Changes

On post-mortem examination, the thymus is often found to be greatly reduced in size and gelatinous in young dogs. There is patchy consolidation of the lungs due to interstitial pneumonia, and signs of catarrhal enteritis may be present. Mucopurlent discharges are commonly seen from the eyed and nose and bronchopneumonis is sometimes present. Skin pustules and hyperkeratosis of the footpads and nose are seen occasionally.

On post-mortem examination, the thymus is often found to be greatly reduced in size and gelatinous in young dogs. There is patchy consolidation of the lungs due to interstitial pneumonia, and signs of catarrhal enteritis may be present. Mucopurlent discharges are commonly seen from the eyed and nose and bronchopneumonis is sometimes present. Skin pustules and hyperkeratosis of the footpads and nose are seen occasionally.

Microscopically, eosinophilic intracytoplasmic inclusion bodies are often found in the bronchial, gastric and urinary epithelium. They may also be seen in leukocytes and lymphoid tissue. In the CNS, inclusion bodies are frequently intra-nuclear in neurons and glial cells. Demyelination may also be seen. When inclusion bodies are not seen, fluorescent antibody staining or immunohistochemistry may be used to detect canine distemper virus.

Microscopically, eosinophilic intracytoplasmic inclusion bodies are often found in the bronchial, gastric and urinary epithelium. They may also be seen in leukocytes and lymphoid tissue. In the CNS, inclusion bodies are frequently intra-nuclear in neurons and glial cells. Demyelination may also be seen. When inclusion bodies are not seen, immunofluorescence or immunohistochemistry may be used to detect canine distemper virus antigen. Virus isolation or RT-PCR can also be carried out post-mortem using lung, stomach, urinary bladder, lymph nodes or brain.

==Treatment==

==Treatment==