treatment with recombinant human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (rhG-CSF) for puppies with neutropenia secondary to canine parvovirus infection.

Design: Randomized controlled clinical trial.

Animals: 23 puppies.

Procedure: Diagnosis was confirmed by use of an ELISA for detection of canine parvovirus antigen in feces, and all puppies received standard treatment for parvoviral enteritis. All puppies had neutropenia (< 1,000 neutrophils/microliter) at the time of admission to the hospital or within 4 days afterward. Eleven puppies were treated with rhG-CSF daily until neutrophil count was > 1,500 cells/microliter; the remaining 12 puppies were not treated with rhG-CSF.

Results: We did not detect any significant differences between groups regarding duration of hospitalization, neutrophil count when neutropenia was first detected, lowest neutrophil count, or time until neutrophil count was > 1,500 cells/microliter.

Clinical Implications: Results suggest that treatment with rhG-CSF may not be beneficial in puppies with neutropenia secondary to canine parvovirus infection.