Seroprevalence and risk factors of canine distemper virus in the pet and stray dogs in Haa, western Bhutan

• Published in: BMC veterinary research Vol. 16; no. 1; p. 135
• Main Authors: Dorji, Tshering, Tenzin, Tenzin, Tenzin, Kuenga, Tshering, Dawa, Rinzin, Karma, Phimpraphai, Waraphon, de Garine-Wichatitsky, Michel
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England BioMed Central Ltd 13.05.2020; BioMed Central; BMC
• Subjects: administrative management; Age; age structure; Animal biology; Animals; Antibodies; assays; Bhutan; Bhutan - epidemiology; blood serum; body condition; breeds; Canine distemper; Canine distemper virus; Canine morbillivirus; Carnivores; conservation areas; Disease transmission; Distemper - epidemiology; Distemper Virus, Canine - isolation & purification; Dog Diseases - epidemiology; Dog Diseases - virology; Dogs; Endangered & extinct species; Endangered species; Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay; Enzymes; Female; Free-roaming dog; Health aspects; Immunization; Infection; Infections; Infectious diseases; Life Sciences; Male; Morbidity; mortality; Nature reserves; odds ratio; ownership; Pets; Pets - virology; Population; Protected area; Risk Factors; sampling; Seroepidemiologic Studies; Serology; seroprevalence; Summer; Surveys; veterinary medicine; Veterinary medicine and animal Health; viruses; Waste management; Western Bhutan; Wildlife; Wildlife conservation; Winter; Bhutan; Western Bhutan; Free-roaming dog; Protected area; Canine distemper virus
• ISSN: 1746-6148; 1746-6148
• DOI: 10.1186/s12917-020-02355-x

Canine Distemper Virus (CDV) is a highly contagious virus belonging to family Paramyxovirade, genus Morbillivirus and responsible for high morbidity and mortality in dogs worldwide. Infected domestic dogs can cause spillover infections to wild carnivores that are in contact. We conducted a seroprevalence survey of CDV in domestic dogs in two areas of western Bhutan (Haa district) located at the periphery of the Jigme Khesar Strict Nature Reserve, which is home to several endangered wildlife. A total of 238 serum samples, 119 each from the pet and stray dog, were collected during summer and winter seasons. Samples were tested for CDV antibodies using a sandwich enzyme-linked immune-sorbent assay (ELISA) test. The seroprevalence of CDV was found to be 11.3% (95% CI 6.7-14.2). Dogs sampled during winter were less likely to test seropositive against CDV antibodies than those sampled during summer (adjusted odds ratio: -2.6; 95% CI: - 1.2-6.1). Dogs in good body condition were found to be more likely to test seropositive against CDV than dogs in poor condition and obese dogs (adjusted odds ratio: 2.2; 95% CI: 0.1-5.9). There were no significant differences in the seroprevalence of CDV among different sexes, breeds and age classes, pet and stray dogs and between the two study sites. Our study indicates that CDV seroprevalence was equally distributed among pet and stray dogs. We suggest strengthening the management practices of dogs through responsible dog ownership, dog population management and waste management to minimize the transmission risk of infectious diseases to wildlife.