Status epilepticus caused by canine distemper virus in a striped hyena (Hyaena hyaena)

A 6-month-old free-living female striped hyena (Hyaena hyaena) was referred to the Veterinary Teaching Hospital of Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran with lethargy and seizures. The general and neurological examinations revealed normal heart rate, polypnoea, abnormal respiratory sounds, decreased consciousness and no postural reactions in limbs. The animal had generalised seizures every 20 minutes lasting about 1 minute. To control seizures, 10 mg diazepam (0.7 mg/kg) was injected intravenously four times every 2 minutes. With this treatment, the animal's seizures stopped. Based on characteristic clinical signs, lymphopaenia, and positive rapid kit and RT-PCR results, canine distemper virus (CDV) was confirmed. The animal developed general seizures again 12 hours after referral and died during the seizures. This is the first case report of status epilepticus due to CDV in a striped hyena that did not respond to anticonvulsant therapies and caused the death of the animal.