Serological Survey for Selected Diseases in the Endangered San Joaquin Kit Fox (Vulpes Macrotis Mutica)

Abstract

Blood from endangered San Joaqumn kit foxes (Vulpes macrotis mutica) inhabiting the Elk Hills Naval Petroleum Reserve, Kern County, and the Elkhorn Plain,

Serologic Survey for Canine Infectious Diseases among Sympatric Swift Foxes (Vulpes velox) and Coyotes (Canis latrans) in Southeastern Colorado

“…Evidence of tularemia has not been reported for swift foxes. In kit foxes, F. tularensis antibodies were reported to be 8-31% in California (McCue and O'Farrell, 1988). Among coyotes, evidence of tularemia antibodies was found in Wyoming (Gese et al, 1997) and Utah (Arjo et al, 2003) but at low levels.…”

“…The prevalence of Y. pestis antibodies has not been reported for swift foxes. Among kit foxes, no evidence of Y. pestis antibodies was reported in California (McCue and O'Farrell, 1988). Among coyotes, the seroprevalence of Y. pestis antibodies was reported to be low in California (Ͻ6%; Thomas and Hughes, 1992).…”

“…Compared with previous samples from the same study area collected in different time periods, the prevalence of CPV antibodies increased in both swift foxes (from 39%; Miller et al, 2000) and coyotes (from 71%; Gese et al, 1991). The prevalence of CPV antibodies among San Joaquin kit foxes (V. macrotis mutica), a close relative of the swift fox (Mercure et al, 1993), ranged 67-100% in California (McCue and O'Farrell, 1988). The prevalence of CPV antibodies in coyotes from other western states (Arizona, Idaho, Utah, and Wyoming) was generally Ͼ70% (Thomas et al, 1984;Gese et al, 1997;Grinder and Krausman, 2001;Arjo et al, 2003).…”

“…Miller et al (2000) documented 18% prevalence of CDV antibodies among swift foxes, whereas Gese et al (1991) found a seroprevalence of 57% among coyotes. McCue and O'Farrell (1988) reported CDV antibodies in 0-14% of the kit foxes sampled in California. We found that levels of CDV antibodies increased with age among both species, similar to results among coyotes in Texas (Guo et al, 1986), Wyoming (Gese et al, 1997), Arizona (Grinder and Krausman, 2001), and Utah (Arjo et al, 2003).…”

“…The prevalence of CAV antibodies has not been previously examined among swift foxes. McCue and O'Farrell (1988) reported a prevalence of CAV antibodies among San Joaquin kit foxes of 6-21% in California. The prevalence of CAV antibodies among coyotes in Arizona, Texas, Utah, and Wyoming has been reported to be 31-100% (Trainer and Knowlton, 1968;Gese et al, 1997;Grinder and Krausman, 2001;Arjo et al, 2003).…”