Canine distemper is a systemic infection, frequently lethal in dogs. The canine distemper virus(CDV) causes a persistent infection within the central nervous system resulting in aprogressive, multifocal demyelinating disease. In dogs, CDV infection may lead togastrointestinal and/or respiratory signs, frequently with central nervous system involvement.Myoclonus has been a common and characteristic sign observed in dogs with distemperencephalomyelitis. However, the nervous form of distemper may occur in the absence ofmyoclonus and systemic involvement. This review will point the clinical course and theneurological signs of nervous distemper, as well the clinical syndromes of CDV infection,neuropathology of acute and chronic demyelination, and diagnostic aids of CDVencephalomyelitis.
The nervous form of canine distemper
