Haematology of dogs infected with canine distemper virus

Abstract

Haematological parameters of five dogs experimentally infected with canine distemper virus were measured and compared with those of five healthy dogs (controls) of same age and breed. The parameters measured include total red blood cell (RBC) count, haemoglobin (Hb) concentration, packed cell volume (PCV), Coagulation time, total and differential white blood cell count (TWBC). And DWBC). The mean total RBC count, PCV and coagulation time were significantly lower in the canine distemper infected dogs than in the controls (P<0.05). There was leukopaenia initially with associated lymphopaenia but later lymphocytosis occurred and led to leukocytosis. Thus, it is suggested that canine distemper leads to anaemia and immunosupression in affected dogs.