ATYPICAL FORM OF NERVOUS DISTEMPER IN 2 G OLDEN RETRIEVER BITCHES

Two cases of an atypical form of nervous distemper in dogs are present ed. Neither of the animals exhibited respiratory or gastro-intestinal signs. The predominant clinical signs were myoclonia of the abdominal muscles and a rarely described paralysis of the hindlimbs with a slow progression cranially. The clinical diagnosis was confirmed post morte m by immunohistological demonstration of canine distemper virus, that is antigen in the cytoplasm and in the nuclei of astrocytes and in cor tical neurons. The aetiology, detection of CDV and prevention by vacci nation are discussed.