Canine Distemper Virus Origin: Understanding the Source

The Canine Distemper Virus (CDV) is not highly resistant to environmental factors; it is sensitive to high temperatures, dryness, ultraviolet light, and organic solvents. It can be easily killed by sunlight, medical alcohol, ether, formaldehyde, and sesame oil. The virus can survive for several weeks at temperatures between 2 to 4 degrees Celsius and for a few days at room temperature. It can be inactivated within an hour at temperatures of 50 to 60 degrees Celsius. It can also be destroyed in acidic environments with a pH below 4.5 or alkaline environments with a pH above 9.0. However, lower temperatures can preserve it for several months, and freezedrying can store it for years.

Section 1: Sources of Canine Distemper Virus Infection

The primary sources of CDV infection are infected dogs and carriers. The virus is found in the liver, spleen, brain, kidneys, and lymph nodes, and it is excreted through tears, nasal secretions, saliva, urine, and airborne droplets. This leads to contamination of the surrounding air, water sources, food, and tools, acting as vectors for the disease. Even dogs that have recovered from the clinical stages of the disease can continue to shed the virus for an extended period, often going unnoticed as a source of infection. The main routes of transmission are the upper respiratory tract, followed by the digestive tract. The virus can infect the conjunctiva, oral, nasal, vaginal, and rectal mucosa through respiratory droplets. This virus is highly contagious, and in the same environment, it is nearly impossible to avoid transmission among individuals, regardless of the isolation measures taken. Therefore, when introducing new dogs to a kennel, strict防疫 protocols and isolation periods must be enforced.

Section 2: Symptoms of Canine Distemper

Initial symptoms of CDV infection present as upper respiratory infection, with an increase in body temperature, loss of appetite, fatigue, and watery discharge from the eyes and nose, which turns into mucopurulent within 1 to 2 days. At this stage, a blood test may reveal a decrease in white blood cells and a decline in swallowing ability. There is then a 2 to 3day period of apparent recovery, with normal body temperature and improved spirit and appetite. During this time, it is crucial to provide enhanced care and prevent secondary infections, as these can lead to complications such as pneumonia, encephalitis, nephritis, and cystitis.

Section 3: Treatment of Canine Distemper

After the onset of clinical symptoms, CDV can be treated with more canine distemper immune serum, which can help control the progression of the disease. Administering a higher dose of immune serum during the early stages of fever can boost the body's antibody levels sufficiently to prevent clinical symptoms and achieve therapeutic goals. However, for dogs with advanced symptoms and neurological signs, vaccination with CDV immune serum may be difficult to treat effectively.

Section 4: Prevention of Canine Distemper

Preventing CDV involves vaccination, which includes various vaccines such as chick embryo weakened vaccines, cell weakened vaccines, trivalent vaccines, and pentavalent vaccines. When administering vaccines to puppies, it is important to consider the impact of maternal antibodies, as the puppy's immune response is closely related to the maternal antibody levels. Most puppies' maternal antibodies decrease by 12 weeks of age and disappear by 15 weeks of age.

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