Canine distemper

• Acute, highly infectious, viral disease of carnivorous animal.
• Characterized by diphasic fever and frequent cutaneous eruption.

a) Etiology:

• Paramyxo virus ( Morbilli virus of Paramyxoviridae family)
• Have immunosuppressive effect on host.
• Disease occurs in all groups but young ones between 3-6 months are more susceptible.

b) Transmission:

• Inhalation
• Discharged through secretion and excretion
• Ingestion of contaminated feed
• Transplacental

c) Pathogenesis:

• Virus entry à replication in respiratory tract à cell associated viremia à infection of respiratory, GI and urogenital epithelium à vesicles formed in skin of abdomen and thigh

d) Symptoms:

• Occulonasal discharge
• Pharyngitis and bronchitis
• Loss of appetite, vomiting, abdominal pain and diarrhea
• Conjunctivitis
• Restlessness and excitement
• Chewing movement
• Excessive salivation and convulsion
• Appearance of rash
• Hyperkeratosis in nose and foot pad
• Incubation period is 2-7 days but can vary
• Fever ( 105-107⁰F)

e) Diagnosis:

• History of immunization against canine distemper
• Clinical signs and symptoms
• Isolation of virus ( nasal swab or cerebrospinal fluid)
• Pathologic lesions
• ELISA test

f) Differential diagnosis:

• Jaundice
• Lead poisoning
• Organophosphate poisoning

g) Prevention and treatment

• Inject anti-distemper serum (1-5 ml) per kg body weight I/V.
• Broad spectrum antibiotics
• Vaccination