PREVALENCE OF ANTIBODIES FOR SELECTED CANINE PATHOGENS AMONG WOLVES (CANIS LUPUS) FROM THE ALASKA PENINSULA, USA

J Wildl Dis. 2016 Jul;52(3):506-15. doi: 10.7589/2015-06-140. Epub 2016 May 19.

Abstract

We collected blood samples from wolves ( Canis lupus ) on the Alaska Peninsula, southwest Alaska, US, 2006-11 and tested sera for antibodies to canine adenovirus (CAV), canine coronavirus (CCV), canine distemper virus (CDV), canine herpesvirus (CHV), canine parainfluenza (CPI), canine parvovirus (CPV), Neospora caninum , and Toxoplasma gondii . Detected antibody prevalence was 90% for CAV, 28% for CCV, 12% for CDV, 93% for CHV, 0% for CPI, 20% for CPV, 0% for N. caninum, and 86% for T. gondii . Prevalence of CCV antibodies suggested a seasonal pattern with higher prevalence during spring (43%) than in fall (11%). Prevalence of CCV antibodies also declined during the 6-yr study with high prevalence during spring 2006-08 (80%, n=24) and low prevalence during spring 2009-11 (4%, n=24). Prevalence of N. caninum and T. gondii antibodies were highly variable in the study area during 2006-11. Results suggested that some pathogens might be enzootic on the Alaska Peninsula (e.g., CAV and CHV) while others may be epizootic (e.g., CCV, N. caninum , T. gondii ).

Keywords: Alaska Peninsula; Canis lupus; serology; wolves.

MeSH terms

  • Adenoviruses, Canine*
  • Alaska
  • Animals
  • Antibodies / analysis
  • Antibodies, Viral*
  • Distemper
  • Distemper Virus, Canine*
  • Dogs
  • Parvovirus, Canine*
  • Prevalence
  • Wolves / virology*

Substances

  • Antibodies
  • Antibodies, Viral