Seroprevalence of Canine Parvovirus and Canine Distemper in Wolves in Relation to Human Activity in the Canadian Rocky Mountains

Authors

  • Bynne Nelson Wildlife Biology Program, University of Montana, Bonner, Montana 59823
  • Mark Hebblewhite Wildlife Biology Department, University of Missoula, Montana 59802
  • Todd Shury Parks Canada, Department of Veterinary Pathology, Western College of Veterinary Medicine, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada S7N 5B4
  • Evelyn Merrill Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada T6G 2E9
  • Dale Deip BC Ministry of Forests, Prince George, British Columbia, Canada V2L3H9
  • Nathan Webb Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada T6G 2E9
  • Fiona Schomiegelow Department of Renewable Resoruces, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada T6G 2H1
  • Paul C. Paquet World Wildlife Fund, Meacham, SK, Canada SOK 1VO

Abstract

Diseases affect social carnivores that occur in high density areas, like wolves (Canis lupus). Carrier species (feral dogs, coyotes, foxes) travel between the urban/wildlife interface; thus, transmitting diseases to wolves. We sampled 99 wolves from the years 2000 to 2008 ·for canine parvovirus (CPV) and canine distemper virus (CDV) in Banff and Jasper National Parks and surrounding areas of the Canadian Rockies. Of the 99 wolves, 92 tested positive for CPV, 22 tested positive for CDV and 22 tested positive for both diseases. We tested
whether seroprevelence of CPV and CDV was higher closer to human activity (roads, town sites, campgrounds, federally designated Indian reserves) and as a function of sex, age class, and different wolf packs using mixed-effects logistic regression models. CPV and CDV seroprevalence was found to be higher in areas closer to human activity and was higher in younger age classes of wolves. Understanding disease transmission between urban areas and wildlife areas with high wolf densities, like the Canadian Rockies, could yield pertinent information about disease profiles. Disease profiles from the Canadian Rockies could help conserve the recently delisted wolf species in areas like Yellowstone National Park where human activity is high relative to wolf activity.

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Published

2009-12-31

Issue

Vol. 15 No. 4 December (2009)

Section

Individualized Meeting Abstracts