Canine Distemper

Canine Distemper Virus (introduction)

1. Family Paramyxocciridae

   1. Small enveloped ssRNA

2. Genus Morbillivirus

   1. NOT zoonotic - closely related to Measles

   2. And closely related to Rinderpest (eradicated) and Peste-des-petitis-ruminants

3. “Hard pad disease”

   1. Due to keratin buildup on soft tissues

4. In most situations does not cause serious population impact

Morbillivirus originated in cattle

→ jumped into human as measles → jumped into dogs → CDV spreads among new species in North america and europe

Canine Distemper Virus hosts, epizootics

1. Tropism for Respiratory Tract, Skin, & Brain

2. Most commonly affects canids, mustelids (ferrets) & procyonids (raccoons)

   1. Been documented in many other species

   2. Can be transmitted to pets

3. Occurs in epizootics; May cause significant mortality

   1. Big outbreaks, especially in the three most common species

   2. ~ every 5-7 years

4. Most populations recover well after an outbreak

   1. The species usually repopulated quite quicky

5. Endangered species - where the real concern lies

What disease is Canine Distemper most confused with?

1. Rabies

2. Why?

   1. Neurological signs are very similar to dumb form of rabies

   2. Rabies is ZOONOTIC

Clinical signs

1. Most common in young animals (puppies)

   1. More contact with wild animals + lower immunity 

2. Depression, mucopurulent (booger) ocular and nasal discharge, cough, fever, anorexia, vomiting, diarrhea

3. CNS signs - abnormal behavior, convulsions, “Chewing gum” seizures

4. Hyperkeratosis of footpad (“Hard Pad”), eye lids, lips, anus

5. Often, secondary bacterial infection of skin

   1. Due to hard skin cracking

Transmission

1. Aerosol

2. Contact with oral, respiratory, ocular fluids/exudates

   1. CDV is fragile, close association needed

3. NOT ZOONOTIC

Diagnosis

1. Clinical signs

2. Inclusion Bodies in smears or tissues (histology)

3. Serology

   1. Hard because extremely susceptible hosts die too quickly to produce antibodies

Treatment

1. Nothing specific for the virus

2. Domestic animals: supportive care, antibiotics for secondary bacterial infection

Prevention

1. Vaccines for domestic dogs

2. Wildlife: sentinel - encourage domestic vaccination

3. Endangered species - may consider vaccination

   1. Esp. pre-release

4. Wildlife department may put out warnings

African Species

1. 1994 outbreak in Serengeti killed:

   1. 1,000 African Lions (⅓ of the population)

   2. Hundred of leopards, hyenas, canids

Black-footed ferrets

1. Major problem again (just like plague)

2. Facts

   1. Endangered in 1960s - declared extinct in 1980!

   2. “Flagship Species” - indicator species of how an ecosystem as a whole is doing

   3. Nocturnal and Fossorial (burrow)

   4. 90% of diet = prairie dogs (which get killed by plague, yersinia pestis)

Induced ovulators

REMEMBER SHEP HOGG

He brought the black footed ferret carcass into taxonomy

Terms

Preconditioning: activating animal instinct

Success of black-footed ferret program

1. Approximately 300 in wild and same number in captivity today

2. Reintroduced at 29 sites in 8 states, canada, & mexico

3. Remaining concerns

   1. CDV and Plague

   2. Habitat loss

Review

1. Why so many captive breeding facilities (six)?

   1. Concerned about disease transmission

2. Why so many release sites

   1. Concerned about disease transmission