>Yup, Rhone-Merieux is recalling their vaccines containing Canine Distemper.
>We have been using their vaccines exclusively and have not experienced any
>post-vaccinal distemer like symptoms.
>Terry Cosgrove, DVM
 
    I have seen material from several puppies that exhibited neurological
signs following vaccination with this product.  The lesion is a severe
non-suppurative encephalitis with intranuclear and intracytoplasmic
inclusion bodies that is consistent with canine distemper.  To my
recollection, no respiratory signs were seen in these animals.  I have also
seen skin samples from a ferret injected with this product from various
sites around the body after developemnt of a hyperkeratotic rash.  The skin
samples were identical to those I have seen in cases of canine distemper in
ferrets.
 
    Although the true etiology of this distemper-like syndrome has not been
identified, the association of it with the RM distemper vaccines is highly
suspect and I would recommend that vets who are using it suspend its use -
with the recall in effect, the continued use of this product would be
difficult to legally defend should a case of post vaccinal encephalitis
arise in a patient....
 
Bruce Williams, DVM, DACVP
Dept. of Vet Path, AFIP
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Chief Pathologist, AccuPath
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[Posted in FML issue 1325]