The evaluation of the effects of use of antiviral for the treatment of canine distemper on the clinical findings, hematologic and biochemical parameters and viral shedding

ABSTRACT The Evaluation of the Effects of Use of Antiviral for the Treatment of Canine Distemper on the Clinical Findings, Hematologic and Biochemical Parameters and Viral Shedding Aim: Canine distemper is a viral disease which is particularly and commonly seen in unvaccinated dogs in Turkey and the World. Specifically, there is not a treatment and even the number of clinical studies about the use of antiviral for the treatment of naturally infected dogs is quite scarce. Therefore, in this study, it is aimed to evaluate the effects of use of antiviral for the treatment of canine distemper on the clinical findings, hematologic and biochemical parameters and viral shedding besides the classical treatment for the treatment of canine distemper. Material and Method: In this study, a total of 30 dogs (24 distemper-infected dogs and 6 healthy dogs) were used. Final diagnosis was made with the PZR test. Distemper-infected dogs were grouped into 4 groups consisting of 6 dogs. For the dogs in group A, the classical treatment (ringer lactate-dextrose-0.9% NaCI -amoxicillin-clavulanic acid) was applied for 10 days. For the dogs in group A+R, in addition to the classical treatment, a dose of 30 mg/kg ribavirin was applied for 10 days. The dogs in group A+P were treated with a dose of 10 mg/kg of proanthocyanidin as well as the classical treatment for 10 days. Besides the classical treatment, a dose of 30 mg/kg ribavirin and 10 mg/kg proanthocyanidin was applied to the dogs in group A+R+P for 10 days. A sample of blood and swap was taken from all the dogs in each group on the 0th, 3rd, 7th and 10th days during treatment and the symptoms were recorded in detail. The clinical findings, hematologic and biochemical parameters were evaluated according to the samples obtained on the 0th, 3rd, 7th and 10th days during treatment and the viral shedding is evaluated on the 0th, 7th and 10th days during treatment and 5th and 10th days of post-treatment. Results: The scores of total clinical recovery was found respectively A+P (182), A+R (188), A (244) and A+R+P (349). The best clinical recovery was observed in the dogs of A+P group which were treated with proanthocyanidin. During the pre-treatment and treatment, the lowness in the number of lymphocyte in all groups was remarkable. In all groups, during the pre-treatment and treatment, there was a decrease in the levels of erythrocyte, hemoglobin, and hematocrit. In A+P group, a significant rise in the numbers of total leucocyte and neutrophil was identified. On the contrary, a decline in the numbers of total leucocyte, neutrophil and monocyte was observed in group A+R. In all groups, during pre-treatment and treatment, a decrease in the albumin level was detected. A rise in the level of creatine and a fall in the level of cholesterol were seen in the groups of A+R and A+P. On the 7th day of the treatment, the highest CDV Ag negative was detected in the group A+R in the samples of blood and swap. On the 10th day of post-treatment, a viral shedding was observed in only two dogs of each A+R and A+P groups. Conclusion: In the treatment of canine distemper, in addition to the classical treatment, it is observed that the use of ribavirin and proanthocyanidin helps decreasing the severity of clinical findings, mortality, and viral shedding and increasing the survival rate. By means of clinical score, hematologic and biochemical findings and the survival rate, the best outcome was obtained in the group which was treated with proanthocyanidin. On the other hand, by means of viral shedding, the best outcome was detected in the group which was treated with ribavirin. It is concluded that the use of ribavirin and proanthocyanidin in the treatment of canine distemper has positive effects. Key Words : Antiviral, canine distemper virus, proanthocyanidin, ribavirin