Canine distemper disease

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Sections available in full article Introduction, Presenting signs, Acute presentation, Geographic incidence, Age predisposition, Pathogenesis, Etiology, Predisposing factors, Pathophysiology, Timecourse (incubation, duration), Epidemiology (population dynamics), Diagnosis, Presenting problems, Client history, Clinical signs, Diagnostic investigation, Confirmation of diagnosis, Gross autopsy findings, Histopathology findings, Differential diagnosis, Treatment, Initial symptomatic treatment, Standard treatment, Monitoring, Prevention, Control, Prophylaxis, Group eradication, Sequelae, Prognosis, Expected response to treatment, Reasons for treatment failure, Sources, Publications, Vetstream contributor(s),
Contributors Dr Stephen Barr BVSc MVS PhD DipACVIM
Dr Bryn Tennant BVSc PhD CertVR MRCVS
Synonyms Paramyxo virus disease

Introduction

  • Cause : canine distemper virus (CDV) Canine morbillivirus.
  • Still a problem in unvaccinated dogs, eg in inner city areas.
  • Disease usually occurs in dogs less than 1 year of age.
  • Signs : infection may be mild or generalized and severe.
  • 50% of infections are subclinical/mild.
  • Treatment : symptomatic - control through use of live attenuated vaccines.
  • Prognosis : guarded, although animals may recover, disease often has residual effects.

Print off the owner factsheet Distemper disease Distemper disease to give to your client.

Diagnosis

Clinical signs



Generalized infection
  • Initial pyrexia.
  • Serous nasal discharge → mucopurulent with secondary bacterial infection, eg Bordetella Bordetella bronchiseptica.
  • Conjunctivitis Conjunctivitis /ocular discharge.
  • Uveitis, optic neuritis, retinal necrosis.
  • Hyperkeratosis of footpads/nares Skin: familial footpad hyperkeratosis.
  • Dehydration.
  • Ventral skin rash.
  • Tooth enamel hypoplasia Teeth: enamel lossTeeth: damage following distemper.



Encephalitis
  • Follows about 50% of generalized cases Neurological examination.
  • Myoclonus.
  • Hyperesthesia.
  • Inco-ordination.
  • Blindness.
  • Rigidity.

Gastroenteritis

  • Abdominal pain.
  • Gassy intestinal contents.

Respiratory

  • Increased lung noises.
  • Harsh breath sounds.
  • Dyspnea/tachypnea.
  • Rhinitis.

  • Sudden onset encephalitis ('old dog encephalitis') Old dog encephalitis.

Diagnosis

Differential diagnosis



Generalized, acute distemper
  • Canine infectious tracheobronchitis ('kennel cough') Acute tracheobronchitis.
  • Viral enteritis Parvovirus disease associated with CPV-2.
  • Bacterial enteritis.


Encephalitis
  • Other infectious diseases, eg rabies Rabies disease , pseudorabies Pseudo-rabies , protozoal infections.
  • Metabolic.
  • Toxic, eg ethylene glycol Ethylene glycol poisoning.
  • Idiopathic Epilepsy: idiopathic.

Sequelae

Prognosis



Overall
  • Mortality 20%.
Acute CDV
  • Guarded.
CDV encephalitis
  • Poor/grave.
  • Mortality 90%.
  • 50% of cases of acute CDV progress to encephalitis.
  • Encephalitis may develop weeks to years after apparent clinical recovery.

Expected response to treatment

  • Improvement in clinical signs.

Reasons for treatment failure

  • Encephalitis has high mortality rate.
  • Disease too severe at time of diagnosis.
  • Secondary bronchopneumonia may be fatal.

Sources

Publications

Refereed papers

  • Coyne M J (2000) Seroconversion of puppies to canine parvovirus and canine distemper virus - a comparison of two combination vaccines. JAAHA 36 (2), 137-142.
  • McCaw D, Thompson M et al(1998) Serum distemper virus and parvovirus antibody titres amongst dogs brought to a veterinary hospital for revaccination. JAVMA 213 , 72-75.
  • Greene C E (1994) Diagnosis, therapy and prevention of common infectious diseases in the dog. Vet Q 1 , 25-55.
  • Shell L G (1990) Canine distemper. Comp Cont Ed Prac Vet 12 , 173-179.
  • Thornburg L P (1988) A study of canine hepatobiliary diseases Part 6 - infectious hepatopathies. Comp Anim Pract 2 , 13-20.

Other sources of information

  • Swango L J (1995) Canine viral diseases. In: Textbook of Veterinary Internal Medicine.Eds: S J Ettinger & E C Feldman. 4th edn. Philadelphia: W B Saunders. p. 398.

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