Serological evidence of canine parvovirus in domestic dogs, wild carnivores and marsupials in the humid Argentinean Chaco

OROZCO, M. M.; MICCIO, LUCIANO; ENRIQUEZ, G.; IRIBARREN FABIAN; GURTLER R. E.

JOURNAL OF ZOO AND WILDLIFE MEDICINE

AMER ASSOC ZOO VETERINARIANS

Lugar: Lawrence; Año: 2014 vol. 45 p. 555 - 563

1042-7260

The transmission of pathogens between domestic dogs and generalist wildlife species may be modified by environmental degradation, biodiversity losses, host densities and increased contact rates in remnant forest patches. A serological survey of canine parvovirus (CPV) in rural domestic dogs and wild mammals was conducted in two neighboring rural areas (disturbed and protected) from Pampa del Indio, northeastern Argentina, between 2008 and 2011. A total of 174 domestic dogs and 26 wild mammals: 4 crab-eating foxes (Cerdocyon thous), 3 crab-eating raccoons (Procyon cancrivorus), 17 white-eared opossums (Didelphis albiventris) and 2 gray four-eyed opossums (Philander opossum), were examined for antibodies to CPV using a hemagglutination inhibition assay. Domestic dogs were numerous and their movements unrestricted. The main function of dogs differed significantly between areas, with more dogs used for herding or hunting around the protected area. The seroprevalence of antibodies to CPV in dogs from both areas was very high (93.9-94.6%) and increased steeply with age. Nearly all carnivores and marsupials showed high exposure to CPV. Although we expected a higher exposure to CPV in wild mammals from disturbed areas due to enhanced contact between dogs and wildlife, no significant differences were found between areas. We provide the first reports on exposure to CPV of free-ranging Pr.cancrivorus, D.albiventris and Ph. opossum, and performed a detailed demographic study of the domestic dog populations living in the area. Our study highlights that dogs and wildlife have potential opportunities for contact, and shows that the edges of the protected area may be as suitable as other fragmented areas for the transmission of CPV. Rural domestic dogs may pose serious threats for the health and conservation of wild carnivores in both disturbed and protected areas, especially in the Gran Chaco where habitat fragmentation is severely increasing.