Which disease is a highly contagious viral disease that is often fatal and may cause seizures in the late stages?

• A. Distemper
• B. Rabies
• C. Parvovirus
• D. Canine influenza

Answer: (A)

Distemper virus is a highly contagious viral infection that affects dogs and many wild species, spreading through respiratory secretions and contact with contaminated objects. It often progresses through distinct stages, starting with nonspecific signs and moving to multisystem involvement—respiratory, gastrointestinal, and nervous system. In the late stages, neurologic damage can lead to seizures, tremors, or other signs of encephalitis, and the disease is frequently fatal. This combination of easy spread, high mortality, and late-stage neurologic sequelae is the hallmark that makes distemper the best fit for the description. Rabies is also fatal and neurologic, but its spread is primarily through bites and isn’t as broadly contagious; parvovirus mainly causes severe GI disease with less emphasis on seizures, and canine influenza is mainly respiratory.