Summary to the distemper project
Distemper is highly contagious viral disease of open canine
communities spreading with droplet infection. Carrier animals infect
the susceptible or relatively protected dogs. The course of the
disease is fatal. Both shelters and adopted dogs can be affected,
and this raises moral and animal protection questions. The distemper
virus is highly immunosuppressive, and the secondary and opportunistic
infections can have public health impact.
The desired goal is to build up homogenous immune status
in canine communities against distemper. This can be achieved with
the preventive treatment of the animals admitted newly to the shelters.
Sanitary measures are important but not enough to prevent the disease.
The relevant practical intervention means administration of distemper
hyperimmune serum and following vaccination carried out after appropriate
protocols. Basic needs are the reliable inventory of the animals
and monitoring of the epidemiological situation with diagnostic
tests.
Dr. Lakatos
Béla
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