Puppies die
The pups dying is through the canine herpesvirus 1 caused (CHV-1) disease of domestic dogs that carried a high mortality rate in one to three weeks old puppy is marked. The disease was first described in the United States in 1965.
Pathogen and Pathogenesis
The canine herpesvirus is a specific dog virus that occurs worldwide. It mainly plays a role as the causative agent of the kennel cough complex. It is spread in adult dogs through the ingestion of viruses through the mouth and nose, as well as during mating.
The infection of the puppies usually already occurs in the womb, but only if the bitch has not yet developed any antibodies against the pathogen, i.e. is infected with the virus for the first time during pregnancy . If the puppies are born alive, the infection occurs during birth or in the first three weeks of life when they come into contact with virus shedders. If the mother had contact with the virus before pregnancy, the puppies are protected by maternal antibodies. In bitches who have lost a litter to the canine herpes virus, the puppies of the following litter receive maternal antibodies from the mother's milk ( colostrum ). These puppies can then be virus carriers, but they will not get sick.
It is important for the pathogenesis of the disease in puppies that they do not have fully developed thermoregulation in the first three weeks of life , so the mucous membranes can be cool, which ensures that the viruses optimally multiply. The virus can now spread throughout the body (generalization) and settle in the internal organs. Older puppies are protected from a generalization of the virus by the now complete homoiothermia ; they then at most develop respiratory infections (kennel cough).
Clinical Findings
The CHV infection can cause puppies to die while still in the womb and thus cause miscarriages . In healthy born puppies that were infected at birth, after an incubation period of 3 - 7 days, reluctance to drink, diarrhea , vomiting , shortness of breath and increased salivation occur. They whimper and scream. The abdominal wall can be tight and painful. Death usually occurs within 2 days. If suckling puppies survive the disease, central nervous symptoms such as deafness and ataxia or blindness can occur.
A decrease in blood platelets ( thrombocytopenia ) is typical in the laboratory .
Diagnosis and differential diagnosis
The diagnosis can be made suspicious based on the puppy's age and clinical symptoms. In the case of dead puppies, typical necrosis foci in the kidneys and liver can be detected during the pathological examination , from which CHV-1 viruses can also be isolated and detected.
Other causes of puppy losses, in particular bacterial infections, malformations , hypothermia and suffocation, must be clarified in a differential diagnosis .
therapy
A specific therapy is not possible, an immediate treatment with a serum at the first signs of illness can at least bring about an alleviation of the illness. Otherwise, the symptoms can only be dealt with symptomatically, but only with limited success due to the rapid progression.
Prevention
Pregnant bitches can be vaccinated prophylactically with the Eurican Herpes vaccine, which has been available since 2003 . The first vaccination should be given either during heat or during the first ten days after the mating time, the second 1 to 2 weeks before the expected due date.
Isolating the bitch during pregnancy and in the first three weeks after giving birth, and maintaining good hygiene among those handling the dogs, is the most effective way of minimizing the risk to the puppies. There is a high seroprevalence among adult, partially symptom-free dogs. For most dogs, completely avoiding social contact would not be a sensible prevention strategy.
Before mating, many breeders have the vet take a vaginal swab from the bitch and a foreskin swab from the male , which is sent to a laboratory for examination in order to prevent unwanted new infections .
literature
Katrin Hartmann and Peter F. Suter: Infectious Diseases . In: PF Suter and B. Kohn (eds.): Internship at the dog clinic . Parey, 10th ed. 2006, pp. 268-316. ISBN 3-8304-4141-X
Individual evidence
- ↑ MSD Veterinary Manual: Overview of Canine Herpesviral Infection
- ↑ Katharina Bottenberg: Puppy death - infection of the dog with canine herpes virus
- ↑ MSD Veterinary Manual: Overview of Canine Herpesviral Infection
- ↑ Katharina Bottenberg: Puppy death - infection of the dog with canine herpes virus
- ↑ Dogplayer: The importance of infections for reproduction in dogs, pages 10–41
