Veterinary session

Canine distemper is a highly contagious, often fatal, multisystemic disease that affects carnivores, caused by Canine Distemper Virus (CDV). Both domestic and wild animals can be infected. Since the current rabies vaccinations programs have been started in Europe the canine distemper is more frequently observable among red foxes (Vulpes vulpes).

CDV is an enveloped, non-segmented negative-strained RNA virus of the family Paramyxoviridae and genus Morbillivirus. CDV is genetically heterogeneous, markedly in the fusion protein (F), showing geographic patterns of diversification that helps us to monitor CDV molecular epidemiology.

In our study we analyzed red fox brain samples from the Czech Republic, Hungary and Germany. First, we did the diagnostic PCR analysis. Out of these 95 analyzed samples 30 (31,5%) proved to be positive for CDV. Of these, 15 samples were selected for sequencing on the F gene.

Based on the filogenetic examinations, we can assume that CDV of foxes in the inspected region is heterogeneous with respect the gene F. However, virus strains isolated in dogs (Canis lupus) are often of various genotypes.