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Vaccination-induced distemper in kinkajous
Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association
|December 1, 1981
Summary
Modified live canine distemper virus vaccines caused severe neurological disease in two young kinkajous. These vaccines should be used cautiously or avoided in kinkajous due to adverse effects.
Area of Science:
- Veterinary Neurology
- Wildlife Pathology
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- Canine distemper virus (CDV) is a highly contagious pathogen affecting various carnivores.
- Modified live-virus (MLV) vaccines are commonly used for canine distemper prevention.
- Kinkajous (Potos flavus) are exotic animals with limited research on vaccine responses.
Observation:
- Two young kinkajous vaccinated with a dog-derived MLV CDV vaccine developed severe gastrointestinal and neurological signs.
- Clinical manifestations included diarrhea, myoclonus, ataxia, tremors, and convulsions.
- Histopathology revealed interstitial pneumonia, enteritis, and multifocal CNS inflammation with axonal damage.
Findings:
- Canine distemper viral inclusions were identified in glial cells within the central nervous system.
- Lesions ranged from white matter inflammation and gliosis to complete neuronal destruction in the spinal cord.
- One kinkajou recovered, while the other experienced a relapse and was euthanatized.
Implications:
- MLV CDV vaccines pose a significant risk for inducing severe disease in kinkajous.
- Vaccination protocols for kinkajous require careful consideration and potential modification.
- Further research is needed to evaluate alternative vaccination strategies or assess susceptibility in this species.