Patterns of Exposure of Iberian Wolves (Canis lupus) to Canine Viruses in Human-Dominated Landscapes

Abstract

Wildlife inhabiting human-dominated landscapes is at risk of pathogen spill-over from domestic species. With the aim of gaining knowledge in the dynamics of viral infections in Iberian wolves (Canis lupus) living in anthropized landscapes of northern Spain, we analysed between 2010 and 2013 the samples of 54 wolves by serology and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for exposure to four pathogenic canine viruses: canine distemper virus (CDV), canine parvovirus-2 (CPV), canine adenovirus 1 and 2 (CAV-1 and CAV-2) and canine herpesvirus. Overall, 76% of the studied wolves presented evidence of exposure to CPV (96% by HI, 66% by PCR) and 75% to CAV (75% by virus neutralization (VN), 76% by PCR, of which 70% CAV-1 and 6% CAV-2). This represents the first detection of CAV-2 infection in a wild carnivore. CPV/CAV-1 co-infection occurred in 51% of the wolves. The probability of wolf exposure to CPV was positively and significantly correlated with farm density in a buffer zone around the place where the wolf was found, indicating that rural dogs might be the origin of CPV infecting wolves. CPV and CAV-1 appear to be enzootic in the Iberian wolf population, which is supported by the absence of seasonal and inter-annual variations in the proportion of positive samples detected. However, while CPV may depend on periodical introductions by dogs, CAV-1 may be maintained within the wolf population. All wolves were negative for exposure to CDV (by VN and PCR) and CHV (by PCR). The absence of acquired immunity against CDV in this population may predispose it to an elevated rate of mortality in the event of a distemper spill-over via dogs.

Viral gut metagenomics of sympatric wild and domestic canids, and monitoring of viruses: Insights from an endangered wolf population

“…CDV was identified in feces of wolf and is known to induce high mortality in wild and domestic carnivores (Almberg et al., ; Beineke, Baumgärtner, & Wohlsein, ). On the Iberian Peninsula, few studies have investigated exposure of free‐ranging wolves to CDV by serological methods, reporting from 0 up to 18.7% seroprevalence (Millán et al., ; Santos, Almendra, & Tavares, ; Sobrino, Arnal, Luco, & Gortázar, ). Using molecular methods, Millán et al.…”

“…Using molecular methods, Millán et al. () did not detect CDV in feces and tissue samples from 54 free‐ranging wolves. Müller and colleagues were able to retrieve a complete H protein gene (encoding the viral hemagglutinin, which is responsible for host recognition) from two wolves whose death was attributed to canine distemper, one of which originated in 2008 in the same South of Douro wolf population sampled in our study.…”

An Ecological Framework for Modeling the Geography of Disease Transmission

“…B H \ A H defines a parasite's potential host breadth (H P ) ( Figure 3B,C): host populations that the parasite could theoretically infect and persist in, in the absence of dispersal or demographic barriers [36,72,73]. B H \ A H \ M H determines a parasite's occupied host breadth (H O ) ( Figure 3B,C): the subset of potential host species it can infect considering dispersal limitations at different scales (e.g., geographic barriers, demographic constraints).…”

Detection of selected pathogens in Apennine wolf (Canis lupus italicus) by a non-invasive GPS-based telemetry sampling of two packs from Majella National Park, Italy

“…Pathogens that could be a threat to the health status of wolf population are canine parvovirus type 2 (CPV-2), now classified as carnivore protoparvovirus 1, canine distemper virus (CDV), canine coronaviruses (CCoVs), and canine Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (https://doi.org/10.1007/s10344-019-1326-y) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users. adenoviruses (CadVs), along with endoparasites characterized by a partial or complete life cycle in the intestinal tract (Borecka et al 2013;Millán et al 2016). In Italy, the most recent studies documented the occurrence of aforementioned viruses in the Apennine wolf population, with particular regard to the variant b of CPV-2, canine adenovirus CadV-1, and CadV-2, a pantropic strain of CCoVs and almost two different lineages of CDV (Di Sabatino et al 2014;Pizzurro et al 2017;Alfano et al 2018).…”

“…The majority of these studies were conducted by noninvasive monitoring procedures analyzing the fecal samples opportunistically collected along the trails, off-road, and transects detected by means of wolf howling and snow tracking sessions, and/or recovering the carcasses (Millán et al 2016;Pizzurro et al 2017;Alfano et al 2018).…”