CD virus confirmed in blood of 5 Gir lions
Priyangi.Agarwal@timesgroup.com
Bareilly: 09.10.2018
A team of scientists from Indian Veterinary Research Institute (IVRI) who conducted a postmortem of a lion and tested five blood samples collected from the big cats of Gujarat’s Gir forest has found presence of canine distemper virus (CDV).
According to RK Singh, director, IVRI, “The report from our scientists has revealed that five samples were found to be CDV-positive. The postmortem report of the carcass also concluded the same. When any infection spreads among animals, it is debatable whether to conduct vaccination of the animals or not. It is prudent that a meeting should be conducted with officials of the forest department and experts from IVRI, National Institute of Virology, Wildlife Institute of India and veterinary colleges of Junagarh and Anand, for further studies and vaccination.”
The scientists said major source of the virus are stray dogs in and around forests, but other species like jungle cat, palm civet cat, jackal and red panda may be potent sources of the virus among wild felids (big cats). Scientists said the vaccination available for dogs was not recommended for big cats. There is presently no vaccine for CDV available in the country for felids but a vaccine available in US is recommended for big cats.
In August, TOI had quoted a report by IVRI scientists on CDV among different wildlife species acrossthecountry from 2012 to 2017 stating that of the total 98 samples from lions analysed here, 54 were found to be infected. CDV breaks down the immune system and causes various secondary bacterial infections which lead to death.
NO VACCINE FOR CDV
Priyangi.Agarwal@timesgroup.com
Bareilly: 09.10.2018
A team of scientists from Indian Veterinary Research Institute (IVRI) who conducted a postmortem of a lion and tested five blood samples collected from the big cats of Gujarat’s Gir forest has found presence of canine distemper virus (CDV).
According to RK Singh, director, IVRI, “The report from our scientists has revealed that five samples were found to be CDV-positive. The postmortem report of the carcass also concluded the same. When any infection spreads among animals, it is debatable whether to conduct vaccination of the animals or not. It is prudent that a meeting should be conducted with officials of the forest department and experts from IVRI, National Institute of Virology, Wildlife Institute of India and veterinary colleges of Junagarh and Anand, for further studies and vaccination.”
The scientists said major source of the virus are stray dogs in and around forests, but other species like jungle cat, palm civet cat, jackal and red panda may be potent sources of the virus among wild felids (big cats). Scientists said the vaccination available for dogs was not recommended for big cats. There is presently no vaccine for CDV available in the country for felids but a vaccine available in US is recommended for big cats.
In August, TOI had quoted a report by IVRI scientists on CDV among different wildlife species acrossthecountry from 2012 to 2017 stating that of the total 98 samples from lions analysed here, 54 were found to be infected. CDV breaks down the immune system and causes various secondary bacterial infections which lead to death.
NO VACCINE FOR CDV
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