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Why can’t dogs catch the measles?

a) Dogs lack a measles receptor
b) Dogs have natural immunity to measles
c) Measles only infects humans
d) Dogs lack the required enzymes for measles infection

1 Answer

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Final answer:

Dogs can't catch measles because they lack the specific receptors that the measles virus needs to infect cells. Their glycoproteins and cellular makeup differ from that of humans, preventing the virus from establishing an infection in dogs.

Step-by-step explanation:

Why Can't Dogs Catch Measles?

In addressing the question of why dogs can't catch the measles, it's important to understand that diseases like measles have specific mechanisms by which they infect hosts. The main reason dogs cannot contract measles is that they lack the specific receptors that the measles virus requires to enter and infect host cells. Unlike humans, dogs have a different array of cell receptors and glycoproteins on their cell surfaces, which means the measles virus cannot bind to their cells and initiate infection. Additionally, it's relevant to note that the canine immune system, which includes components such as natural killer cells, is adapted to fight off pathogens that are specific to canines and may not be the same viruses that affect humans.

Dogs cannot catch the measles because they lack a measles receptor, option a. Measles is a viral infection that specifically targets humans and does not infect other animals like dogs. The virus requires specific receptors on cells to infect them, and dogs do not have the necessary receptors for the measles virus to attach and infect their cells.

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