Study on the prevalence of Canine Distemper in diarrheic dogs in Ahvaz district

Canine distemper is a highly contagious viral disease that involves multi-systemic of dogs. This study was performed to determine the prevalence of Canine Distemper virus (CDV) in referred diarrheic dogs to Veterinary Hospital of Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz، in Khuzestan province، Iran. Fecal samples were collected from 78 diarrheic dogs between 2005 and 2007. The studied dogs were divided into two age groups (< 6 months and > 6 months)، four different breeds (Terriers، Germanshepherds، Doberman pinschers and hybrids) and based on clinical signs into two groups (hemorrhagic and non-hemorrhagic diarrhea). Prevalence to CDV antigens in these dogs was 8. 97% (7 of 78) using immunochromatography assay (IC) indicating that this virus is endemic in this area. The infection had more prevalence in dogs less than 6 months (9. 75%; 4 of 41) and in breeds of German shepherd (15. 8%; 3 of 19) and hybrids (10. 53%; 2 of 19)، but there were no significant differences between different age and breed groups. Nevertheless، infection was significantly higher in hemorrhagic diarrheic dogs (20. 7%; 6 of 29) (p<0. 05). CBC in most of dogs that affected to canine distemper virus infection was as lymphopenia and neutropenia (71. 43%; 5 of 7). Only one dog had vaccination history against distemper virus. This study showed that hemorrhagic diarrhea and lack of vaccination were as an important sign and risk factor for canine distemper infections in dogs.