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Tigress Dies During Canine Distemper Virus Treatment
A tigress being treated for symptoms of Canine Distemper Virus (CDV) infection dies in the Kanha Tiger Reserve in Madhya Pradesh. The news highlights CDV as a contagious disease that can infect carnivores and other mammals.
Canine Distemper Virus:
| Dimension | Key Details |
|---|---|
| Nature of Disease | Canine distemper is a contagious and serious disease caused by the canine distemper virus (CDV). |
| Systems Affected | The virus attacks the respiratory, gastrointestinal, and nervous systems of dogs. |
| Mortality | Canine distemper has a very high mortality rate. |
| At-Risk Groups | All dogs are at risk, and those at particular risk include puppies younger than 4 months and dogs that have not been vaccinated against CDV. |
| Other Susceptible Animals | In addition to dogs, CDV can infect ferrets and a wide range of other mammals, especially carnivores. |
| Transmission | CDV spreads primarily through direct contact with respiratory secretions, such as saliva, nasal discharge, and sneezing, and it can also be transmitted indirectly via contaminated surfaces, objects, or shared food and water bowls. |
| Environmental Persistence | The virus does not last long in the environment and can be destroyed by most disinfectants. |
| Viral Shedding | Infected dogs can shed the virus for weeks, even before they show symptoms. |
| Effect on the Body | Once a dog is infected, the virus quickly spreads throughout the entire body and significantly weakens the immune system, leaving them susceptible to secondary infections. |
| Symptoms | Early symptoms include mucous in the eyes, discharge from the nose, lack of appetite, coughing, pneumonia, and fever; as infection spreads, it can cause vomiting, diarrhoea, thickened paw pads and thickened skin on the nose, seizures, twitching, limb weakness, muscle stiffness, imbalance, and central nervous system involvement. |
| Treatment | There is no cure, and no antiviral drugs have been approved to combat the infection. |
| Prevention | The best way to prevent canine distemper is through vaccination. |