Canine distemper in dogs at Gannavaram: prevalence and impact

Abstract

The present study was conducted at the Veterinary Clinical Complex, NTR College of Veterinary Science, Gannavaram to highlight the occurrence of canine distemper in dogs.  A total of 3905 dogs of various breeds and age groups were screened for canine distemper based on clinical examination and case history. Of these, 72 dogs exhibiting neurological and other signs suggestive of canine distemper were subjected to PCR of which 44 cases were confirmed, resulting in an overall disease prevalence of 1.13%. Age-wise analysis indicated the highest occurrence (61.36%) in dogs aged 1 to 5 years, and males represented 59.09% of the cases among the affected dogs, majority were non-descript breeds 52.28%), and 93.18% of infected dogs were unvaccinated, These findings align with previous research, reaffirming the increased susceptibility of unvaccinated or incompletely vaccinated dogs to canine distemper. Additionally, the study noted breed- and age-related variations in disease prevalence, consistent with earlier reports. The results underscore the pivotal role of timely vaccination and booster administration in reducing canine distemper incidence. Regular vaccination is essential for maintaining protective immunity, particularly in dogs exposed to stressful environments, immunosuppressive factors, or direct contact with infected animals. These insights may help inform public health efforts and pet care strategies aimed at controlling the spread of canine distemper.