Unveiling patterns of viral pathogen infection in free-ranging carnivores of northern Portugal using a complementary methodological approach

Abstract

A B S T R A C TPathogen surveillance in free-ranging carnivores presents challenges due to their low densitie and secretive nature. We combined molecular and serological assays to investigate infections by viral pathogens (Canine parvovirus (CPV), Canine distemper virus (CDV) and Canine coronavirus (CCoV)) in Portuguese carnivores (Canis lupus, Vulpes vulpes, Lutra lutra, Martes foina, M. martes, Meles meles, and Genetta genetta) over a period of 16 years. Additionally we explored spatio-temporal patterns of virus occurrence in Canis lupus. Our study identified CPV DNA in all carnivore species with an overall prevalence of 91.9 %. CPV was detected in all sampled years and seasons in Canis lupus, supporting its enzootic nature. CDV RNA was mainly detected in the Canidae family, with viral nucleic acid recorded between 2005 and 2008 with a peak prevalence of 67 % among the wolf population, followed by a sharp decline, suggesting an epizootic behaviour of the virus. Antibodies show that mustelids and viverrids were often exposed to CDV. CCoV was first recorded by molecular methods in wolf samples in 2002, remaining in the wolf populations with marked fluctuations over time. The dual serological and molecular approach provided important epidemiological data on pathogens of wild carnivores in Portugal. These programmes should also include monitoring of other potential reservoir hosts such as domestic cats and dogs.

Integrated Use of Molecular Techniques to Detect and Genetically Characterise DNA Viruses in Italian Wolves (Canis lupus italicus)

“…Twenty-one out of 23 (91.3%) wolves tested positive to Carnivore protoparvovirus 1 DNA. A higher frequency (97.6%) of infection in wolves was reported in Portugal by Rosa et al [ 62 ], while a lower frequency was found in tissue samples of wolves from Spain (67.6%) [ 16 ] and Italy (54.3%) [ 13 ]. Contrary, other European studies described a much lower frequency of infection using molecular techniques, ranging from 5 to 15.2% in wolves from Portugal and Italy, respectively [ 18 , 20 ].…”

Domestic Dogs and Wild Foxes Interactions in a Wildlife-Domestic Interface of North-Central Chile: Implications for Multi-Host Pathogen Transmission

“…Considering the high to moderate CDV and CPV seroprevalences reported in dog (CDV: 67–69%; CPV: 83–94%) and fox (CDV: 43–50%; CPV: 29–83%) populations at the vicinity of Tongoy-Guanaqueros towns ( 35 ), perhaps interaction rates between dogs and foxes may facilitate exposure to these canid-borne viruses at the periurban zone. However, further studies are needed to understand whether effective cross-species pathogen transmission occurs in our system and disease agents largely jump from dogs to foxes [e.g., ( 82 , 83 )], or sympatric wild foxes would be able to maintain endemic pathogen infections, similarly to other wild carnivores elsewhere [e.g., ( 84 , 85 )].…”

Pathology of Coronavirus Infections: A Review of Lesions in Animals in the One-Health Perspective

“…Infection with an enteric CCoV has only been sporadically detected in wolves ( Canis lupus lupus ), but lesions have not been described [ 161 , 162 ]. Similarly, in red foxes ( Vulpes vulpes ), CCoV infection causes mild, self-limiting enteritis followed by rapid recovery [ 163 ]. SARS-CoV RNA was detected in naturally infected red foxes from a live animal market [ 164 ].…”

“…Eurasian otters ( Lutra lutra ) and common genets ( Genetta genetta ) have shown mild, self-limiting enteritis followed by rapid recovery associated with isolation of CoV-like particles [ 163 ].…”