Clinical and serological response of wild dogs (Lycaon pictus) to vaccination against canine distemper, canine parvovirus infection and rabies.

J Van Heerden,J Bingham,M Van Vuuren,R.E.J Burroughs,E Stylianides

doi:10.4102/jsava.v73i1.541

Abstract

Wild dogs Lycaon pictuis (n = 8) were vaccinated 4 times against canine distemper (n = 8) (initially with inactivated and subsequently with live attenuated strains of canine distemper) and canine parvovirus infection (n = 8) over a period of 360 days. Four of the wild dogs were also vaccinated 3 times against rabies using a live oral vaccine and 4 with an inactivated parenteral vaccine. Commercially-available canine distemper, canine parvovirus and parenteral rabies vaccines, intended for use in domestic dogs, were used. None of the vaccinated dogs showed any untoward clinical signs. The inactivated canine distemper vaccine did not result in seroconversion whereas the attenuated live vaccine resulted in seroconversion in all wild dogs. Presumably protective concentrations of antibodies to canine distemper virus were present in all wild dogs for at least 451 days. Canine parvovirus haemagglutination inhibition titres were present in all wild dogs prior to the administration of vaccine and protective concentrations persisted for at least 451 days. Vaccination against parvovirus infection resulted in a temporary increase in canine parvovirus haemagglutination inhibition titres in most dogs. Administration of both inactivated parenteral and live oral rabies vaccine initially resulted in seroconversion in 7 of 8 dogs. These titres, however, dropped to very low concentrations within 100 days. Booster administrations resulted in increased antibody concentrations in all dogs. It was concluded that the vaccines were safe to use in healthy subadult wild dogs and that a vaccination protocol in free-ranging wild dogs should at least incorporate booster vaccinations against rabies 3-6 months after the first inoculation.

Highlights

The wild dog (Lycaon pictus) is a highly endangered canid species that occurs in fragmented pockets throughout its former range[12]
Group 1 consisted of 2 control wild dogs that only received inactivated canine distemper vaccine, Group 2 consisted of 4 animals that received live attenuated canine distemper vaccine, canine parvovirus vaccine, and rabies vaccine intramuscularly, and Group 3 consisted of 4 animals that received live canine distemper vaccine, canine parvovirus vaccine, and oral rabies vaccine (Table 1)
The decision to use an inactivated canine distemper vaccine as the first inoculation was based on the fact that attenuated vaccines have been reported to yield adverse effects in wild carnivores[22]

Summary

Introduction

The wild dog (Lycaon pictus) is a highly endangered canid species that occurs in fragmented pockets throughout its former range[12]. Various reasons for its decline have been postulated and include habitat destruction, persecution, competition with other predators, lack of genetic heterozygosity and disease[11,12]. The potential threat of infectious disease to free-ranging populations of carnivores, especially metapopulations, is increasingly recognised[33]. Rabies, caused by a virus in the family Rhabdoviridae, and canine distemper, caused by a virus of the genus Morbillivirus in the family Paraa[16] Dalham Road, Kimberley, 8301 South Africa. BARC-Onderstepoort Veterinary Institute, Private Bag X5, Onderstepoort, 0110 South Africa. CDepartment of Veterinary Tropical Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Private Bag X4, Onderstepoort, 0110 South Africa.

Methods

Results

Conclusion