PhD Thesis Demeter Zoltan

1998; Greene & Appel, 2006). IBP can occur after vaccination or in dogs with a sudden
onset of only neurologic manifestations of distemper (Nesseler et al., 1999), when
multifocal gray matter necrosis, perivascular lymphocytic inflammation and
cytoplasmic and intranuclear inclusion bodies are observed (Amude et al., 2007; Greene
& Appel, 2006)
3.1.3 Clinical signs
CD is characterized by a wide variety of clinical manifestation that can be categorized
as acute systemic form (catarrhal and/or nervous manifestations) and a chronic nervous
manifestation. In addition, various other, more or less specific clinical signs (i.e. ODE,
hard pad disease etc.) have been described and intensively studied (Greene & Appel,
2006; Beineke et al., 2009).
3.1.3.1 Acute systemic infection
Even though more than 50 % of CDV infections are probably subclinical, acute
systemic infection is one of the most frequently encountered clinical manifestations. It
can occur at any age, but it most commonly affects unvaccinated, exposed puppies 12 to
16 weeks of age that have lost their maternal immunity or younger puppies that have
received inadequate concentration of maternal antibodies (Greene & Appel, 2006).
Clinical signs are represented by serous to mucopurulent rhinitis and nasal discharge,
conjunctivitis, interstitial pneumonia and necrotizing bronchiolitis, often complicated by
a suppurative bronchopneumonia due to secondary bacterial infections (Beineke et al.,
2009). The clinical evolution of the infection is characterized by a specific biphasic
fever curve, and other clinical signs that do not respond to symptomatic antimicrobial
therapy. Later on coughing, vomiting and diarrhea develop, which can lead to severe
dehydration and emaciation (Greene & Appel, 2006). Nervous signs are diverse and
progressive and include myoclonus, nystagmus, ataxia, postural reaction deficits and
tetraparesis or tetraplegia (Vandevelde & Zurbriggen, 2005; Amude et al., 2007;
Beineke et al., 2009). Animals can die suddenly from systemic illness, but adequate
therapy can decrease the risk in many cases (Greene & Appel, 2006).
3.1.3.2 Chronic nervous manifestation
Neurologic signs frequently develop in the presence of nonexistent or very mild
extraneural signs. Nevertheless, they are typically progressive. Neurological signs vary
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