• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.39 no.4
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• pp.778-785
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• 1999

To detect CDV RNA in clinical samples and differentiate prevailing CDV virulent strains affecting susceptible animals from attenuated vaccine strains, we performed RT-PCR, RFLP, and sequencing. CDV specific primers were generated from the middle part of nucleocapsid gene. The expected size of PCR products, 519 bp, was observed in tissues of Jindo dog, poodle dog, badger, fourteen of nineteen blood samples as well as 5 vaccine strains including domestic and imported products. The PCR products obtained from tissues and PBMCs of infected animals were digested to 317- and 202-bp fragments by Bam HI, but the products obtained from four of five vaccine strains and Lederle strain were not digesed by Bam HI. Only one vaccine strain of which the PCR products were digested by Bam HI was confirmed as imported vaccine, modified Synider Hill strain. Based on seqencing data obtained from the 519-bp products, it was confirmed that Bam HI restriction site tends to be conserved in field isolates compared to the commercially available attenuated vaccine strains. Partial nucleotide sequences of CDV NP gene obtained from tissues of Jindo dog, poodle and badger shared 100% homology each other, whereas the nucleotide sequences showed 96.3, 96.5, 93.6 and 93.4% homology with Yanaka (virulent), Han95 (virulent), Lederle (attenuated) and Onderstepoort (attenuated) strain, respectively.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.229-235
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• 2004

To characterize the recent outbreaks of canine distemper (CD) in Korea, we carried out epidemiological investigations by clinical observations, serum neutralizing (SN) antibody titer determination and RT-PCR on the 315 dogs which were clinically suspected as canine distemper virus (CDV) infection. One hundred and sixty two of 315 dogs were infected with CDV. Breed or gender did not seem to have effects on the prevalence of CD. The major part of dogs were in young age from 6 weeks to 18 weeks of age, and were not vaccinated or incompletely vaccinated. Clinical signs of dogs with CD were multi systemic and extremely variable. Dogs died from CD had significantly more ocular signs and neurologic signs than those of dogs survived (p<0.05). The SN titers against CDV of 157 (96.9%) dogs were under 1:16, which is less than protective level. One possible explanation for recent outbreaks of CD in Korea might be low antibody titers against CDV because of vaccination failure. Therefore, to reduce the impact of virulent infection in the dog population, dogs should be vaccinated adequately and prophylactic measures should include isolation of young dogs from the dog population until vaccination can be expected to provide protection.