Local threats and potential infectious hazards to maned wolves (Chrysocyon brachyurus) in the southeastern Argentine Chaco

OROZCO M. M.; CEBALLOS L.A.; PINO, M. DE LA C.; GURTLER R. E.

MAMMALIA

WALTER DE GRUYTER & CO

Lugar: Berlin; Año: 2013 vol. 1 p. 1 - 11

0025-1461

A near-threatened species, the maned wolf ? s( Chrysocyon brachyurus ) range extends from central Brazil,northern and eastern Bolivia, and southeastern Peruto the southeast of the Gran Chaco ecoregion and adjacentscrubland in Argentina. Rural domestic dogs underownership may pose threats to maned wolves as reservoirhosts of multiple pathogens. A serologic survey ofrural domestic dogs and maned wolves was conducted todocument exposure to canine pathogens in southeasternSantiago del Estero, Argentina, with a parallel questionnaireof knowledge, attitudes, and perception of localvillagers in relation to maned wolves. The three manedwolves examined had evidence of exposure to canineadenovirus, canine distemper virus, canine parvovirus,Leptospira interrogans spp., and Dirofilaria immitis . Dogshad very high seroprevalence for Neospora caninum andcanine coronavirus (67%), canine adenovirus (59%), D.immitis (58%), canine distemper virus (57%), Toxoplasmagondii (33%), and L. interrogans spp. (20%). Antibodies forcanine parvovirus, Brucella canis and Trypanosoma cruziwere rare or absent. Multiple logistic regression analysisshowed that dog seroprevalence was not significantlyassociated with age, sex, and function for any of the pathogensinvestigated. The frequency distribution of seroreactivityto specific pathogens per dog was highly aggregated.Villagers considered that illegal trade, hunting, vehicularcollisions, and interactions with dogs were the most seriouslocal threats for maned wolves. The multiple threatsfaced by the maned wolf populations in southeastern Santiagodel Estero suggest that their populations are unlikelyto remain viable unless specific protection measures aretaken.