[ SHOWGSD-L ] CANINE HERPES
- From: "Doc Zoe" <wynsum@xxxxxxx>
- To: showgsd-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Tue, 23 Sep 2008 20:23:57 -0400
Canine herpesvirus (CHV) is a virus of the family Herpesviridae which most
importantly causes a
fatal hemorrhagic disease in puppies (and in wild Canidae) less than two to
three weeks old. It is
known to exist in the United States, Canada, Australia, Japan, England and
Germany.[1] CHV
was first recognized in the mid 1960s from a fatal disease in puppies
The incubation period of CHV is six to ten days. CHV is transmitted to puppies
in the birth canal
and by contact with infected oral and nasal secretions from the mother or other
infected dogs,
but it is not spread through the air. The virus replicates in the surface cells
of the nasal mucosa,
tonsils, and pharynx. Low body temperature allows the virus to spread and
infect the rest of the
body. Symptoms include crying, weakness, depression, discharge from the nose,
soft, yellow
feces, and a loss of the sucking reflex. CHV also causes a necrotizing
vasculitis that results in
hemorrhage around the blood vessels. Bruising of the belly may occur. Eye
lesions include
keratitis, uveitis, optic neuritis, retinitis, and retinal dysplasia.There is a
high mortality rate,
approaching 80 percent in puppies less than one week old, and death usually
occurs in one to
two days
In adult dogs, the virus infects the reproductive tract, which allows it to be
sexually transmitted or passed to puppies during birth. The disease can cause
abortion, stillbirths, and infertility. It is also an infrequent
cause of kennel cough.
Like other types of herpesvirus, previously infected dogs can from time to time
release the virus
in vaginal secretions, penile secretions, and discharge from the nose. Raised
sores in the vagina
or on the penis may be seen during these times. Spread of the disease is
controlled by not
breeding dogs known to have it. Serology can show what dogs have been exposed
(although not
all of them will be releasing the virus at that time). Serological studies of
various dog populations
have revealed a seroprevalence of 40 to 93 percent. Bitches who have a negative
serology for
CHV should be isolated from other dogs from three weeks before to three weeks
after giving
birth. Bitches that have lost puppies to the disease may have future litters
that survive due to
transfer of antibodies in the milk.
Diagnosis of the disease in puppies is best accomplished by autopsy. Findings
include
hemorrhages in the kidneys, liver, lungs, and gastrointestinal tract. Treatment
of affected
puppies is difficult, although injecting antibodies to CHV into the abdomen may
help some to
survive. Keeping the puppies warm is also important. The virus does not survive
well outside of
the body and is easily destroyed by most detergents. A vaccine in Europe known
as Eurican
Herpes 205 has been available since 2003. It is given to the dam (mother)
twice: during heat or
early pregnancy and one to two weeks before whelping.
Mother dogs pass their immunity to herpes virus infection on to their puppies.
This is why the
litter that follows an infected group of puppies does not develop the disease.
There are only a few diseases that can be mistaken for herpes deaths in
puppies. Toxic milk
syndrome, septicemias, fatal congenital birth defects, minute virus of canines,
canine
adenovirus, coronavirus and accidents also cause acute death. In herpesvirus
infection, the
primary gross lesions in puppies are pin point hemorrhages in the kidneys and
other body
organs.
Treatment of this disease is rather unsuccessful. Although elevated temperature
kills this
herpesvirus, treating the puppy with elevated temperature has not proved
effective in saving the
pups. Warmth, tube feeding and intravenous or subcutaneous fluids may extend
the pup?s life
but they usually expire quite rapidly. There are reported cases where puppies
were saved by
giving them blood serum from adult dogs that recently recovered from herpes
virus. There is
another report that the antiviral drug, vidarabine,has saved some puppies. When
puppies survive
herpesvirus infection they are usually left with nervous system and heart
damage.
Occasional dogs remain carriers and shedders of the virus for months or years.
These dogs
harbor the virus in their nerve ganglia, tonsils and salivary glands. Shedding
can be intermittent
due to stress or continuous.
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