• About BCR
  • News
  • News @ BCR
  • Rescues
  • Issues
  • Cat Laws
Thursday, May 26, 2022
  • Login
  • Register
Big Cat Rescue
  • Get Involved
  • Cub Facts
  • The Sanctuary Cats
  • FAQs
  • Contact Us
  • Shop
  • Videos
  • Donate
No Result
View All Result
Big Cat Rescue
  • Get Involved
  • Cub Facts
  • The Sanctuary Cats
  • FAQs
  • Contact Us
  • Shop
  • Videos
  • Donate
No Result
View All Result
Big Cat Rescue
No Result
View All Result
Home News @ BCR

Today at Big Cat Rescue June 15 2013

Carole by BCR
June 15, 2013
in News @ BCR
0 0
0
Today at Big Cat Rescue June 15 2013
0
SHARES
7
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare via Email

http://youtu.be/mV1CVTPVAJg

 

C1-Bank-Sponsors-Big-Cat-Rescue DontFeedMosquitoes KittenCorralSlab2013 Penelope-Cat-Ride-Home RamboSign2013

 

In-Sync Exotics Hit By Canine Distemper

 

http://myemail.constantcontact.com/In-Sync-Exotics-Hit-by-Canine-Distemper–PLEASE-READ-.html?soid=1101287526129&aid=jl2VmngI8Zc

 

Asian tigers at risk from domestic dog distemper virus

 

10 June 2013 Last updated at 02:45 ET By Mark Kinver Environment reporter, BBC News

Canine distemper virus has been confirmed in a number of Amur tigers

SarmotitigerPumpkin_23

 

Some of the world’s rarest big cat species are facing a potentially deadly threat from a virus carried by domestic dogs, a wildlife expert has warned.

 

John Lewis, director of Wildlife Vets International, said there was evidence that Indonesian tigers were at risk.

 

Canine distemper virus has evolved in recent decades from infecting only dogs to affecting other animal groups.

 

Dr Lewis plans to work with Indonesian vets to develop a strategy to protect the nation’s tigers from the virus.

 

A close relative of measles, Canine distemper virus (CDV) was first described at the beginning of the 20th Century and has been cited as contributing to the demise of the thylacine (commonly known as the Tasmanian tiger as a result of the black stripes on its back).

 

“If you wind the clock back about 30 or 40 years, it was a dog disease – it was a canine virus and only affected dogs,” Dr Lewis explained.

 

“But in the intervening years, the virus has evolved and has changed its pattern of animals it can infect to include marine mammals (such as seals) and big cats.”

 

Reservoir dogs

 

He told BBC News that CDV needed a reservoir, like a population of dogs, to remain effective as a pathogen.

 

Anecdotal evidence suggests CDV is already affecting critically endangered Sumatran tigers

These conditions were present when the first case of the disease affecting wild big cats was documented, he recalled.

 

“In the mid-1990s, in the Serengeti, Africa, about 30% of the lions died from CDV, which came from dogs in surrounding villages.

 

“It has also been recognised in the Asian big cat populations,” he added.

 

“Since 2000, in the Russian Far East, there have been a few cats reported as behaving strangely and coming into villages, apparently not showing much fear towards people.

 

“In the past few years, tissue from at least a couple of those cats have now been confirmed as showing the presence of CDV infection.

 

“There have not been too many cases at the moment, we think about three or four, but we think there could have been more that have gone undiagnosed.”

 

While some tigers appear as if they are able to build up a reasonable immunity response, most of the animals do succumb to the disease if they are exposed to the virus.

 

Dr Lewis explained that symptoms manifested themselves in a number of ways:

 

“Some will die as a result of respiratory problems, such as pneumonia for example.

 

“Some will have neurological problems, such as losing the fear of people or having seizures.”

 

But, he added: “We do not have enough information on CDV in tigers to know what percentage go on to die; we just have a little bit of data from zoos and a little bit of data from the wild.

 

“There are a lot of cases of distemper in the region and tigers are partial to eating dogs.

 

“For a tiger to take a dog on the periphery of a village is not usual at all, so you do have the circumstances that would bring tigers into contact with CDV.”

 

Although it was assumed the cause of CDV infection in tigers was a result of coming into contact with dogs carrying the virus, Dr Lewis said that a research project was under way to look at the source of CDV in Amur tigers (also known as Siberian tigers) in the Russian Far East.

 

Worrying signs

 

The behaviour change in tigers was particularly worrying, Dr Lewis observed.

 

“This puts them at big risk because they lose their fear of poachers or they bring themselves in situations of conflict, such as playing with traffic.”

 

On a recent visit to the Indonesian island of Sumatra, he said conversations with local wildlife vets seemed to indicate that CDV could already be present in the population of the critically endangered Sumatran tiger.

 

They told him that they had seen strange behaviour displays by tigers, such as the big cats coming into villages and losing their fear of people.

 

“To me, that suggests that distemper is already beginning to have an impact on tigers in Sumatra,” he warned.

 

“But before you say ‘yes, that is definitely the result of CDV’, you need diagnostic testing of brain tissue.

 

“The big threats facing tigers are habitat loss and degradation and poaching, but I think the third big threat now is likely to be disease, particularly one like CDV.”

 

The Sumatran tiger is only found on the island and population estimates suggest that there are fewer than 700 left in the wild, of which only 40% are viable mature individuals.

 

Dr Lewis is returning to Sumatra in September to bring together all the vets from all the different areas that come into contact with tigers.

 

“The goal is to thrash out a very simple way of deciding what samples need to be taken from all tigers that are handled by humans throughout Sumatra, in order to help us with diagnostics,” he explained.

 

“We also need to thrash out what samples need to be taken from domestic dog populations.

 

“We need to work out where we can send these samples for laboratory testing. We need to work out how we are going to store and move these samples.

 

“Once we have got that nailed down then we start work and try to design some sort of mitigation strategy, and that won’t be easy.”

 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-22812914

Tags: big catstigerstodayVet
Previous Post

Today at Big Cat Rescue June 14 2013

Next Post

Today at Big Cat Rescue June 16 2013 Fathers Day

Carole

BCR

Big Cat Rescue is Caring for Cats and Ending the Trade

Related Posts

Bailey_Bobcat_Big Cat Rescue_ BrittanyMira
News @ BCR

Bailey

May 26, 2022
1.1k
Carole Howie and Jasmine
News @ BCR

Film

May 9, 2022
92
Alex el Tigre
Featured

Big Cat Rescue is Live 24/7 on Webcams

April 21, 2022
318.6k
FelineLeukomyelopathyFLMbobcatFWC
News @ BCR

FLM

April 19, 2022
191
2021 Great Non Profits Big Cat Rescue
News @ BCR

NFT Leaderboard

April 17, 2022
1.4k
Next Post
SARMOTI-tiger-loves-Caturday

Today at Big Cat Rescue June 16 2013 Fathers Day

Leave a Reply

  • Default Comments (0)
  • Facebook Comments

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Help Feed Big Cats

One of the best ways to help is through general donations that can be used however it is most needed at the time.To make a general donation just click the Donate Now button below.  This is the best way to give as it has the lowest credit card processing fees and is immediate help for the cats.

Give to Big Cat Rescue

If you prefer to donate via Pay Pal, please use this link: Pay Pal

Recent Articles

  • Tiger Teeth May 26, 2022
  • Orpheus May 26, 2022
  • Wild Bobcats Get Tracking Collars May 26, 2022

More From BigCatRescue

  • Big Cat Rescue is Live 24/7 on Webcams
  • Rescue Missions
  • About Big Cat Rescue
  • Big Cat Rescue News
  • Reviews
  • Our Recent Work
  • Sanctuary FAQs
  • Big Cat TV

Sanctuary Cats

  • Jaguars
  • Leopards
  • Lions
  • Tigers
  • Bobcats
  • Canada Lynx
  • Cougars
  • Ocelots
  • Savannah Cats
  • Servals

Ways to Help

  • Newsletter SignUp
  • Donate Now
  • Shop
  • Wish List
  • Volunteer
  • Contact Us
  • View AMP Version

Save Big Cats

Donate to Big Cat Rescue
No Result
View All Result
  • Login
  • Sign Up
  • About BCR
  • News @ BCR
  • Videos
  • Big Cat Facts
  • Cub Facts
  • Sanctuary Cats
  • Shop and Save Cats
  • Volunteer
  • Donate
  • Abuse Issues
  • Contact Us

© Copyright 2021 BigCatRescue.Org. All Rights Reserved.

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password? Sign Up

Create New Account!

Fill the forms below to register

All fields are required. Log In

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish.AcceptReject Read More
Privacy & Cookies Policy

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
SAVE & ACCEPT

Add New Playlist