Epidemiological Study of Canine Distemper in Dogs at Jabalpur, India

Canine distemper is a highly contagious viral disease of dogs caused by Canine Distemper Virus (CDV), affecting multiple organ systems and associated with high morbidity and mortality. The present study was conducted to determine the prevalence and clinico-epidemiological patterns of canine distemper. A total of 2875 dogs were screened, of which 239 dogs showing clinical signs suggestive of distemper were examined. Diagnosis was performed using rapid antigen test kits and confirmed by RT-PCR. The overall prevalence was 1.19% by rapid test and 0.86% by RT-PCR. Age-wise analysis revealed significantly higher prevalence in dogs below 12 months (68%). Non-descript (mongrel) dogs showed the highest breed-wise prevalence (52%), and males were more commonly affected (72%). A strong association was observed between lack of vaccination and disease occurrence, with 92% of positive dogs being unvaccinated. Clinically, gastrointestinal (28%) and respiratory (32%) forms were most common, followed by cutaneous (16%), nervous (16%), and ocular (8%) manifestations. The findings highlight the importance of early diagnosis, routine vaccination, and improved management practices to reduce the burden of canine distemper.