Deadly Canine Distemper: A Global Multispecies Disease

Canine distemper (CD) is a multispecies, deadly, and contagious viral disease; mainly it affects canines, characterized by multisystemic involvement such as respiratory, nervous, gastrointestinal, immune, and cutaneous system. Canine distemper virus (CDV) belongs to Morbillivirus genus and this virus is closely related to measles, rinderpest, Peste-des-petits-ruminant virus, and recently added species namely, Cetacean morbillivirus, phocine distemper virus, and Feline morbillivirus. Due to its high mutation and host variation, CDV is considered to be a deadly and dangerous disease among all carnivores. After the epidemics of Serengeti Lion population with CD, proved the role of CD in felines too. Genetic relatedness between CDV and measles enlighten scientific community to better understand the pathogenesis of measles in human population. Speculative information on multiple sclerosis in human 226and CDV connection signifies the role of CD with zoonotic threat in near future. Understanding the CDV in multiple species along with its associated epidemiological factors is of prime importance to counteract the future challenges of Morbillivirus diseases.