Clinical and molecular investigation of a canine distemper outbreak and vector-borne infections in a group of rescue dogs imported from Hungary to Switzerland
Abstract Background Canine distemper virus (CDV) is a major pathogen of dogs and wild carnivores worldwide. In Switzerland, distemper in domestic dogs is rarely reported. In recent years, the import of dogs from Eastern Europe to Switzerland has steadily increased. In the present study, we describe...
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ftbiomed:oai:biomedcentral.com:s12917-015-0471-0 2023-05-15T15:04:52+02:00 Clinical and molecular investigation of a canine distemper outbreak and vector-borne infections in a group of rescue dogs imported from Hungary to Switzerland Willi, Barbara Spiri, Andrea Meli, Marina Grimm, Felix Beatrice, Laura Riond, Barbara Bley, Tim Jordi, Rolf Dennler, Matthias Hofmann-Lehmann, Regina 2015-07-16 http://www.biomedcentral.com/1746-6148/11/154 en eng BioMed Central Ltd. http://www.biomedcentral.com/1746-6148/11/154 Copyright 2015 Willi et al. Canine distemper virus Outbreak Domestic dog Import Vector-borne infections Phylogenetic analysis Vaccination Arctic-like lineage Research article 2015 ftbiomed 2015-07-19T00:51:54Z Abstract Background Canine distemper virus (CDV) is a major pathogen of dogs and wild carnivores worldwide. In Switzerland, distemper in domestic dogs is rarely reported. In recent years, the import of dogs from Eastern Europe to Switzerland has steadily increased. In the present study, we describe a distemper outbreak in 15 rescue dogs that were imported from Hungary to Switzerland by an animal welfare organisation. The data on vaccination and medical history were recorded (14 dogs), and the samples were collected to investigate CDV and vector-borne infections (13 dogs) and canine parvovirus infection (12 dogs). The dogs were monitored for six months. Results One dog was euthanised directly after import. Thirteen dogs showed clinical signs after arrival, i.e., diarrhoea (57 %), coughing (43 %) and nasal and/or ocular discharge (21 %); radiographic findings that were compatible with bronchopneumonia were present in four dogs. CDV infection was diagnosed in 11 dogs (85 %); 10 dogs (91 %) tested PCR-positive in conjunctival swabs. Vector-borne infections ( Babesia spp. , Leishmania infantum, Dirofilaria immitis ) were found in 4 dogs (31 %). Three dogs were hospitalized, and six dogs received ambulatory therapy for up to two months until recovery. None of the dogs developed neurological disease. CDV shedding was detected for a period of up to four months. Because dogs were put under strict quarantine until CDV shedding ceased, CDV did not spread to any other dogs. The CDV isolates showed 99 % sequence identity in the HA gene among each other and belonged to the Arctic-like lineage of CDV. Conclusions The present study highlights the imminent risks of spreading contagious viral and vector-borne infections through the non-selective import of sick dogs and dogs with incomplete vaccination from Eastern Europe. CDV shedding was detected for several months after the cessation of clinical signs, which emphasised the roles of asymptomatic carriers in CDV epidemiology. A long-term follow-up using sensitive PCR and strict quarantine measures is of upmost importance in preventing the spread of infection. Dog owners and animal welfare organisations should be educated regarding the importance of complete vaccinations and the impact of dog imports on the spread of viral and vector-borne pathogens. Article in Journal/Newspaper Arctic BioMed Central Arctic |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
BioMed Central |
op_collection_id |
ftbiomed |
language |
English |
topic |
Canine distemper virus Outbreak Domestic dog Import Vector-borne infections Phylogenetic analysis Vaccination Arctic-like lineage |
spellingShingle |
Canine distemper virus Outbreak Domestic dog Import Vector-borne infections Phylogenetic analysis Vaccination Arctic-like lineage Willi, Barbara Spiri, Andrea Meli, Marina Grimm, Felix Beatrice, Laura Riond, Barbara Bley, Tim Jordi, Rolf Dennler, Matthias Hofmann-Lehmann, Regina Clinical and molecular investigation of a canine distemper outbreak and vector-borne infections in a group of rescue dogs imported from Hungary to Switzerland |
topic_facet |
Canine distemper virus Outbreak Domestic dog Import Vector-borne infections Phylogenetic analysis Vaccination Arctic-like lineage |
description |
Abstract Background Canine distemper virus (CDV) is a major pathogen of dogs and wild carnivores worldwide. In Switzerland, distemper in domestic dogs is rarely reported. In recent years, the import of dogs from Eastern Europe to Switzerland has steadily increased. In the present study, we describe a distemper outbreak in 15 rescue dogs that were imported from Hungary to Switzerland by an animal welfare organisation. The data on vaccination and medical history were recorded (14 dogs), and the samples were collected to investigate CDV and vector-borne infections (13 dogs) and canine parvovirus infection (12 dogs). The dogs were monitored for six months. Results One dog was euthanised directly after import. Thirteen dogs showed clinical signs after arrival, i.e., diarrhoea (57 %), coughing (43 %) and nasal and/or ocular discharge (21 %); radiographic findings that were compatible with bronchopneumonia were present in four dogs. CDV infection was diagnosed in 11 dogs (85 %); 10 dogs (91 %) tested PCR-positive in conjunctival swabs. Vector-borne infections ( Babesia spp. , Leishmania infantum, Dirofilaria immitis ) were found in 4 dogs (31 %). Three dogs were hospitalized, and six dogs received ambulatory therapy for up to two months until recovery. None of the dogs developed neurological disease. CDV shedding was detected for a period of up to four months. Because dogs were put under strict quarantine until CDV shedding ceased, CDV did not spread to any other dogs. The CDV isolates showed 99 % sequence identity in the HA gene among each other and belonged to the Arctic-like lineage of CDV. Conclusions The present study highlights the imminent risks of spreading contagious viral and vector-borne infections through the non-selective import of sick dogs and dogs with incomplete vaccination from Eastern Europe. CDV shedding was detected for several months after the cessation of clinical signs, which emphasised the roles of asymptomatic carriers in CDV epidemiology. A long-term follow-up using sensitive PCR and strict quarantine measures is of upmost importance in preventing the spread of infection. Dog owners and animal welfare organisations should be educated regarding the importance of complete vaccinations and the impact of dog imports on the spread of viral and vector-borne pathogens. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Willi, Barbara Spiri, Andrea Meli, Marina Grimm, Felix Beatrice, Laura Riond, Barbara Bley, Tim Jordi, Rolf Dennler, Matthias Hofmann-Lehmann, Regina |
author_facet |
Willi, Barbara Spiri, Andrea Meli, Marina Grimm, Felix Beatrice, Laura Riond, Barbara Bley, Tim Jordi, Rolf Dennler, Matthias Hofmann-Lehmann, Regina |
author_sort |
Willi, Barbara |
title |
Clinical and molecular investigation of a canine distemper outbreak and vector-borne infections in a group of rescue dogs imported from Hungary to Switzerland |
title_short |
Clinical and molecular investigation of a canine distemper outbreak and vector-borne infections in a group of rescue dogs imported from Hungary to Switzerland |
title_full |
Clinical and molecular investigation of a canine distemper outbreak and vector-borne infections in a group of rescue dogs imported from Hungary to Switzerland |
title_fullStr |
Clinical and molecular investigation of a canine distemper outbreak and vector-borne infections in a group of rescue dogs imported from Hungary to Switzerland |
title_full_unstemmed |
Clinical and molecular investigation of a canine distemper outbreak and vector-borne infections in a group of rescue dogs imported from Hungary to Switzerland |
title_sort |
clinical and molecular investigation of a canine distemper outbreak and vector-borne infections in a group of rescue dogs imported from hungary to switzerland |
publisher |
BioMed Central Ltd. |
publishDate |
2015 |
url |
http://www.biomedcentral.com/1746-6148/11/154 |
geographic |
Arctic |
geographic_facet |
Arctic |
genre |
Arctic |
genre_facet |
Arctic |
op_relation |
http://www.biomedcentral.com/1746-6148/11/154 |
op_rights |
Copyright 2015 Willi et al. |
_version_ |
1766336613602820096 |