Diagnosis and Treatment of Canine Distemper in Raccoon Dogs

A disease characterized mainly by copious ocular and nasal discharge, along with gastrointestinal, respiratory and neurological symptoms, occurred in raccoon dogs raised at the Bayanhot Special Breeding Farm in Alxa Left Banner. Based on clinical symptoms, necropsy findings and treatment response, it was initially diagnosed as canine distemper.

1 Outbreak situation

The raccoon dogs and foxes raised at the Bayanhot Special Breeding Farm in Alxa Left Banner began to show the disease on March 11, 2002. The farm raised a total of @#@252@#@ raccoon dogs and 110 foxes, among which 107 raccoon dogs became ill, with a morbidity rate of 46.52%, and 84 died, accounting for 78.5% of the affected animals. No foxes became ill.

2 Clinical symptoms

In the early stage of the disease, body temperature rose, with slight anorexia, and conjunctivitis occurred in a few cases. Subsequently, depression, coughing and difficulty breathing appeared; on auscultation of the larynx, the breath sounds were harsh, with dry rales. Some cases also showed neurological symptoms such as charging, running and circling, with rhythmic twitching of the masseter muscles, and ultimately died from neurological dysfunction and extreme emaciation. Most cases had diarrhea and vomiting.

3 Necropsy findings

Local congestion, edema and interstitial pneumonia in the lungs, sometimes accompanied by necrotizing bronchitis and bronchiolitis; catarrhal gastroenteritis occurred in most cases, with diarrhea and dysentery. Based on epidemiological investigation, clinical symptoms, pathological necropsy findings and laboratory tests, a comprehensive diagnosis confirmed that the infectious disease occurring this time

was canine distemper in raccoon dogs.

4 Prevention and treatment

(1) Administer canine distemper hyperimmune serum or whole blood from recovered adult dogs by subcutaneous or intravenous injection at 2-3 ml/kg body weight for serum and 4-6 ml/kg body weight for whole blood, for 3-4 consecutive days.

(2) Use antiviral injections such as ribavirin and interferon.

(3) Intravenous infusion of compound physiological saline, glucose, vitamin C and antibiotics.

(4) Strengthen disinfection of the sheds housing affected raccoon dogs, feeding and management equipment, etc. For disinfection of dog sheds, a 3% bleaching powder solution may be used; for feeding utensils, boiling disinfection with 2% NaOH may be used; carcasses of raccoon dogs that died of the disease should be deeply buried or incinerated, and must not be discarded at will.