Molecular and Immunologic Detection of Canine Distemper Virus (CDV) and Investigation of Co-infection with Candida albicans in Dogs

Abstract

Background: Canine distemper (CDV) is a highly transmissible serious disease of carnivores. Distemper virus has immunosuppression effects which, in turn, causes opportunistic infections. Objectives: The present study was performed to detect CDV by the genomic and immunological methods and investigate its co-infection with Candida albicans. Methods: In this study, from spring of 2018 to winter of 2019, blood, eye, respiratory and digestive system samples were collected from 50 CDV suspected dogs and 50 seemingly healthy dogs. Rapid distemper immunochromatography kit was applied for the primary detection of CDV. RT-PCR and PCR tests were performed using special primers for molecular investigation. Results: Using immunochromatography, twenty-nine cases and one case had positive results for CDV among dogs suspected of having the disease and seemingly healthy dogs, respectively. After RT-PCR and PCR assays, 37 samples were CDV-positive, and four were C. albicans-positive in the first group. While three CDV and one C. albicans-positive samples were found in the second group. In total, the frequency of co-infection was 4%. Conclusions: In the present study, there was an association between distemper and C. albicans using statistical tests. Conducting such studies in an appropriate sample population gives more accurate results.