Why in News?
Canine Distemper (CDV) is recently a major headline in India following a devastating outbreak at the Kanha Tiger Reserve in Madhya Pradesh. The virus is suspected of wiping out an entire tiger family, including a tigress and her four cubs, within a span of just nine days.
What is Canine Distemper?
- Nature: A highly contagious and often fatal viral disease caused by a single-stranded RNA virus (Paramyxoviridae family).
- Systemic Attack: It simultaneously attacks the respiratory, gastrointestinal, and central nervous systems.
- Multi-Host Pathogen: While it primarily affects dogs, it can infect a wide range of wildlife, including lions, tigers, leopards, foxes, wolves, and ferrets.
Symptoms
- Stage 1 (Respiratory/GI): High fever, reddened eyes, and watery discharge from the nose and eyes. This often progresses to coughing, vomiting, and severe diarrhoea.
- Stage 2 (Neurological): As the virus reaches the brain, animals experience "chewing gum fits" (jaw tremors), seizures, head tilts, and paralysis.
- "Hard Pad Disease": A classic sign where the skin of the nose and paw pads becomes abnormally thick and hard.
Transmission & Prevention
- Airborne Spread: Primarily transmitted through aerosol droplets (sneezing or coughing) and direct contact with infected fluids (saliva, urine).
- No Cure: There is no antiviral drug to kill the virus; treatment is strictly supportive (IV fluids and managing secondary infections).
- Vaccination is Key:
- For Pets: A core vaccine (DHPP) is highly effective. Puppies need a series starting at 6–8 weeks.
- For Wildlife: Conservationists are now debating mass vaccination of stray dogs around forest boundaries to create a "buffer zone" for tigers.
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