Canine Distemper

Canine distemper (CD) is a highly contagious disease, usually caused by canine distemper virus (CDV), but diseases caused by bacterial infections are also relatively common clinically. The disease is more common in puppies and is endemic worldwide. As the number of pet dogs continues to increase and the opportunities for contact become closer, the probability of pet dogs being infected with the virus also increases. Therefore, we must strengthen our understanding of CDV. In addition to raising awareness of CDV, BioVenic provides innovative solutions for diagnosis, treatment, and prevention.

Cause and Effect

The susceptible animal groups to CDV are mainly puppies, and animals such as jackals, pandas, raccoons, and minks are also susceptible to infection. When raising and managing fur animals such as foxes and minks, the virus can cause natural epidemic transmission, especially for CDV virus and susceptible mink animals, the mortality rate is extremely high.

CDV belongs to the genus Morbillivirus of the Paramyxoviridae family. It is pleomorphic, mostly round, with a diameter of 150 to 300 nm. The outer membrane is lined with rod-shaped fibers, but unlike other paramyxoviruses, the fibers only contain hemagglutinin (H) and no neuraminidase. The genome is a single molecule of negative-stranded single-stranded RNA. Based on differences in hemagglutinin genes, CDV virus strains can be divided into seven lineages. CDV targets lymphocytes, epithelial cells, and neurons causing a variety of clinical manifestations in affected dogs. The exact mechanisms of CDV pathogenesis are still under investigation.

Fig. 1 Schematic diagram of the structure of CDV.¹

Transmission of CDV

• The primary mode of transmission of CDV is through direct contact with respiratory secretions or excretions from infected animals.
• It can also be transmitted indirectly through shared items, such as bowls or toys contaminated with infectious material.
• Aerosol droplets or aerosolized respiratory droplets can also transmit the virus.

Which Dogs Are Prone to Health Risks?

CD can affect dogs of all ages, but puppies, especially those between three and six months old, are particularly vulnerable. Dogs that have not received appropriate vaccination or have an inadequate immune response are at higher risk. A dog may be more susceptible to the virus if he or she lives in an unclean or crowded environment, such as a shelter or breeding facility.

Signs and Symptoms

Infected dogs usually secrete watery secretions from their eyes and noses in the early stages, and due to further development, this will turn into purulent secretions 24 hours after infection. CDV-infected dogs will have a variety of symptoms, which are mainly divided into the following three categories.

Respiratory Symptoms

Gastrointestinal Symptoms

Nervous Symptoms

Diagnosis of CD

As a professional animal disease CRO, BioVenic combines many years of service experience to provide customers with veterinary infectious disease diagnostic development solutions specific to CDV. We develop a variety of diagnostic kits to detect the presence of CDV or its genetic material in blood, nasal swab samples, and nasal swab samples. Specific diagnostic development services are shown below.

• Veterinary Immunodiagnostics Development
  
  • ELISA
  • Lateral flow assays
  • Virus neutralization assays, etc.
• Veterinary Molecular Diagnostics Development
  
  • PCR and RT-PCR

Treatment and Prognosis

Unfortunately, there is no specific antiviral treatment for CD. A primary goal of supportive care is to manage symptoms, prevent bacterial infections, and ensure adequate nutrition and hydration. Treatment may include fluid therapy, antibiotics, anticonvulsants, and medications to alleviate respiratory distress and gastrointestinal issues.

Until recently, there has been pessimism about the treatment of infected animals, which is generally considered to have a poor prognosis.

Prevention and Control

Vaccination plays a vital role in preventing distemper. A modified live or inactivated CDV vaccine stimulates immune responses and reduces disease severity. BioVenic can develop targeted in-house seedlings for clients.

• Vaccinate puppies against CAV, followed by regular booster vaccines thereafter.
• Isolate the sick dog from other dogs until the sick dog is cured.
• Daily cleaning with disinfectant, detergent, and desiccant.

CD is a serious viral disease that poses a huge threat to dogs worldwide. By staying informed, taking biosecurity measures, and more, we can work together to minimize the impact of CD on the canine population. BioVenic is undoubtedly your best choice for preventing the disease. If you need our technical support, please contact us.

References

1. Rendon-Marin, Santiago, et al. "Tropism and molecular pathogenesis of canine distemper virus." Virology journal 16 (2019): 1-15.
2. Feng, Na, et al. "Fatal canine distemper virus infection of giant pandas in China." Scientific reports 6.1 (2016): 27518.