Molecular characterization of canine distemper virus circulating in Ethiopia

Abstract

High mortality and morbidity of canine were reported from Addis Ababa city administration and Bedele and Nekemte zonal towns of western Ethiopia in 2010.
A team from National Animal Health and Investigation Center (NAHDIC) was
assigned to investigate what caused the death of dogs. Varying ranges of clinical
sings were observed which include febrile condition, body temperature of 39.5 to
41.5oC, Runny eyes, nasal discharges, vomiting, diarrhea, various neurologic disorders and hyperkeratosis of foot pad “hard pad disease”. Death occurred in all ages of dogs but most death was occurred in puppies. Some owners reported that they lost all the puppies they had at time of the outbreak. About 200 dogs were died only in Nekemte while number of death in Bedele (Ilubabore) and Addis Ababa were
not exactly known. Eye swab from live animals (10 from Addis Ababa 5 from Nekemte and 5 from Bedele) and tissue samples (liver, kidney, lymph node and brain) from Nekemte and Bedele) were collected and tested using antigen detection fast kit. Virus isolation and molecular characterization was carried on these canine
distemper positive samples and also brain tissues were tested for rabies virus (lyssaa virus) and found negative with molecular test. The investigation result showed that canine distemper virus was responsible for the outbreak canine disease in the areas. Sequencing of positive samples from all distantly located area  indicates that Asia-1 lineage canine distemper virus is circulating in outbreak. Vaccination of the dogs against canine distemper virus is required in order to  control the disease.

Keywords: Antigen detection, Canine distemper virus, Dog