Dog in sheep’s clothing: livestock depredation by free-ranging dogs may pose new challenges to wolf conservation

Lino, Sofia; Rossa, Mariana; Fernandes, Joana M.; Barros, Tânia; Lino, Ana; Hipólito, Dário; Ferreira, Eduardo; Aliácar, Sara C.; Cadete, Duarte; Fonseca, Carlos; Torres, Rita T.; Rosalino, Luís M.; Carvalho, João

doi:10.1007/s10344-023-01740-9

Cited by 4 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 41 publications

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“…In addition to causing problems related to animal welfare and population control [1], these dogs pose multiple risks to humans, livestock and wildlife. Such risks include bites [3, 4], depredation of livestock [5], hybridization with wild canids [6, 7], competition with wildlife [6], road accidents [8] and disease transmission [9–12].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Viruses of free-roaming and hunting dogs in Uganda show elevated prevalence, richness and abundance across a gradient of contact with wildlife

Tayebwa,

Hyeroba,

Dunn

et al. 2024

Journal of General Virology

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Domestic dogs (Canis lupus familiaris) live with humans, frequently contact other animals and may serve as intermediary hosts for the transmission of viruses. Free-roaming dogs, which account for over 70% of the world’s domestic dog population, may pose a particularly high risk in this regard. We conducted an epidemiological study of dog viromes in three locations in Uganda, representing low, medium and high rates of contact with wildlife, ranging from dogs owned specifically for traditional hunting in a biodiversity and disease ‘hotspot’ to pets in an affluent suburb. We quantified rates of contact between dogs and wildlife through owner interviews and conducted canine veterinary health assessments. We then applied broad-spectrum viral metagenomics to blood plasma samples, from which we identified 46 viruses, 44 of which were previously undescribed, in three viral families, Sedoreoviridae, Parvoviridae and Anelloviridae. All 46 viruses (100 %) occurred in the high-contact population of dogs compared to 63 % and 39 % in the medium- and low-contact populations, respectively. Viral prevalence ranged from 2.1 % to 92.0 % among viruses and was highest, on average, in the high-contact population (22.3 %), followed by the medium-contact (12.3 %) and low-contact (4.8 %) populations. Viral richness (number of viruses per dog) ranged from 0 to 27 and was markedly higher, on average, in the high-contact population (10.2) than in the medium-contact (5.7) or low-contact (2.3) populations. Viral richness was strongly positively correlated with the number of times per year that a dog was fed wildlife and negatively correlated with the body condition score, body temperature and packed cell volume. Viral abundance (cumulative normalized metagenomic read density) varied 124-fold among dogs and was, on average, 4.1-fold higher and 2.4-fold higher in the high-contact population of dogs than in the low-contact or medium-contact populations, respectively. Viral abundance was also strongly positively correlated with the number of times per year that a dog was fed wildlife, negatively correlated with packed cell volume and positively correlated with white blood cell count. These trends were driven by nine viruses in the family Anelloviridae, genus Thetatorquevirus, and by one novel virus in the family Sedoreoviridae, genus Orbivirus. The genus Orbivirus contains zoonotic viruses and viruses that dogs can acquire through ingestion of infected meat. Overall, our findings show that viral prevalence, richness and abundance increased across a gradient of contact between dogs and wildlife and that the health status of the dog modified viral infection. Other ecological, geographic and social factors may also have contributed to these trends. Our finding of a novel orbivirus in dogs with high wildlife contact supports the idea that free-roaming dogs may serve as intermediary hosts for viruses of medical importance to humans and other animals.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Viruses of free-roaming and hunting dogs in Uganda show elevated prevalence, richness and abundance across a gradient of contact with wildlife

Tayebwa,

Hyeroba,

Dunn

et al. 2024

Journal of General Virology

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Avenues for Coexistence: How Perception of Costs and Benefits Shape Attitudes towards Wolves

Lino,

Carvalho,

Fonseca

et al. 2024

Hum Ecol

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Human dimensions play a pivotal role in wolf management and conservation. To offer an informed basis to improve Human-Wolf coexistence, we explore how socio-demographic factors, fear, knowledge, and perceptions of costs and benefits of wolf presence drive human attitudes in the southern area of the Douro River, Portugal, a region inhabited by a small and endangered wolf population. We interviewed 220 people (175 from the general public, 13 hunters, and 32 livestock owners) through a semi-structured survey organized on a 5-point Likert scale. Public and hunter respondents exhibited neutral to positive attitudes, whereas livestock owners expressed negative to neutral attitudes and revealed a Not-In-My-Backyard sentiment. We found that positive attitudes were linked to a greater receptiveness to increased wolf numbers, particularly in areas of irregular wolf presence. Fear was a significant driver of public attitudes, while the presence of wolves influenced livestock owners’views. For both groups, attitudes were also influenced by perceived costs and benefits. Knowledge about wolves did not significantly influence attitudes, with scores being consistently low across groups, and the myth of reintroduction persisting. Thus, management actions should address the concerns and complaints of individuals directly affected by wolves, dispel common fears and myths, and emphasize the ecological and economic benefits of wolf presence in the territory. Media outlets can serve as strategic partners in engaging the neutral population through untargeted interventions. Prioritizing the input of all groups, including conservationists, is essential for establishing common ground and ensuring sustained coexistence.

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Sociodemographic factors and dog ownership practices that perpetuate the roaming of owned dogs in selected urban and rural settings in Uganda

Tayebwa,

Ssekandi,

Nalubwama

et al. 2024

Journal of Applied Animal Welfare Science

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Dog in sheep’s clothing: livestock depredation by free-ranging dogs may pose new challenges to wolf conservation

Cited by 4 publications

References 41 publications

Viruses of free-roaming and hunting dogs in Uganda show elevated prevalence, richness and abundance across a gradient of contact with wildlife

Viruses of free-roaming and hunting dogs in Uganda show elevated prevalence, richness and abundance across a gradient of contact with wildlife

Avenues for Coexistence: How Perception of Costs and Benefits Shape Attitudes towards Wolves

Sociodemographic factors and dog ownership practices that perpetuate the roaming of owned dogs in selected urban and rural settings in Uganda

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