Molecular and Serological Detection of Canine Distemper Virus (CDV) in Rural Dogs, Iran

Background and Aims: Canine distemper (CD) is a deadly infectious disease of Canidae family. CD is a multi-systemic viral disease and is specified by wide range of clinical symptoms. The manifestations are not always indicative of CD, therefore a laboratory confirmation is necessary for suspected cases. Materials and Methods: Different clinical specimens of 19 CD suspected unvaccinated dogs were examined for canine distemper virus (CDV) infection by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), Nested-PCR, and serum neutralization (SN) test during 2008-2011. RT-nested PCR assay was adjusted for detection of CDV nucleoprotein (NP) in prepared samples. Results: In samples of 3 out of 19 (15%) dogs, CDV NP gene was confirmed by RT-PCR while RT-PCR and combination with Nested-PCR (RT-nested PCR) presence of CDV NP gene was detected in various samples of 14 (73%) dogs. So efficiency of RT-PCR along with Nested-PCR raised 58%. Among different kinds of obtained samples, conjunctival swabs and kidney tissue biopsies were found to be suitable for analysis of CDV RNA. Additionally CDV antibody was detected in 11 out of 18 serum samples (61%) by SN test, but detection of neutralizing antibodies didn't comply with RT-nested PCR results. Conclusion: Results of this study indicated that Nested-PCR is a sensitive and applicable method for the diagnosis of CDV.