Distemper can be disinfected with which of the following?

• A. Any disinfectant
• B. Bleach only
• C. Alcohol-based disinfectants only
• D. No disinfectants are effective

Answer: (A)

Distemper is caused by an enveloped virus, and enveloped viruses are generally vulnerable to a wide range of disinfectants because their lipid envelope can be disrupted by detergents and oxidizing agents. Because of this, most common disinfectants used in veterinary and clinical settings—such as bleach solutions, alcohol-based products, and other standard sanitizers—can inactivate distemper when used at proper concentrations, with adequate contact time, and after cleaning away organic material. That wide susceptibility is why the statement that basically any appropriate disinfectant can work is considered correct.

Keep in mind that effectiveness depends on using the disinfectant correctly (correct concentration, sufficient contact time, and clean surfaces). The options claiming only bleach or only alcohol would miss the broader range of agents that can also work, and saying no disinfectants are effective is false because enveloped viruses like distemper are readily inactivated by many disinfectants.