Detection of canine distemper virus in stray and pet dogs in Mosul city, Iraq

الملخص EN

The current work was carried out during the period from September, 2020 to March, 2021 in Mosul city, Iraq, with the objectives to detection of canine distemper virus (cdv) for the first time in Mosul using microscopic examination of blood smears, rapid serum antigen test and sandwich Elisa test as well as determine the agreement between the different diagnostic methods.

a total of 92 blood samples were collected from suspected dogs with cdv (69 stray dogs and 23 pet dogs).

a primarily detection of cdv in blood smear by the presence of inclusion bodies in erythrocytes and leukocytes, followed by detection of cdv antigen in serum using rapid test and sandwich Elisa test.

results indicate that the infection rates of cdv in dogs were 32.6%, 13%, and 19.5% using microscopic examination, rapid test and sandwich Elisa test respectively.

a statistically significant higher infection rate was reported in stray dogs compared to pet dogs based on all diagnostic tests used in this study.

based on kappa values 0.413, 0.675, 0.745, there were moderate agreement between microscopic examination and rapid test, and substantial agreement between microscopic examination and sandwich Elisa test, also between rapid test and sandwich Elisa test respectively.

in conclusions, cdv is widespread in dogs in Mosul city, Iraq and all tests used in this study are efficient for detection cdv based on compatibility between them.