Canine distemper virus infection in binturongs (Arctictis binturong).

Abstract

prehensile tail. 14 Reports of susceptibility of the binturong to canine distemper are based on clinical observations, but there has been no recovery of the virus or histopathologic documentation of infection. 2 This report documents the light microscopic, ultrastructural, and immunohistochemical findings of canine distemper in binturongs. Four males (ages 1, 2.5, 2, and 7 years) of 7 binturong in a private collection exhibited clinical signs of anorexia and lethargy for 2 weeks and then died. Initially, the binturong passed blood and mucus in feces, followed by mucoid discharge from the eyes and nose. Footpads of all affected animals were thickened. The referring veterinarian treated the affected animals symptomatically. None of the binturong in the collection had been vaccinated for canine distemper. Serum from 1 of the affected animals that had been collected and banked prior to the time of illness was submitted for evaluation of the canine distemper virus (CDV) antibody titer. a