From:
Sukie Crandall
Date: 2011-06-20 15:17:13 UTC
Subject: Re: [ferrethealth] Re: distemper vaccine ??
To: ferrethealth@yahoogroups.com
These past posts might be useful. I knew that I had looked up CDV
survival times outside the body before so here are things from past
posts of my own to help you, and to serve as a refresher for the rest
of us:
http://ferrethealth.org/archive/FHL5916
and note in there:
> (Remember that how long CDV lives in soil depends
> on the conditions. If recently deposited, or if damp
> and/or cold it is more likely to be present or to last
> longer -- up to years if frozen, but if hot and dry it
> lasts a shorter time because the protective fatty
> envelope this particular virus has fails.)
which led me to a search with a different search term
"fatty envelope"
http://ferrethealth.org/archive/FHL5340
> I've got just enough time for a few sentences and far more informative
> links to help, and this topic plus clarification are SO important for
> all that I will send it to the FHL, too, so the info and links of
> these resources wind up in two archives and most able to help many
> that way:
>
> Canine Distemper CAN be transmitted on shoes or other clothing -- IF
> fresh enough. When we have one who can not be vaccinated we leave
> shoes outside our door or hang them inside in plastic bags that can't
> be reached. Note that the fatty layer shielding the virus lasts
> longer in colder temperatures so it persists longer in the cold, and
> one resource also says if the environment is moist (which makes sense
> to me).
>
> If you have other sources for exposure, especially if you work with
> animals which have a high rate of infection (animal shelter, wildlife
> rehab) you will need to wait long enough or clean well, or both before
> interactions, and ask your vet for advice on how to manage that well
> enough.
>
> Note that the time frames differ in the quoted sections so be safest
> by going with the longer ones while knowing that perhaps risk is
> greatly reduced after the shorter ones (since i don't know I emphasize
> "perhaps" for safety's sake)
>
> Here are some resources:
Note in this one that if protected from light the virus also persists longer.
It is killed by heat, light, and dryness, BUT animals DO investigate recent
bodily secretions left on the lawn, remember, and some of those may stay
moist longer. Notice, too, that is frozen the virus can remain infective for
years:
>
> http://www.marvistavet.com/html/body_canine_distemper.html
> which includes
> > The distemper virus consists of a single strand of RNA, encased in a
> > protein coat which is again encased in a fatty envelope. This sounds
> > esoteric but the fatty envelope makes all the difference in the
> > world. The fatty envelope is easily disrupted in the environment
> > which makes it impossible for infectious virus to persist in the
> > environment. Because an intact fatty envelope is required for
> > infection, virus transmission must involve dog to dog contact or at
> > least contact with extremely fresh (less than 30 minutes old)
> > infected body secretions. As with other viruses, living virus
> > happily freezes and can survive for years if kept frozen and
> > protected from light. Routine disinfection and cleaning readily
> > kills the distemper virus in the kennel setting.
So, an isolation room for new intakes at shelters which is cleaned regularly,
and which require washing and, shoe and clothing changes of workers
before they interact with other ferrets can help where it is affordable to
do that.
>
> and
> > The infected dog typically infects other dogs via coughing infected
> > respiratory secretions though the virus is shed in most other body
> > secretions including urine.
>
> http://www.animalhealthchannel.com/distemper/index.shtml
> includes
> > Transmission
> > Infected dogs shed the virus through bodily secretions and
> > excretions, especially respiratory secretions. The primary mode of
> > transmission is airborne viral particles that dogs breathe in. Dogs
> > in recovery may continue to shed the virus for several weeks after
> > symptoms disappear, but they no longer shed the virus once they are
> > fully recovered.
> >
Notice another reason to have protection from measles in the human workers:
vaccination, or having been infected for us old farts. Subclinical infections
can at times create transmission of viruses. I did not recall that humans can get
asymptomatic CD infections. Can humans then transmit CDV?
> > It is possible for humans to contract an asymptomatic (subclinical)
> > CDV infection. Anyone who has been immunized against measles (a
> > related virus) is protected against CDV as well.
> >
>
> http://www.michigan.gov/dnr/0,1607,7-153-10370_12150_12220-26505--,00.html
> includes
> > Canine distemper is a highly contagious disease of carnivores caused
> > by a paramyxovirus. The virus is widespread and mortality in
> > juveniles is higher than in adults. The canine distemper virus is
> > very resistant to cold and the majority of distemper cases in
> > domestic dogs are seen in the fall and winter. In wild animals,
> > since the juveniles are more susceptible to infection, the majority
> > of cases are seen in the spring and summer, but cases are observed
> > year round.
> >
> > Transmission
> >
> > Transmission occurs via an aerosol-droplet route, direct contact, or
> > possibly by contact with contaminated objects. It is uncertain
> > whether carrier or unapparent infections exist. The virus is shed in
> > the feces and urine of infected individuals and some evidence exists
> > for transplacental transmission. The usual route of infection is
> > through the upper respiratory tract, following inhalation of
> > infective virus. Occasionally infection occurs from ingestion of
> > infective material. Following entry into the upper respiratory
> > tract, the virus is spread to the tonsils and lymph nodes, where
> > viral replication occurs.
>
> http://www.sheltermedicine.com/portal/is_canine_distempervirus.shtml
> includes
> > Transmission and control
> >
> > Canine distemper virus is shed in all body secretions of acutely
> > infected animals. It can be spread by direct contact, by aerosol or
> > respiratory droplet exposure. Although the virus does not survive
> > long in the environment, it can be transmitted by fomites such as
> > hands, feet, or instruments over a short time/distance.
AH! This may also answer the question on whether subclinically infected
humans can transmit CDV and may be a reason for shelter workers who
never had measles to have measles vaccinations:
> Virus can be
> > shed by subclinically or mildly infected animals; such animals
> > probably play an important role in maintaining the virus in a
> > chronically infected shelter population. Therefore, careful
> > isolation of all dogs with upper respiratory signs -always a good
> > idea- is especially important in a shelter where distemper is a
> > concern.
> >
> and
> > Distemper survives no more than a few hours at room temperature.
> > Cold and moist conditions increase survival, and it can last for
> > several weeks at near freezing temperatures. The virus is readily
> > inactivated by most commonly used disinfectants. Routine hygienic
> > precautions are generally adequate to prevent spread.The most
> > important factor in shelter decontamination is quarantine/removal of
> > incubating and mildly/subclinically affected animals.
>
> each of those resources has a LOT more info!
BTW, I recall thinking, "Oh, my gosh!" earlier this year or very late last year when someone privately told me of a person who was storing the body of a ferret who might have died of CDV for several days -- well beyond the point where the tissues should have been stabilized with formalin -- in a refrigerator with both human and ferret food.
Sukie (not a vet)
Recommended ferret health links:
http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/ferrethealth/
http://ferrethealth.org/archive/
http://www.afip.org/ferrets/index.html
http://www.miamiferret.org/
http://www.ferrethealth.msu.edu/
http://www.ferretcongress.org/
http://www.trifl.org/index.shtml
http://homepage.mac.com/sukie/sukiesferretlinks.html
all ferret topics:
http://listserv.ferretmailinglist.org/archives/ferret-search.html
"All hail the procrastinators for they shall rule the world tomorrow."
(2010, Steve Crandall)
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