The purpose of this study is to demonstrate the value of hepcidin detected in healthy dogs and also to investigate the values of some inflammatory mediators and hepcidin released during the treatment in dogs with parvoviral gastroenteritis. In this study, 20 puppies with parvoviral gastroenteritis, and 15 healthy puppies were used. Dogs in study group were classified as septic after serological confirmation of infection and showing two of sepsis criteria. Serum levels of tumor necrosis factor, interleukin -6, interleukin- 1, serum amyloid A, C reactive protein, haptoglobin, hepcidin and iron were determined in both groups. At the 3rd, 7th, and 14th days of the treatment, blood samples were taken again, and compared with the day 0. Died dogs were examined with cytokines, acute phase proteins and hepcidin by immunohistochemical methods in liver and intestine samples. Hepcidin, TNF, IL-1, IL-6, SAA, Hp and CRP levels were increased significantly compared with in control animals, while their levels were decreased significantly during treatment. For the first time, hepcidin levels in healthy dogs and dogs with sepsis were determined and hepcidin levels were monitored during treatment. It was concluded that hepcidin can be used as prognostic indicator of sepsis.

Key words: Dog, Hepcidin, cytokines, Parvoviral gastroenteritis