Abstract
An important canine virus that are spread among the dog population is the canine distemper virus (CDV) which affects domestic and wild animals all over the world, particularly due to the fact that it passes the species. Canine distemper virus is an important veterinary issue in areas with a high number of dogs that are not vaccinated against the virus and also where the disease is present in wild animals. A useful tule in diagnosis of this disease is the real time PCR that can detect the viral genome from oral swabs, ocular swabs, LCR (cerebrospinal fluid), feces or urine, depending on the clinical stage of the disease. This paper presents a reviewed analysis of three case-studies conducted by the Universities of Bari (Italy), Liège (Belgium) and Pécs (Hungary) concerning clinical manifestations of the infection with the Canine Distemper Virus and the efficiency of reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction tests in the detection of viral RNA. The emergence of CDV cases in wildlife is also explored, as is the opportunity of vaccination against CDV infection as a means of protecting domestic dogs in shelters and homes.