Evaluation of the relationship between clinical score with electrocardiography in dogs infected with canine distemper virus

Canine Distemper is a multisystemic viral disease with high mortality and morbidity in dogs. The most commonly affected systems and organs are the respiratory system, gastrointestinal system, skin and central nervous system. Along with these, cases of cardiomyopathy have also been reported in the scientific literature. The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between clinical score and electrocardiography findings in dogs infected with canine distemper virus. The animal material of the study consisted of 20 dogs of both sexes, aged between 3 and 12 months. The canine distemper virus(CDV) infected group consisted of 10 dogs that presented to the animal hospital with clinical findings compatible with CDV and had a positive CDV rapid diagnostic test according to the inclusionexclusion criteria. The control group consisted of 10 dogs that were brought for routine vaccination and general examination and were determined to be healthy as a result of clinical and laboratory examinations. Clinical scoring and electrocardiographic evaluation were performed in both groups. When the canine distemper virus-infected group was compared with the healthy control group, a statistically significant increase was found in P (mV) (0.019) and Pd (0.023) values in terms of ECG findings, while a significant decrease was found in P (beats/min) value (p<0.05).According to Pearson correlation analysis performed to evaluate the relationship between clinical scoring and electrocardiographic changes, a moderate negative correlation (R=-0.484) was found between P (mV) and neurologic finding score. There was a strong positive correlation between ST (ms) and vomiting score (R=0.626) and a moderate positive correlation with neurologic finding (R=0.471). There was a strong positive correlation between QT (ms) and ocular discharge and vomiting score (R=0.583, R=0.589, respectively). In conclusion, it is thought that arrhythmia and differences in heart frequency occur in CDV-infected dogs and autonomic dysfunction develops with cardiac impulse conduction disorder.