First Evidence of Canine Distemper in Brazilian Free-Ranging Felids

Abstract

Serum samples from 19 jaguars (Panthera onca), nine pumas (Puma concolor), and two ocelots (Leopardus pardalis) were collected between January 1999 and March of 2005 and tested for presence of canine distemper virus (CDV). All cats were free-ranging animals living in two protected areas in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest. In addition, 111 domestic dogs from nearby areas were sampled for CDV. Our results show the first evidence of CDV exposure in Brazilian free-ranging felids. From the 30 samples analyzed, six jaguars and one puma were tested seropositive for CDV. All seropositive large felids were from Ivinhema State Park, resulting in 31.5% of the sampled jaguars or 60% of the total jaguar population in Ivinhema State Park, and 11.28% of the sampled pumas. From the total 111 domestic dogs sampled, 45 were tested seropositive for CDV. At Morro do Diabo State Park, 34.6% of the dogs sampled were positive for CDV, and 100% at Ivinhema State Park. Canine distemper virus in wild felids seems to be related with home range use and in close association with domestic dogs living in nearby areas.

Cross-species transmission of canine distemper virus—an update

“…There is serological evidence of CDV infections in Namibian free ranging and captive cheetahs ( Acinonyx jubatus ) [102], Namibian caracals ( Caracal caracal ) [102], Argentinian Geoffroy's cats ( Leopardus geoffroyi ) [111], Brazilian pumas ( Puma concolor ) [112], and Californian mountain lions ( Puma concolor ) [113].…”

Epidemiological features and the neuropathological manifestations of canine distemper virus-induced infections in Brazil: a review

“…Since that initial report, there have not been documented descriptions of CDV-induced disease in Brazilian wildlife until the recent studies affecting members of the Canidae and Felidae families (MEGID et al, 2009;HÜBNER et al, 2010). Members including the crab-eating, Cerdocyon thous (MEGID et al, 2009;HÜBNER et al, 2010), hoary, Lycalopex vetulus (MEGID et al, 2010), and the pampas fox, Pseudalopex gymnocercus (HÜBNER et al, 2010), as well as the jaguar, Panthera leo,and the puma, Puma concolor (NAVA et al, 2008) have been reported as infected by CDV. However, seroepidemiological surveys realized in the region of the Serra do Cipó National Park, MG (CURI et al, 2010) Phylogenetic tree demonstrating the relationship of strains of canine distemper virus based on the N protein gene.…”

“…In most cases, where wildlife species have been infected by CDV in Brazil (NAVA et al, 2008;MEGID et al, 2009;HÜBNER et al, 2010), the spill-over effect due to spontaneous contact between infected dogs and susceptible animals has been incriminated as the cause of viral dissemination. The spill-over effect is characterized as the transmission of infectious agents from reservoir animal populations (more frequently domesticated species) to sympatric wildlife species (i.e., animals occupying the same or overlapping geographic areas without interbreeding) frequently results in emerging infectious diseases (EID) which can be fatal to the new host and threaten endangered species (DASZAK; CUNNINGHAM; HYATT, 2000).…”

“…In cases of CDV infections described in urban cities affecting dogs (HEADLEY; GRAÇA, 2000;GUEDES et al, 2010) or in forested areas with disease in wildlife (NAVA et al, 2008;MEGID et al, 2009;HÜBNER et al, 2010) in Brazil mongrel dogs are frequently associated with viral dissemination. Further, epidemiological data have demonstrated that mongrels represented the largest populations (54%) of dogs infected with CDV in Santa Maria/RS (HEADLEY; GRAÇA, 2000), contributed to 44% of CDV-induced cases diagnosed in Porto Alegre/RS (SONNE et al, 2009), and 30% of all dogs with CDV from Belém/PA (GUEDES et al, 2010).…”

“…A seroepidemiological survey realized in Pelotas/RS demonstrated that 68% of dogs positive for CDV had access to the street and 58% of all positive dogs were mongrels (HASS et al, 2008). The spillover effect as occurred in the USA (DASZAK; CUNNINGHAM; HYATT, 2000), was attributed to the dissemination of canine parvovirus, canine adenovirus, and canine coronavirus infections between infected mongrels and susceptible wild canids native to the Serra do Cipó National Park/MG (CURI et al, 2010), and to CDV-induced disease in large felids residing in State Parks of Mato Grosso do Sul (NAVA et al, 2008). Therefore, the large amount of mongrels that are easily encountered in several rural and semi-urban cities of Brazil would serve not only as reservoirs and distributors of CDV, but for other infectious disease agents, thereby excluding the necessity of having a wildlife species serving as an intermediate host for CDV in Brazil, as is described in North America (KAPIL et al, 2008) and Europe (MEYERS et al, 1997;PHILIPPA et al, 2008).…”