PhD Thesis Demeter Zoltan

Greene & Appel, 2006). In some CDV outbreaks, including the mass mortalities among
Baikal and Caspian seals and large felids in the Serengeti Park, terrestrial carnivores,
including dogs and wolves, have been suspected as vectors for the infectious agent
(Kennedy et al., 2000; Kreutzer et al., 2008; Beineke et al., 2009).
The virus is shed primarily by oro-nasal secretion, however, any discharge and
secretion can carry the virus. CDV infects susceptible animals primarily by inhalation of
airborne viruses or via infective aerosol droplets (Beineke et al., 2009).
CDV is susceptible to ultraviolet light, although protein or antioxidants help
protect it from inactivation. Extremely susceptible to heat and drying, CDV is destroyed
by temperatures greater than 50-60 °C for 30 minutes, but survival times are longer at
colder temperatures. In warm climates, CDV does not persist in kennels after infected
dogs have been removed. The virus remains viable between pH 4.5-9, and it is
susceptible to ether, chloroform, dilute (