Canine Diseases: Transmission, Diagnosis, and Prevention

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Questions and Answers

If a dog exhibits acute neurological signs, including hydrophobia and uncharacteristic aggression, and has a history of recent wildlife exposure, which diagnostic approach is MOST definitive for confirming rabies?

Performing a postmortem fluorescent antibody test on brain tissue. (correct)
Performing a complete blood count and serum chemistry panel to rule out other causes of neurological dysfunction.
Monitoring the dog for clinical progression over a 10-day quarantine period, as recommended by the Compendium of Animal Rabies Prevention and Control.
Submitting a saliva sample for PCR testing to detect the presence of the rabies virus.

A puppy presents with severe gastrointestinal distress, including bloody diarrhea and vomiting, alongside neurological signs such as seizures and muscle tremors. Given the potential for multiple concurrent infections in young animals, what diagnostic strategy offers the MOST comprehensive approach to differentiate between, and potentially identify co-infections of, canine distemper and parvovirus?

Performing individual ELISA tests for both canine distemper and parvovirus on fecal samples to confirm or rule out each virus separately.
Administering broad-spectrum antibiotics and supportive care, then observing the puppy's response to treatment to retrospectively determine the causative agent(s).
Utilizing a combination of RT-PCR on respiratory and conjunctival swabs for distemper and PCR on fecal samples for parvovirus, alongside a complete blood count to assess for secondary bacterial infections. (correct)
Relying solely on clinical signs and history due to the cost-effectiveness and rapid assessment it provides in critical cases.

In a kennel environment, a novel respiratory outbreak is suspected to be canine infectious tracheobronchitis (CIT). Considering the multifactorial etiology of CIT, which diagnostic approach simultaneously identifies both viral and bacterial agents involved, and informs targeted treatment and biosecurity protocols?

Employing a multiplex PCR assay on nasal or tracheal washes capable of detecting common viral (e.g., adenovirus, parainfluenza virus, influenza virus) and bacterial (e.g., _Bordetella bronchiseptica_, _Mycoplasma spp._) pathogens. (correct)
Assessing antibody titers against common viral agents to determine prior exposure or vaccination status, without evaluating current bacterial involvement.
Presumptive diagnosis based on clinical signs (e.g., 'goose honk' cough) and initiating empirical antibiotic therapy targeting common bacterial pathogens.
Conducting bacterial culture and sensitivity testing on nasal swabs to identify bacterial components only.

Given the increasing prevalence and variable clinical presentations of canine influenza virus (CIV), which strategy offers the MOST effective, long-term control of CIV in a high-risk population, such as dogs in shelters or frequent boarding facilities?

Implementing a vaccination protocol that includes both the H3N2 and H3N8 strains of CIV, combined with ongoing surveillance through PCR testing of nasal swabs from dogs with respiratory signs. (D) Signup and view all the answers

A veterinary practice receives a blood sample from a 5-month-old puppy presenting with seizures. The veterinarian suspects a possible infectious cause, based on the puppy's incomplete vaccination history. Considering the age of the puppy, which infectious disease should be prioritized in the differential diagnosis, given its known association with seizures in young dogs?

Canine distemper virus (CDV). (D) Signup and view all the answers

A dog presents with neurological symptoms, including hydrophobia and aggression, and is suspected of having rabies. Why is postmortem testing the definitive diagnostic method for rabies, rather than premortem?

Premortem tests are unreliable due to the long incubation period and low viral load in saliva and other accessible tissues. Postmortem examination allows for direct testing of brain tissue, where the virus is more concentrated. (A) Signup and view all the answers

A breeder reports that several puppies in their kennel have shown signs of fever, lethargy, vomiting, and bloody diarrhea. Which diagnostic approach will yield the quickest and most accurate results for parvovirus?

Submitting a fecal sample for ELISA or PCR testing to detect the presence of parvovirus antigens or DNA, given the rapid onset and severity of clinical signs. (A) Signup and view all the answers

Why is the adenovirus type 2 (CAV-2) used in canine adenovirus vaccines instead of adenovirus type 1 (CAV-1)?

CAV-2 provides cross-protection against CAV-1 without causing severe clinical disease like CAV-1, which can induce infectious canine hepatitis. CAV-2 is more effective at stimulating a cell-mediated immune response. (B) Signup and view all the answers

How do the clinical signs of the furious stage of rabies differ from the paralytic stage, and what neurological mechanisms underlie these differences?

The furious stage involves hyperactivity, aggression, and biting due to viral encephalitis affecting the limbic system and cerebral cortex, while the paralytic stage involves ascending paralysis due to viral damage to the motor neurons in the spinal cord. (C) Signup and view all the answers

Considering the various causative agents of canine infectious tracheobronchitis (kennel cough), which combination of diagnostic tests would provide the most comprehensive identification of the specific pathogens involved in an outbreak?

Bacterial culture and sensitivity testing of tracheal wash samples to identify Bordetella bronchiseptica, combined with PCR assays for common respiratory viruses like adenovirus and parainfluenza virus. (A) Signup and view all the answers

Flashcards

Rabies transmission

Via bite wounds; virus sheds in saliva.

Rabies diagnosis timing

Postmortem (after death)