Canine distemper is an infectious disease caused by the Canine Distemper Virus (CDV), an obligate intracellular parasite belonging to the Paramyxoviridae family and the Morbillivirus genus. CDV can affect a wide range of species, both terrestrial and marine, encompassing the following families: Canidae, Mustelidae, Hyaenidae, Ursidae, Viverridae, Cercopithecidae, Procyonidae, Felidae and Tayassuidae (Lunardi et al., 2018). In Brazil, there are six examples of wild canids that act as hosts for this virus: the venison dog (Speothos venaticus), the maned wolf (Chrysocyon brachyurus), Atelocynus microtis, Cerdocyon thous, Pseudalopex gymnocercus and Pseudalopex vetulus (Cubas et al. , 2017). This highlights the importance of publicizing and debating the issue in question, given that the disease affects Brazilian canids and puts their preservation and conservation at risk.
CDV is transmitted through contact with contaminated secretions, usually via aerosols. Therefore, the upper respiratory tract is the main entry point for the virus and also the first system to be affected, together with the macrophages and regional lymph nodes. Canine distemper is considered a systemic disease, with a short period of dissemination through the body, taking around two to five days to reach the other lymphoid tissues, subsequently affecting the gastrointestinal tract, central nervous system and integumentary system (Souza et al., 2013).
Susceptibility to distemper can vary according to the species and age of the individual, however, in general, young animals up to six months old are usually the most affected and have a higher mortality rate. It is suggested that the exposure of wild canids to the virus is associated with the close presence of domestic dogs in areas inhabited by wild species (Jorge and Jorge, 2014 apud Zillmann, 2023). Parallel to this reality, it was observed that, for example, at the Federal University of Mato Grosso (UFMT) Zoo, all wild canids were seropositive for the virus in species such as the bush dog (C. thous), maned wolf (C. brachyurus), vinegar dog (S. venaticus) and field fox (P. vetulus) (Taques et al, 2018 apud Zillmann, 2023).
The prognosis for distemper is considered guarded, so the most effective way to combat the disease is through vaccination (Jorge and Jorge, 2014 apud Zillmann, 2023). Currently, the vaccination protocol for individuals from the Canidae family has been carried out in captivity. It is also important to mention that the use of dead virus vaccines is preferable, as there have been reports of specimens falling ill after using live virus vaccines. The recommended protocol to be followed is very similar to that used in domestic dogs. It should be carried out in puppies born in captivity from 45 days of age, with three sequenced doses and in adults with no previous history of vaccination, two sequenced doses are administered, with a time interval of 21 to 30 days between doses (Zillmann, 2023).
In wild canids, the signs seen during the disease are equivalent to those seen in domestic dogs, such as depression, anorexia, fever, mucopurulent oculonasal discharge, convulsions, myoclonus and muscle rigidity (Almeida, 2018) and treatment varies according to the demands of each animal, i.e. it is a symptomatic and supportive treatment. Fluid therapy, supplements, antibiotics, analgesics, antipyretics and anticonvulsants are usually used in the therapeutic protocol, thus highlighting the importance of vaccination in maintaining the homeostasis and well-being of the affected species.It can therefore be concluded that canine distemper is a disease present in the lives of Brazilian wild canids that can significantly affect animal welfare. It is therefore essential for professionals in the field to have knowledge of its epidemiology, so that prophylactic and/or therapeutic measures can be taken. In addition, it is important to mention the anthropogenic role as a driving force behind this problem, given that the distemper virus is transmitted through contact between domestic and wild canid species.
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