Canine Distemper Virus Infection in Shelter Dogs Presenting Clinical Signs: Prevalence and Risk Factors

Abstract

Canine distemper virus (CDV) infection is an important disease effecting dogs in worldwide. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of canine distemper virus (CDV) infection, which is a globally important disease, in dogs with clinical signs in an animal shelter in Erzurum and the risk factors associated with age and gender. 119 unvaccinated dogs of various ages living in the Erzurum animal shelter were included in this study (74 females and 45 males). Each animal's clinical symptoms were recorded, and then blood samples, nasal, ocular, and rectal swab samples were taken. The canine distemper virus (CDV) was then assessed using RT-PCR. The analysis of conjunctival, nasal, and rectal swabs as well as blood samples revealed that 18 out of 119 dogs (15.1%) tested positive for CDV. With 13 of the 74 female dogs and 5 of the 45 male dogs testing positive, the results indicated no significant correlation (p=0.434) between gender and CDV prevalence. Ten (19.6%) of the 51 dogs under a year-old and eight (11.8%) of the 68 dogs over a year-old tested positive for CDV (p=0.303). Clinically, CDV PCR results were statistically significant in 31% of dogs with a cough (p=0.014) and in 27.9% of dogs with ocular discharge (p=0.006). As a result, the total prevalence rate was 15.1% in dogs presenting one of the clinical signs of distemper in a crowded animal shelter. One of the leading risk factors may be related to the housing conditions in the animal shelter. Effective preventive measures should be implemented in the management of the transmission.

Keywords

• Distemper virus
• prevalence
• prevention
• risk factors

Supporting Institution

Atatürk University Scientific Research Projects Coordination Office

Project Number

TYL-2023-11830

Ethical Statement

This study was conducted in accordance with ethical principles and was approved by the Atatürk University Animal Experiments Local Ethics Committee under decision number 2022/33.

Klı̇nı̇k Belı̇rtı̇ler Gösteren Barınak Köpeklerı̇nde Canine Distemper Vı̇rüs Enfeksı̇yonu: Prevalans ve Risk Faktörleri

Abstract

Canine distemper virus (CDV) enfeksiyonu tüm dünyada köpekleri etkileyen önemli bir hastalıktır. Bu çalışmanın amacı, Erzurum hayvan barınağında klinik belirtileri olan köpeklerde küresel olarak önemli bir hastalık olan canine distemper virus (CDV) enfeksiyonunun prevalansını ve yaş ve cinsiyet ile ilişkili risk faktörlerini araştırmaktır. Erzurum hayvan barınağında yaşayan çeşitli yaşlarda 119 aşısız köpek bu çalışmaya dahil edildi (74 dişi ve 45 erkek). Her hayvanın klinik semptomları kaydedildi ve ardından kan örnekleri, burun, oküler ve rektal sürüntü örnekleri alındı. Canine distemper virus (CDV), RT-PCR kullanılarak değerlendirildi. Konjonktival, nazal ve rektal sürüntü örneklerinin yanı sıra kan örneklerinin analizi, 119 köpekten 18'inin (%15.1) CDV için pozitif olduğunu ortaya koymuştur. Test edilen 74 dişi köpekten 13'ü ve 45 erkek köpekten 5'i pozitif çıkarken, sonuçlar cinsiyet ile CDV prevalansı arasında anlamlı bir korelasyon (p=0.434) olmadığını göstermiştir. Bir yaşından küçük 51 köpeğin onunda (%19.6) ve bir yaşından büyük 68 köpeğin sekizinde (%11.8) CDV testi pozitif çıkmıştır (p=0.303). Klinik olarak, CDV PCR sonuçları öksürüğü olan köpeklerin %31'inde (p=0.014) ve göz akıntısı olan köpeklerin %27.9'unda (p=0.006) istatistiksel olarak anlamlı bulunmuştur. Sonuç olarak, kalabalık bir hayvan barınağında distemper klinik belirtilerinden birini gösteren köpeklerde toplam prevalans oranı %15.1'dir. Önde gelen risk faktörlerinden biri, hayvan barınağındaki barınma koşullarıyla ilişkili olabilir. Bulaşmanın yönetiminde etkili önleyici tedbirler uygulanmalıdır.

Keywords

• Distemper virüs
• Korunma
• Prevalans
• Risk faktörleri

Supporting Institution

Atatürk University Scientific Research Projects Coordination Office

Project Number

TYL-2023-11830

Ethical Statement

This study was conducted in accordance with ethical principles and was approved by the Atatürk University Animal Experiments Local Ethics Committee under decision number 2022/33.

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