In the Pathology in Practice report describing canine distemper virus (CDV) infection in a puppy (J Am Vet Med Assoc 2015;247:1375–1377), the sentence at the end of the first paragraph in the Comments section lists cheetahs as one of the many varieties of carnivores susceptible to CDV infection. However, it is not clear that cheetahs are in fact susceptible. For example, Appel et al1 tested serum samples collected from 65 cheetahs between 1985 and 1993 at the National Zoo in Washington, DC, for antibodies against CDV, and results were negative for all 65. Munson et al2 identified anti-CDV antibodies in serum samples from wild Namibian cheetahs; however, clinical disease was not documented, and the Association of Zoos and Aquariums Species Survival Plan does not currently recommend vaccinating cheetahs against CDV.
1. Appel MJ, Yates RA, Goley GL, et al. Canine distemper epizootic in lions, tigers, and leopards in North America. J Vet Diagn Invest 1994; 6: 277–288.
2. Munson L, Marker L, Dubovi E, et al. Serosurvey of viral infections in free-ranging Namibian cheetahs (Acinonyx jubatus). J Wildl Dis 2004; 40: 23–31.
