Dog nectin-4 is an epithelial cell receptor for canine distemper virus that facilitates virus entry and syncytia formation

► Canine distemper virus (CDV) was shown to use dog nectin-4 as a receptor. ► Two splice variants of dog nectin-4 were identified. ► Both dog nectin-4 and human nectin-4 could function as an entry factor for CDV. ► CDV infection could be inhibited by RNAi or with nectin-4 antibodies. ► Dog nectin-4 promotes syncytia formation, which could be inhibited by siRNA treatment.