An Infectious Disease and Mortality Survey in a Population of Free-Ranging African Wild Dogs and Sympatric Domestic Dogs

Abstract

Disease can cause declines in wildlife populations and significantly threaten their survival. Recent expansion of human and domestic animal populations has made wildlife more susceptible to transmission of pathogens from domestic animal hosts. We conducted a pathogen surveillance and mortality survey for the population of African wild dogs (Lycaon pictus) in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN), South Africa, from January 2006-February 2007. Samples were obtained from 24 wild dogs for canine distemper virus (CDV) and canine parvovirus (CPV) serological testing. Data were collected on the presence of CDV, CPV, and rabies virus in the KZN domestic dog (Canis familiaris) population from 2004-06. The presence of these pathogens was confirmed in domestic dogs throughout KZN. Wild dogs exhibited 0% and 4.2% prevalence for CDV and CPV antibodies, respectively. In 2006 the largest wild dog pack in KZN was reduced from 26 individuals to a single animal; disease due to rabies virus was considered the most probable cause. This study provides evidence that CDV, CPV and rabies are potential threats to African wild dog conservation in KZN. The most economical and practical way to protect wild dogs from canine pathogens may be via vaccination of sympatric domestic dogs; however, such programmes are currently limited.

Rabies outbreak in African Wild Dogs (Lycaon pictus) in the Tuli region, Botswana: Interventions and management mitigation recommendations

“…Regular preventative vaccination programmes of domestic animal populations should be considered in communities surrounding conservation areas that are vulnerable to edge effects and anthropogenic pressures. This is the most sustainable, practical and cost effective long-term approach to protect wild dogs from rabies infection at the source (Flacke et al, 2013;Taylor & Nel, 2015). Proactive preventative vaccination programmes are aligned with the One Health concept; the outcome being to protect both domestic and wild animal populations, thereby improving the health of endangered wildlife, as well as the health, welfare and economic resilience of communities surrounding protected areas.…”

Advances in canine distemper virus pathogenesis research: a wildlife perspective

“…To sustain an epidemic of CD, dense populations of susceptible individuals and the continued presence of a biological reservoir are required [54,58]. Owing to their wide distribution, domestic dogs (C. familiaris) are key reservoirs for a variety of diseases and are considered the primary reservoir for CDV infection [58][59][60][61][62]. Domestic dogs, from communities surrounding protected wildlife areas, are often unvaccinated and occur in high densities with a rapid population turnover.…”

Serological and molecular investigation of viral agents in free-living jaguars of the Pantanal wetlands, state of Mato Grosso, Brazil

“…This zoonotic viral disease kills thousands of humans and animals around the world each year. In recent decades, rabies has been considered a potential threat to the conservation of wild carnivore populations (SILLERO-ZUBIRI et al, 1996;FLACKE et al, 2013), as well as a new public health concern (BERNARDI et al, 2005).…”