Fatal Combined Infection With Canine Distemper Virus and Orthopoxvirus in a Group of Asian Marmots (Marmota caudata)

Abstract

A fatal combined infection with canine distemper virus (CDV) and orthopoxvirus (OPXV) in Asian marmots (Marmota caudata) is reported in this article. A total of 7 Asian marmots from a small zoological garden in Switzerland were found dead in hibernation during a routine check in the winter of 2011. The marmots died in February 2011. No clinical signs of disease were observed at any time. The viruses were detected in all individuals for which the tissues were available (n = 3). Detection of the viruses was performed by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. The most consistent gross lesion was a neck and thorax edema. A necrotizing pharyngitis and a multifocal necrotizing pneumonia were observed histologically. Numerous large intracytoplasmic eosinophilic inclusions were seen in the epithelial cells of the pharynx, of the airways, and in the skin keratinocytes. Brain lesions were limited to mild multifocal gliosis. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that the marmot CDV strain was closely related to the clusters of CDVs detected in Switzerland in wild carnivores during a local outbreak in 2002 and the 2009-2010 nationwide epidemic, suggesting a spillover of this virus from wildlife. The OPXV was most closely related to a strain of cowpoxvirus, a poxvirus species considered endemic in Europe. This is the first reported instance of CDV infection in a rodent species and of a combined CDV and OPXV infection.

Canine distemper virus as a threat to wild tigers in Russia and across their range

“…This is supported by the low competence of domestic cats as CDV hosts during experimental studies (Appel et al ), and relates to differences in the structure of the cellular receptor (CD‐150 or signaling lymphocyte activation molecule [SLAM]) used by CDV to enter lymphoid cells (Ohishi et al ). Clinical infections and mortality have also been recorded in other taxa, including rodents (Origgi et al ), nonhuman primates (Yoshikawa et al ; Sun et al ) and peccaries (Appel et al ).…”

“…Overt outbreaks among the lions of Serengeti in 1994 and Ngorogoro in 2001 were attributed to climatic patterns resulting in high vector numbers, with mortality from CDV associated with Babesia infection loads (Munson et al ). The involvement of viral co‐infections has been implicated in other cases of CDV mortality (Fix et al ; Burtscher & Url ; Origgi et al ), and, therefore, it is important to consider these, or other physiological stressors as a precursor to disease. In spite of this, apparently uncomplicated CDV infections have led to mortality in captive tigers in North America, Europe and Asia, and so it appears that clinical outcome is not always dependent on co‐infections (Appel et al ; Nagao et al ; Seimon et al ).…”

Measles Vaccination of Nonhuman Primates Provides Partial Protection against Infection with Canine Distemper Virus

“…The virus has been reported to cause disease in members of the carnivore families of Ailuridae, Felidae, Hyaenidae, Mustelidae, Procyonidae, Ursidae, Viverridae, and Phocidae (12). In addition, CDV has also been reported to infect javelinas (13) and was recently detected in rodents (14). A natural outbreak with CDV in nonhuman primates was first reported in 1989 when 22 Japanese macaques (Macaca fuscata) housed in an animal research facility seroconverted to CDV (15).…”

Identification of Amino Acid Substitutions with Compensational Effects in the Attachment Protein of Canine Distemper Virus

“…Besides the possible antigenic relevance of these changes, we speculate that outcomes from these changes might also be at the base of the molecular plasticity that has allowed CDV to become such a successful viral agent with a continuously growing host range (19,(34)(35)(36).…”