Macrophages cells that ingest foreign carrying disease organisms like viruses and bacteria carry the inhaled virus to Lymph nodes where it reproduces and spreads to the lymphatic tissue and infects all lymphoid organs in about 5 days. CDV is passed on from dog to dog via contact with blood, urine, saliva, sneezing, coughing or even from sharing the same food and water bowls. Its transmitted through body secretions, excretions and respiratory secretions
Newborn pups when born have natural antibodies passed on from their mother but after a time where off and so they need to be vacinated to protect them against CDV. Vaccinations prevent vacines from working in about 75% of pups at the age of 6 weeks of age and 25% at 9 weeks of age at 12 weeks of age its just a few. Usualy vacinations start from when the pup is 6 weeks of age to 12 weeks upto 16 weeks with 3 to 4 week intervals to make sure the pup is covered. Although older dogs dont usualy show signs of CDV its best to get them revaccinated every year to make sure they are well protected as well.
It is said that the first vaccination was the one as they use for feline distemper. In 1940s the first vaccination available did not control the virus and later a modified life CDV vacine was developed and the cases of CDV in domestic dogs dropped.
Symptoms
Early symptoms include fever, loss of appetite,mild eye inflamation as the disease grows the symptoms get worse. With fever reaching103 f to 106 fpeaks between 3 to 5 days. Pups will also show nose and eye discharege, anorexia ans may suffer depression.
Other symptoms
GASTRO�NTEST�NAL and RESP�RATORY symptoms
Conjuntivitis, Diarrehea, pneumonia, vomiting, runny nose, fever.
SECONDARY BACTER�AL �NFECT�ONS
ATAX�A muscle coordination, Depression, Hyperesthia increased sensitivity tp touch and pain, paralysis, detoration of motor and mental skills.
Most dogs usually die from causes of secondary bacterial infection and will develop Encephalomyelitis a brain and spinal infection.
If pups are lucky to survive from CDV there are two minor conditions that may become chronic
1. hardening of the pads and nose
2. Unenamelled teeth erode qquickly in pups whose permanent teeth have not erupted, the virus kills the enamell making cells.
TEST�NG FOR CDV
although no real tests can detect CDV there are a few tests that can help, Cerebrospinal fluid tabs may indicate antibodies sitemper virus and increased proteins and x rays can show up any signs of pneumonia. Blood cell count and blood chemistry values are uninformative when distemper is present.
Humans vacinated against measles virus are also protected against CDV although humans can contract a subclinical type of CDV.