Determination and phylogenetic analysis of canine distemper virus in dogs with nervous symptoms in turkey

ÖZKUL A., Sancak A., Gungor E., Burgu I.

ACTA VETERINARIA HUNGARICA, vol.52, no.1, pp.125-132, 2004 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 52 Issue: 1
  • Publication Date: 2004
  • Doi Number: 10.1556/avet.52.2004.1.12
  • Journal Name: ACTA VETERINARIA HUNGARICA
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus
  • Page Numbers: pp.125-132
  • Keywords: canine distemper, nervous symptoms, RT-PCR, dot-ELISA, SYSTEM, BLOOD, RNA
  • Ankara University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

In the present study, canine distemper virus (CDV) was investigated in 20 dogs having nervous signs arousing the clinical suspicion of canine distemper (CD). A total of 13 animals (65%) were stray dogs and had no accurate record about the vaccination history. Clinical examinations revealed that the majority (85%) of the animals showed systemic form characterised by predominantly nervous symptoms accompanied by mild respiratory system signs whilst the remaining cases (15%) recorded mainly respiratory distress. CDV RNA was detected by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) only in 45% of the suspected cases. Phylogenetic analysis of partial nucleotide sequence of the P gene coding region revealed that the virus is closely related to European strains. Immune responses in 13 cases (65%), which were detected by dot-ELISA, indicated inefficient levels for neutralising functions against CDV. It was postulated that this response could have been mediated by either previous vaccination or mild infection with field strains.