• Canine distemper virus (CDV) is a morbillivirus - same group as rinderpest, measles and phocine (seal) distemper viruses.
• Virus fairly unstable in environment and readily destroyed by most disinfectants.
• Only one serotype, so one vaccine can be used widely, but strains vary in tissue tropism and pathogenicity - hence variation in clinical signs (although immune status of the dog and the dose of virus are obviously also important in determining the clinical outcome of infection).

Back to menu