J Vet Sci.  2011 Dec;12(4):409-411. 10.4142/jvs.2011.12.4.409.

Atypical necrotizing encephalitis associated with systemic canine distemper virus infection in pups

• Amude AM
• Headley SA
• Alfieri AA
• Beloni SN
• Alfieri AF

• KMID: 1365027
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4142/jvs.2011.12.4.409

Abstract

This report describes the naturally occurring atypical neuropathological manifestation of systemic canine distemper virus (CDV) infection in two 16-day-old Pit Bull pups. CDV-induced changes affected the gray and white matter of the forebrain while sparing the hindbrain. Histologically, there was necrosis with destruction of the nervous parenchyma due to an influx of inflammatory and reactive cells associated with eosinophilic intranuclear inclusion bodies within glial cells. Positive immunoreactivity against CDV antigens was predominantly observed within astrocytes and neurons. RT-PCR was used to amplify CDV-specific amplicons from brain fragments. These findings suggest the participation of CDV in the etiopathogenesis of these lesions.

Keyword

canine distemper virus; immunohistochemistry; neuropathology; RT-PCR

MeSH Terms

Animals
Antigens, Viral
Central Nervous System/pathology/virology
Distemper/*virology
*Distemper Virus, Canine
Dogs
Encephalitis/pathology/*veterinary/virology
Necrosis/pathology/*veterinary/virology

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