Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Canine distemper outbreak in Wyoming pet store puppies
By Schumaker, Brant A et al.·Published in Journal of veterinary diagnostic investigation : official publication of the American Association of Veterinary Laboratory Diagnosticians, Inc·2012·Department of Veterinary Sciences, United States·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Canine distemper outbreak in pet store puppies linked to a high-volume dog breeder.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A group of puppies from two pet stores in Wyoming became sick with canine distemper, a serious viral infection, shortly after being sold. The outbreak affected 24 young dogs of various breeds over a period of about five weeks. Testing confirmed the presence of the virus, leading to a quarantine of the breeding facility and the euthanasia of 1,466 dogs to prevent further spread of the disease. This situation highlights the importance of proper vaccination and safety measures in large dog breeding operations to protect the health of puppies.
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Abstract
Canine distemper is uncommon in the pet trade in the United States, in large part due to effective vaccines against Canine distemper virus (CDV). This is a report of CDV affecting 24 young dogs of multiple breeds shortly after sale by 2 pet stores in Wyoming during August-October 2010. Cases were diagnosed over 37 days. Diagnosis was established by a combination of fluorescent antibody staining, reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction, negative stain electron microscopy, and necropsy with histopathology. Viral hemagglutinin gene sequences were analyzed from 2 affected dogs and were identical (GenBank accession no. JF283477). Sequences were distinct from those in a contemporaneous unrelated case of CDV in a Wyoming dog (JF283476) that had no contact with the pet store dogs. The breeding property from which the puppies originated was quarantined by the Kansas Animal Health Department. Puppies intended for sale were tested for CDV. Canine distemper was diagnosed on site in November 2010. At that point 1,466 dogs were euthanized to eliminate dispersal of the disease through commercial channels. The investigation underscores the risks inherent in large-scale dog breeding when vaccination and biosecurity practices are suboptimal.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23012378/