Canine enteric coronavirus PCR (CCoV) in dogs
Canine enteric coronavirus (CCoV) infects the gut of dogs, especially young puppies. Most infections are mild or cause no signs at all, but together with parvovirus the illness can be much more severe. PCR looks for the virus’s genetic material in faeces. It is not the virus that causes COVID-19 and not the cat coronavirus.
What it shows
The test looks for the RNA of the canine enteric coronavirus in a stool sample. RT-PCR tests are considered the most useful tests in a living dog: they are highly sensitive. The test is often part of a diarrhoea panel that checks several agents at once.
Three different coronaviruses are easy to confuse:
- Canine enteric coronavirus (CCoV) — the subject of this test; it infects the intestine and causes diarrhoea.
- Canine respiratory coronavirus — a genetically distinct virus from another group that infects the airways and is one of the agents of kennel cough. It is tested with nose or throat swabs, often on a respiratory panel.
- Feline coronavirus — the cat virus linked with FIP, see feline coronavirus.
Veterinary coronavirus tests do not detect SARS-CoV-2, and canine enteric coronavirus does not affect people.
Higher than reference — what it may be a sign of
- “Detected” — the virus is present in the gut. Many infections cause no signs, so in a dog with diarrhoea a positive result fits, but other causes are still considered.
- Detected together with parvovirus — coinfection is linked with more severe, sometimes bloody diarrhoea. In a small study of puppies with diarrhoea, all three puppies with both viruses were severely ill.
- Severe illness without parvovirus — uncommon, but more aggressive strains of canine coronavirus have been described, including “pantropic” strains that spread beyond the gut.
The vet weighs the result together with the signs, the dog’s age and other tests and decides on the next steps.
Lower than reference
“Not detected” means the virus was not found in this sample. The genetic material of this virus varies a lot, so new variants can occasionally be missed by the test. A negative result does not explain the diarrhoea by itself; other causes, such as parvovirus or parasites, may be checked.
Look at together with
- Parvovirus — the most important partner test in a puppy with diarrhoea.
- White blood cells and lymphocytes — in the small study of puppies, a low lymphocyte count was the only finding clearly linked with coronavirus infection; a very low white cell count is more typical of parvovirus.
- Other causes of diarrhoea — for example Giardia.
Units and conversion
The result is qualitative and has no unit. It is reported as “detected” or “not detected” (sometimes “positive” / “negative”). In the app this result is stored as text, as printed on the form.
Reference range
The reference range is on your lab’s form; for PCR it is “not detected”. Because many infected dogs have no signs, the result is read together with the dog’s age, signs and the other results of the panel.
Cats and dogs
This test is for dogs. Canine and feline enteric coronaviruses are closely related and are thought to share a common ancestor. In routine testing a cat is not checked for the canine virus — it is tested for feline coronavirus (see the feline coronavirus article).
The disease mostly affects young dogs, most often under 12 weeks. The typical sign is sudden diarrhoea, often with tiredness and poor appetite; the stool may be loose, foul-smelling and sometimes contain mucus or blood. The illness is usually short-lived. Severity depends on age, maternal antibodies and other infections. Diarrhoea lasting more than 24 hours, or with marked tiredness or loss of appetite, is a reason to see a vet.
Add a lab form — Pet Tracker Space recognises the lines, keeps the form’s units and draws each indicator over time with your lab’s reference band.
Sources
- VCA Animal Hospitals — Canine coronavirus disease
- IDEXX — Coronavirus diagnostic update
- Cornell AHDC — Coronavirus PCR guidelines
- Coronavirus infections in companion animals: virology, epidemiology, clinical and pathologic features (review)
- Canine enteric coronaviruses: emerging viral pathogens with distinct recombinant spike proteins (review)
- Clinical, hematological, and biochemical findings in puppies with coronavirus and parvovirus enteritis (clinical study, 50 puppies)
This page explains what a lab value means. It is not a diagnosis and not a substitute for your veterinarian — only they can interpret results for your pet.