6 Things to Know Before Testing for Canine Distemper Virus
Introduction
- Canine distemper is a highly contagious virus that occurs globally affecting many terrestrial carnivores and is considered a significant cause of illness and death in dogs that are reservoir hosts of the disease.
- Caused by the RNA virus paramyxovirus, the main route of infection… all bodily fluids.
- Did you know? Canine distemper virus can cause significant immunosuppression that may predispose to other infections including viruses, bacteria, or respiratory tract infections, also referred to as infectious respiratory disease complex.
General clinical signs
Mild transient fever, oculonasal discharge, coughing, lethargy, reduced appetite, diarrhea, and vomiting. It may also include dermatological, ocular, and CNS issues.
Laboratory findings: -CBS
Severe leukopenia, anemia, thrombocytopenia, monocytosis, and
neutrophilia.
–Biochemistry: generally normal or related to concurrent diseases such as parvoviral enteritis.
Diagnostic challenge
early diagnosis is difficult due to the broad spectrum of signs that may be confounded with other respiratory and enteric diseases. Diagnosis should be based on history (vaccination and exposure) clinical signs (respiratory, gastrointestinal, neurological and dermatological), and laboratory confirmation.
Antigen test
Simplest screening diagnostic method available to detect the presence of CDV. Other Immunodiagnostic methods may be used to quantitate presence of the virus.
Serology
The presence of elevated levels of IgM antibodies is short lived. High IgM titers indicate recent exposure or recent vaccination to CDV. These levels begin to decline within approximately 2 weeks and IgG antibody levels start to rise. IgG remain elevated for months to years. High IgG titers may indicate previous vaccination or previous infection.
PCR
The sensitivity, specificity, and rapidity of molecular methods such as PCR when compared with conventional methods make molecular techniques preferable for CDV diagnosis. The optimum time for sample collection is during the febrile response: conjunctival, deep nasal swab and a deep pharyngeal, whole blood (EDTA), urine (in neurological cases), etc.
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