Abstract
In this study, four canine distemper virus (CDV) strains were isolated from captive Siberian tigers (Panthera tigris altaica) and red pandas (Ailurus fulgens) during two separate CDV outbreaks in a zoo in Guangdong province, China. Sequence alignment and phylogenetic analyses based on the full-length hemagglutinin (H) and fusion (F) genes showed that they were closely identical to genotype Asia-1. Prior to confirmation of CDV in Siberian tigers, to control spread of the disease, a live attenuated combination CDV vaccine was used among almost all carnivore animals except for red pandas in which another recombinant combination CDV vaccine was used. However, about two months later, CDV re-emerged and caused the death among red pandas. Based on the vaccination records, the live combination vaccine could be considered an ideal weapon against CDV in zoo carnivore animals. Although the recombinant combination CDV vaccine was safe for red pandas, its protection effectiveness remains to be further investigated. Moreover, according to the outbreak interval time and sequence characterization, we suspected that stray cats circulating in the zoo were the intermediate host, which contributed to CDV spread from stray dogs to zoo animals. This study revealed the importance of vaccination and biosecurity for zoo animals.
Highlights
Canine distemper virus (CDV) is a small enveloped virus containing a single strand negative-sense RNA molecule about 15.7 kb in size
We identified two discontinuous canine distemper virus (CDV) outbreaks in captive Siberian tigers (Panthera tigris altaica) and red pandas (Ailurus fulgens) in a zoo in Guangdong province, China
Prior to confirmation of CDV in Siberian tigers, in order to control the spread of the disease among zoo animals, one live attenuated combination CDV vaccine was used among almost all carnivore animals except for red pandas in which a different recombinant combination CDV vaccine was used
Summary
Canine distemper virus (CDV) is a small enveloped virus containing a single strand negative-sense RNA molecule about 15.7 kb in size. CDV has a wide host range including the families Urdidae, Canidae, Procyanidae, Hyanidae, Felidae, and Mustelidae[2]. Canine distemper (CD), a “devastating infectious disease” for animals infected with CDV, has a variety of clinical symptoms including sneezing, coughing, runny nose, fever, lethargy, vomiting, diarrhea, and/or loss of appetite. There are a number of reports about CDV in wild tigers and zoo tigers[13,14,15,16,17,18,19]. CDV infection caused illness and death in giant pandas[20,21,22]. We identified two discontinuous CDV outbreaks in captive Siberian tigers (Panthera tigris altaica) and red pandas (Ailurus fulgens) in a zoo in Guangdong province, China. Based on the outbreaks of CDV, possible viral origin and future control measures of CDV were discussed in the zoo
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