Immunopathogenic and Neurological Mechanisms of Canine Distemper Virus

Canine distemper is a highly contagious viral disease caused by the canine distemper virus (CDV), which is a member of theMorbillivirusgenus, Paramyxoviridae family. Animals that most commonly suffer from this disease belong to the Canidae family; however, the spectrum of natural hosts for CDV also includes several other families of the order Carnivora. The infectious disease presents worldwide distribution and maintains a high incidence and high levels of lethality, despite the availability of effective vaccines, and no specific treatment. CDV infection in dogs is characterized by the presentation of systemic and/or neurological courses, and viral persistence in some organs, including the central nervous system (CNS) and lymphoid tissues. An elucidation of the pathogenic mechanisms involved in canine distemper disease will lead to a better understanding of the injuries and clinical manifestations caused by CDV. Ultimately, further insight about this disease will enable the improvement of diagnostic methods as well as therapeutic studies.

Download Full-text

Evaluation of infection with N protein-specific Immunoglobulin M and G in naturally occurring distemper in dogs

Veterinární Medicína ◽

10.17221/31/2019-vetmed ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 65 (No. 4) ◽

pp. 168-173

Author(s):

HS Saltik ◽

M Kale

Keyword(s):

Canine Distemper Virus ◽

Indirect Elisa ◽

Clinical Symptoms ◽

Clinical Manifestations ◽

Specific Treatment ◽

Immunoglobulin M ◽

High Morbidity ◽

Canine Distemper ◽

Cutaneous Lesions ◽

N Protein

In dogs, canine distemper has a worldwide distribution with high morbidity/mortality, despite the widespread usage of vaccines and has no specific treatment. In susceptible animals with the canine distemper virus, respiratory, gastrointestinal and nervous system disorders, immunosuppression and cutaneous lesions can also be seen. Especially puppies and unvaccinated dogs are prone to get the viral infection. IgM and IgG antibodies constitute the major component of the natural antibodies produced during the primary and secondary antibody response that have long been recognised to inhibit viral infections. In the present study, the presence of the viral N protein-specific IgM and IgG was investigated by indirect ELISA in naturally infected dogs. Moreover, the rate of outbreaks in naturally infected dogs was shown by the detection of new and re-infections. In the Western Mediterranean region, blood serum samples were collected from 50 unvaccinated dogs for the mentioned infection between 2015 and 2017. At 0–12 months, in the dogs with clinical symptoms, the indirect ELISA detected 4% acute, 54% early convalescent, 40% late convalescent and 2% no infections phases. The clinical manifestations were studied in four main groups follow as: respiratory, gastrointestinal, nervous and cutaneous symptoms. The evaluation showed that the canine distemper virus N protein-specific antibodies detection by the indirect ELISA is quick and safe in naturally infected dogs. In conclusion, the method is very useful for the pre-diagnosis of the disease when evaluated together with the clinical symptoms. It helps to distinguish acute and convalescent (early/late) phases. Distinguishing these phases of infection is important for monitoring the spread of the outbreaks and identifying the risk of severe forms of canine distemper.

Download Full-text

Molecular detection and phylogenetic relationship of wild-type strains of canine distemper virus in symptomatic dogs from Uberlândia, Minas Gerais

Arquivo Brasileiro de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia ◽

10.1590/1678-4162-7052 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 67 (6) ◽

pp. 1510-1518

Author(s):

S.A. Headley ◽

T.R. Santos ◽

L. Bodnar ◽

J.P.E. Saut ◽

A.P. Silva ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Canine Distemper Virus ◽

Phylogenetic Analyses ◽

Clinical Manifestations ◽

N Gene ◽

Clinical Samples ◽

Canine Distemper ◽

Wild Type ◽

Age Related ◽

Relationship Of ◽

Type Strains

This study investigated the occurrence of canine distemper virus (CDV) by evaluating the presence of viral RNA within urine samples of dogs from Uberlândia, MG, with clinical manifestations suggestive of infection by CDV by targeting the CDV N gene. Of the clinical samples collected ( n =33), CDV viruria was detected in 45.5%. Five dogs died spontaneously; all had characteristic CDV-associated histopathological alterations and demonstrated CDV viruria. Statistical analyses revealed that the age, gender, breed, or the organ system of the dog affected had no influence on the occurrence of canine distemper. Myoclonus and motor incoordination were the most significant neurological manifestations observed. A direct association was observed between keratoconjunctivitis and dogs with CDV viruria. These findings suggest that CDV viruria in symptomatic dogs might not be age related, and that symptomatic dogs can demonstrate clinical manifestations attributed to CDV without viruria identified by RT-PCR. Additionally, the results of the sequence identities analysed have suggested that all Brazilian wild-type strains of CDV currently identified are closely related and probably originated from the same lineage of CDV. Nevertheless, phylogenetic analyses suggest that there are different clusters of wild-type strains of CDV circulating within urban canine populations in Brazil.

Download Full-text

The nervous form of canine distemper

Veterinária e Zootecnia ◽

10.35172/rvz.2006.v13.258 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 13 (2) ◽

pp. 125-136

Author(s):

Alice Fernandes Alfieri ◽

Alexandre Mendes Amude ◽

Amauri Alcindo Alfier

Keyword(s):

Central Nervous System ◽

Nervous System ◽

Canine Distemper Virus ◽

Demyelinating Disease ◽

Clinical Course ◽

Systemic Infection ◽

Canine Distemper ◽

Systemic Involvement ◽

Clinical Syndromes ◽

The Central Nervous System

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.

Download Full-text

A New Molecular Detection System for Canine Distemper Virus Based on a Double-Check Strategy

Viruses ◽

10.3390/v13081632 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (8) ◽

pp. 1632

Author(s):

Sabrina Halecker ◽

Sabine Bock ◽

Martin Beer ◽

Bernd Hoffmann

Keyword(s):

Canine Distemper Virus ◽

Parallel Implementation ◽

Detection System ◽

Quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction ◽

Diagnostic Methods ◽

Molecular Diagnostic ◽

Wild Animals ◽

Canine Distemper ◽

One Step ◽

Diagnostic Sensitivity And Specificity

Due to changing distemper issues worldwide and to inadequate results of an inter-laboratory study in Germany, it seems sensible to adapt and optimize the diagnostic methods for the detection of the canine distemper virus (CDV) to the new genetic diversity of virus strains. The goal of the project was the development, establishment and validation of two independent one-step reverse transcriptase quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) methods for the safe detection of CDV in domestic and wild animals. For this purpose, an existing CDV-RT-qPCR was decisively adapted and, in addition, a completely new system was developed. Both CDV-RT-qPCR systems are characterized by a very high, comparable analytical and diagnostic sensitivity and specificity and can be mutually combined with inhibition or extraction controls. The reduction in the master mix used allows for the parallel implementation of both CDV-RT-qPCR systems without significant cost increases. For validation of the new CDV-RT-qPCR duplex assays, a panel comprising 378 samples derived from Germany, several European countries and one African country were tested. A sensitivity of 98.9% and a specificity of 100% were computed for the new assays, thus being a reliable molecular diagnostic tool for the detection of CDV in domestic and wild animals.

Download Full-text

Natural Canine Distemper Virus Infection in Linnaeus’s 2-Toed Sloths (Choloepus didactylus)

Veterinary Pathology ◽

10.1177/0300985819900017 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 57 (2) ◽

pp. 311-315 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Allison M. Watson ◽

Andrew C. Cushing ◽

Julie D. Sheldon ◽

Eman Anis ◽

Rebecca P. Wilkes ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Virus Infection ◽

Canine Distemper Virus ◽

Clinical Signs ◽

Hepatic Necrosis ◽

Nasal Discharge ◽

The Novel ◽

Canine Distemper ◽

The Central Nervous System ◽

Lymphoid Depletion ◽

Viral Sequencing

An outbreak of canine distemper virus in a private zoo in eastern Tennessee in July 2016 led to fatal clinical disease in 5 adult, wild-caught Linnaeus’s 2-toed sloths ( Choloepus didactylus). Clinical signs included hyporexia, lethargy, mucopurulent nasal discharge, and oral and facial ulcers. At necropsy, affected animals had crusts and ulcers on the lips, nose, tongue, and oral cavity. Microscopically, all sloths had widespread, random, hepatic necrosis; lymphoid depletion; and bronchointerstitial pneumonia. The central nervous system did not contain gross or histopathologic lesions in any of the 5 sloths, although immunoreactivity for viral antigen was present within vessel walls. Epithelial cells and histiocytes within numerous organs contained intranuclear and intracytoplasmic inclusions and occasional syncytial cells. Canine distemper virus was confirmed with immunohistochemistry and virus isolation. Viral sequencing identified the novel American-4 strain prevalent in eastern Tennessee wildlife. This is the first pathologic characterization of canine distemper virus infection in sloths (family Choloepodidae, order Pilosa) and emphasizes the significant morbidity and mortality in this species.

Download Full-text

Infection of canine mononuclear leucocytes by measles virus: possible mechanism of protection from canine distemper

Canadian Journal of Microbiology ◽

10.1139/m81-176 ◽

1981 ◽

Vol 27 (10) ◽

pp. 1128-1131 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

C. K. Ho ◽

L. A. Babiuk

Keyword(s):

Peripheral Blood ◽

Measles Virus ◽

Canine Distemper Virus ◽

Lymphoid Tissues ◽

Canine Distemper ◽

Mononuclear Leucocytes

Measles virus was shown to be infectious to canine lymphocytes from peripheral blood as well as from different lymphoid tissues, and the same held true for canine macrophage cultures prepared from peripheral blood. The susceptibility of these leucocytes to measles virus was comparable with that of canine distemper virus. These observations supported the suggestion that interference with canine distemper virus by measles virus could be a possible mechanism of the heterotypic immunity observed in dogs.

Download Full-text

A novel and highly divergent Canine Distemper Virus lineage causing distemper in ferrets in Australia

10.1101/2021.11.03.467217 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Ankita M George ◽

Michelle Wille ◽

Jianning Wang ◽

Keith Anderson ◽

Shari Cohen ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Canine Distemper Virus ◽

Severe Disease ◽

Viral Disease ◽

Full Genome ◽

Canine Distemper ◽

Full Genome Sequencing ◽

Moderate Disease ◽

H Gene ◽

Distinct Lineage ◽

Maximum Protection

Canine distemper virus (CDV) is a highly contagious systemic viral disease of dogs, that regularly spills-over into other animal species. Despite widespread vaccination, CDV remains endemic in many parts of the world. In this study we report an outbreak of distemper in ferrets in two independent research facilities in Australia. We found that disease severity varied, although most animals had mild to moderate disease signs. Histopathology results of animals with severe disease presented the typical profile of distemper pathology with multi-system virus replication. Through the development of a discriminatory PCR paired with full genome sequencing we revealed that the outbreak at both facilities was caused by a single, novel lineage of CDV. This lineage was highly divergent across the H gene, F signal peptide and full genome and had less than 93% similarity across the H gene to other described lineages, including the vaccine strain. Molecular analysis indicates that this strain belongs to a distinct lineage that diverged from other clades approximately 140 to 400 years ago, and appears to be unique to Australia. Given the differences in key viral proteins of this novel CDV strain, a review of the efficacy of the CDV vaccines currently in use in Australia is warranted to ensure maximum protection of dogs and other vulnerable species. In addition, enhanced surveillance to determine the prevalence of CDV in ferrets, dogs and other at-risk species in Australia would be useful to better understand the diversity of CDV in Australia.

Download Full-text

Diagnosis of Maedi-Visna in Dairy Sheep

10.32545/encyclopedia202004.0002.v2 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Aphrodite I. Kalogianni

Keyword(s):

Horizontal Transmission ◽

Viral Disease ◽

Research Field ◽

Diagnostic Methods ◽

Dairy Sheep ◽

Diagnostic Assays ◽

Control Programs ◽

Effective Strategies ◽

Worldwide Distribution ◽

Evidential Basis

Maedi-visna in sheep is a chronic viral disease with worldwide distribution causing significant monetary losses in the sheep sector. Lack of effective treatment or vaccines, knowledge gaps regarding the epizootiology of the disease (e.g. significance of vertical and horizontal transmission) and the scarcity of protocols for the early and efficient diagnosis of maedi-visna infections are the major obstacles in the implementation of universally accepted control programs. The diagnostic methods currently used are based on the detection of either antibodies or the viral genome. In general, accuracy, sensitivity and specificity of the available serological and molecular assays vary and therefore, modifications on the diagnostic protocols on an evidential basis are necessary. Therefore, the combination of diagnostic assays and the development of effective strategies for mass implementation thereof are critical targets to achieve and constitute major challenges in maedi-visna research field.

Download Full-text