Canine distemper: epidemiological findings of 250 cases

Abstract

A review of the number of dogs submitted for necropsy at the Department of Veterinary Pathology of the Federal University of Santa Maria, RS, between 1985-1997 has shown that 11.7% (250/2136) had lesions and inclusion bodies characteristic of infection by canine distemper virus (CDV). Most of these cases occurred during the winter months in dogs that were less than 1.5 year old, which were submitted by residents from the city of Santa Maria. Canine distemper is considered endemic in this city. Significant differences in susceptibility were not observed between males and females. Mongrel dogs were super-represented, but dolichocephalic breeds were more affected than brachycephalic ones. Distemper encephalopathy with typical CDV inclusion bodies, especially in astrocytes, was the main lesion and occurred in 82% of these cases. Eosinophilic inclusion bodies characteristic of canine distemper were also observed in epithelial cells of the urinary bladder (15%), lung (6%), stomach (3%), kidney (1%), and tonsil (0.5%).