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Project Brief Description: |
Wildlife Health Assessment: Landscape-based surveillance of Canine distemper virus and its impact on Canines and large Feline species. Introduction-Canine distemper virus (CDV) belonging to the family Paramyxoviridae and genus morbilliviruses, and it is closely related to a number of highly pathogenic viruses such as measles virus, rinderpest and Peste des petits ruminant’s virus. CDV is an enveloped, negative-sense, singal-strnded RNA virus. CDV has broader host range infecting Canidae (dog, wolf, jackal, fox, dingo), Mustelidae (ferrets, minks, otters, shunks, badgers), Procyonidae (racoons, pandas) Ursidae( Bears), Viverridae (Civets, genets ,linsangs), Hyaenidae, Felidae( lion, tigers, leopards and other wild cats)and Ailuridae (lesser and giant pandas). Pathophysiology of CDV- Generally, CDV exhibits lympho-, neuro- and epitheliotropism resulting in systemic infection of almost all organ systems including respiratory, digestive, urinary, lymphatic, endocrine, cutaneous, skeletal, and central nervous system (Greene,2013). CDV causes a highly contagious and most important worldwide infectious disease, and its fatality rate is second only to that of rabies (Deem et al., 2000). Mortalities are generally caused due to encephalitis or pneumonia. The virus spreads via aerosol or droplet exposure. Transplacental infection can occur from viremic dams. Virus can be excreted up to 60-90 days post infection. Wild animals with CD appear to act tame or confused and are often found out in the open during the day. They appear disoriented and wander aimlessly. Their sense of fear of humans is lost. Unfortunately, most of these animals suffer neurological complications and finally die. Many diseases pose a substantial threat to rare species worldwide. Spillover of multi-host pathogens from domestic to wild species may occur when a closely related domestic and wild species co-occur and the high-density domestic species acts as a maintenance host with transmission to the rarer wild felids and was responsible for important outbreaks and treats to their conservation. Status of CDV in India- Sero-prevalence of CDV has been reported in Gujrat; 94.59% in Asiatic lion, 91.66% in leopards. High seropositivity to CDV without overt symptoms of clinical disease suggested the possibility of strain with low pathogenicity was circulating in these species’ population as sited by Arora the first case of female tiger was found positive for CDV by RT-PCR in 2012 at Center for Wildlife, IVRI. A total of 95 samples of animals which includes wild felids, red panda, palm civet cat and hyena, have been screened from the year 2012 to 2017 of which 32 were positive for CDV by Rt-PCR and immunohistochemistry. Prevention and control Vaccination and avoiding contact with infected animals are key elements of canine distemper prevention. Moreover, avoid exposure of unvaccinated tigers in reserves to infected animal. Wildlife rehabbers should quarantine any new rehabs until they get a clean bill of health and should have the animals vaccinated against both canine and feline distemper. Control over stray dog population, education and legislation on responsible keeping of dogs, breeding control, catching of stray dogs and keeping them in shelters with proper vaccination and other healthcare, and control of dog movements are key issues in prevention and control of disease. Health management of wildlife, a relatively new area, is totally neglected. There is an urgent need to incorporate this field in the area of wildlife. Necessary funding of investigation studies on disease prevalence and risk of spill-over to wildlife are lacking in India which must be taken into priority. (A survey, conducted by Humane Society International, India in October 2015, found that out of the 17, 061 dogs living in the 5 km buffer zone around the Corbett Tiger Reserve, 13,378 of them were not vaccinated against any kind of diseases). To address this threat to both wildlife and domestic dogs, a comprehensive landscape-based Canine Distemper Virus Surveillance project is proposed within a critical area extending 2 km from the buffer zone of the Corbett Tiger Reserve mainly from Kalagarh range to Mandal Range, covering part of Southern, Eastern and Northen boundary of the Corbett Tiger Reserve in Uttarakhand.
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