/pahr"voh vuy'reuhs/ , n. , pl. parvoviruses .
1. Vet. Pathol. 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, esp. the virus that causes the disease parvovirus in dogs or distemper in cats.
[ 1960-65; parv ( us ) small + -O- + VIRUS ]