Distemper virus

Canine distemper virus (CDV) is a single-stranded RNA virus belonging taxonomically to the Paramyxoviridae, a genus of measles virus (Morbillivirus). CDV is one of the oldest and most clinically significant viruses that infects dogs. The natural hosts of infection are canids and skunks, and transmission is mainly via air and droplet levels. Infected dogs are an important source of infection and contaminate the surrounding environment through long-term urinary detoxification; dogs of all ages, sexes and breeds can be infected, with sick dogs being the most important source of infection and contaminating the surrounding environment through long-term urinary detoxification. The prognosis for CDV infection is extremely poor once the characteristic symptoms appear. The diagnosis must be confirmed on the basis of virus isolation and identification; vaccination is available for prophylaxis and the ELISA method is often used in the laboratory to determine antibody titres in the serum to assess the protective nature of vaccine immunisation.