Systematic Veterinary Virology

SEROLOGY

• Distemper titers of either the “IgM”  type (produced in early stages of infection) and the “IgG” type (produced in later phases of infection) can be checked. A high IgM titer indicates recent infection or recent vaccination. It is difficult to differentiate between antibodies initiated by vaccination and infection.
  • Cerebrospinal fluid antibody levels: In neurologic distemper cases, cerebrospinal fluid is often tapped and distemper antibody levels checked. Distemper antibodies in cerebrospinal fluid are highly indicative of distemper infection as vaccine-induced antibodies do not cross the blood-brain barrier into the CSF fluid.