Molecular Detection of Canine Distemper Virus in Dogs by Polymerase Chain Reaction

Author: Manickam R. and Lurthu Reetha T.

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Abstract

Canine distemper (CD) is a highly infectious and lethal disease that poses a significant threat to dogs and various other animal species. The disease, caused by the canine distemper virus (CDV), affects multiple body systems and can lead to severe complications. Its broad host range, including primates, cetaceans, and carnivores, underscores the virus's ability to cross species barriers and its potential impact on wildlife populations. The multi-systemic nature of CD manifests in a wide array of clinical signs, ranging from respiratory and gastrointestinal issues to neurological disturbances, making diagnosis challenging and treatment complex. A study conducted at the Veterinary Clinical Complex, Veterinary College and Research Institute in Orathanadu, Tamil Nadu, India, aimed to detect CDV in clinically suspected dogs using molecular techniques. The research focused on identifying the CDV nucleoprotein gene (N) in nasal swabs collected from 22 dogs exhibiting various clinical signs associated with distemper. These signs included respiratory symptoms, nasal discharge, excessive salivation, bronchitis, conjunctivitis, gastroenteritis, catarrhal pneumonia, and neurological abnormalities. Employing reverse transcription-PCR (RT-PCR) with primers targeting the N gene, the study successfully detected CDV in 6 out of 22 samples (27.27%). This finding not only confirms the presence of CDV in the studied population but also highlights the importance of molecular diagnostic techniques in accurately identifying the virus, potentially leading to improved disease management and control strategies

Keywords

Canine distemper virus, RT-PCR, N gene, RNA

Conclusion

The diagnosis of distemper often necessitates laboratory examinations to validate disease in the absence of usual symptoms and clinical signs that are close to those of other illnesses. In the current research, CDV was detected by the N gene-based RT-PCR in 27.27% of the tested samples, indicating that the virus was circulating in the study region and because that, only animal with CDV clinical signs were taken a sample from it, which cannot be considered a reliable predictor of CDV prevalence. The presence of CDV in the samples may also be confirmed by DNA sequencing of the CDV's N gene. Gene sequencing is mandatory to identify any nutation in the circulating virus and give the way for the development of specific vaccine for CDV

References

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How to cite this article

Manickam R. and Lurthu Reetha T. (2024). Molecular Detection of Canine Distemper Virus in Dogs by Polymerase Chain Reaction. Biological Forum – An International Journal, 16(8): 361-365