Canine distemper is an acute and highly infectious disease of carnivorous animals characterized by diphasic fever, ocular, nasal catarrh and frequent cutaneous eruptions.
This infection is often manifested by bronchopneumonia, gastro enteritis and encephalitis. Canine distemper caused by Canine Distemper Virus (CDV) belongs to the genus Morbillivirus of the family Paramyxoviridae. It is highly infectious viral disease that poses a threat to the canine population worldwide.
This type of infectious disease is a widespread problem in Nepal.
The canine distemper is usually seen in stray dogs and is more common in certain regions such as Africa, Asia, and South America. The disease has been recorded in Europe since eighteenth century. In the earlier days, Bordetella bronchiseptica and other bacteria were regarded as the causative agents. The disease is enzootic in almost all the countries of the world. In Nepal, a fair percentage of canine population used to die annually due to this disease.
Despite its high prevalence in many countries, information about the disease and its treatment is still limited. This lack of understanding makes the spread of canine distemper difficult to manage and control.
How does the disease spread?
The canine distemper virus (CDV) is commonly seen in the street dogs and free-roaming dogs, as they are more likely to have weakened immune system due to factors such as poor diet and exposure to environmental toxins.
In nature, the transmission of the virus takes place by inhalation (droplet or aerosol). This is an air-borne disease. The virus is discharged through secretions and excretions. The healthy nearby animals pick up the infection through the droplets of the infected one. The disease may indirectly be transmitted through ingestion of contaminated food and water.
Signs and symptoms in affected dogs
Common signs include diphasic fever, sneezing and coughing, thick mucus coming from the eyes and nose, lethargy and loss of appetite, sudden vomiting and diarrhea, depression, hard pad.
Treatment
There is no antiviral drugs against distemper. The treatment is mostly symptomatic. Initially, on diagnosing a case, injection of modified live virus vaccine as per the direction of the manufacturer may be tried. But, this treatment is not always helpful.
Anti-canine distemper serum may be tried to safeguard the life of the patient. Symptomatic treatments are to be rendered. To check respiratory complication broad spectrum antibiotic may be tried. To control neurological derangement sedatives and anticonvulsants should be given. For restoration of vitality water soluble B-vitamins, protein hydrolysate and vitamine-C are to be given.
All care should be made to make the animal free from ectoparasitic and endoparasitic burdens by rendering specific acaricide or anthelmintic drugs.
Prevention and control
The management of canine distemper in dogs in Nepal is challenging. Puppies must be vaccinated from 6 to 8 weeks old. As street dogs remain as reservoirs of CDV, isolation and treatment of the infected dog is one of the ways to curb the disease spread. Keep your puppy or adult dog away from street dogs. Also, routine cleaning and disinfecting your home (or kennel) will ensure that the virus is not in your dog’s living environment. The government should bring a plan to control free-roaming dogs and launch vaccination campaigns to control the incidence of CDV.
There are many NGOs working for the animal welfare of dogs such as Sneha Care, Animal Nepal and Kat Center you can call them for dog routine vaccination. They are doing annually vaccination campaign as well.
