Canine distemper is a contagious, febrile disease of canids and other carnivores caused by Canine Distemper Virus. Canine distemper virus is a morbillivirus, within the Paramyxoviridae family, that is closely related to the measles virus, rinderpest virus and the phocine and dolphin distemper viruses.
+
Canine distemper is a contagious, febrile disease of canids and other carnivores caused by Canine Distemper Virus. Canine distemper virus is a member of the paramyxoviridae family and the morbillivirus genus, and as such is closely related to the measles, rinderpest and phocine and dolphin distemper viruses.
+
* Viruses of Paramyxoviridae are enveloped - many are pleomorphic - and have a helical nucleocapsid (see Fig. 18.1).
+
* Genomes are single-stranded, negative-sense, non-segmented RNA.
+
* The envelope is covered with spikes whose glycoproteins are responsible for hemagglutinin, neuraminidase, and hemolytic activities.
+
* Replication takes place in the cytoplasm and envelopment at the surface (plasma membrane) of infected cells.
+
* The ssRNA (-) is used as a template for the production of mRNA (+) and progeny genomes.
+
* The viruses are generally sensitive to heat, drying, lipid solvents and many disinfectants.
+
* Most can be propagated in embryonated eggs and in cell cultures with the production of cytopathic effects including syncytia and cytoplasmic inclusions.
+
*[[Nasal Cavity Inflammatory - Pathology#Infectious causes of rhinitis|Rhinitis]]
*[[Nasal Cavity Inflammatory - Pathology#Infectious causes of rhinitis|Rhinitis]]