Canine Distemper Virus Innoculations at HIP

[Flutterby]

11 Oct 2016
By Cole du Plessis, Wildlife ACT iMfolozi, News

It was approximately eight weeks ago that Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Game Reserve lost 12 members of the Crossroads Pack to the Canine Distemper Virus. After this tragic incident took place, Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife, Wildlife ACT and the Endangered Wildlife Trust (EWT) came together to strategize a plan going forward. One of the immediate outcomes of this meeting was to inoculate Dela’s Pack. This is the pack that (until recently) shared a territorial boundary with the deceased Crossroads Pack.

The vaccine being used is called the Recombitek Canary Pox Vaccine. For this to work, an African Wild Dog needs the primary inoculation followed by another “booster” six weeks later. As it stands, we have recently proceeded with the second round of inoculations, which will hopefully help to prevent future outbreaks of Canine Distemper Virus.

Although the focus has been on Dela’s Pack, we are continuing intensive monitoring of the remaining five African Wild Dog packs that reside in Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Game Reserve. To date, no further signs or symptoms of Canine Distemper Virus have been noted.

While it has been a time of tragedy for the African Wild Dog population (and subsequent operations have been timely and at high cost) there has been overwhelming support from all parties involved. We would like to extend a special Thank You to all those that have shown their support.

What is Canine Distemper Virus?

Canine Distemper is a highly contagious and serious viral illness with no known cure. The disease affects domestic dogs and certain wildlife species. Canine Distemper belongs to the Morbillivirus class of viruses. It is a relative of the Rinderpest virus that affects cattle and is in the same family of viruses that causes measles, mumps, and bronchiolitis in humans.

In canines, Canine Distemper Virus impacts several body systems, including the gastrointestinal and respiratory tracts and the spinal cord and brain. The viral infection can be accompanied by secondary bacterial infections and can cause serious neurological symptoms.

http://wildlifeact.com/blog/canine-dist ... tions-hip/

[Lisbeth]

They had better start doing this also in Kruger at least to the packs living close to the one which was destroyed a few months ago.

[Flutterby]

[Richprins]

I think they are doing it in Kruger, as far as I know?

Or at least trying to...Kruger is a different kettle of fish!

https://www.africawild-forum.com/viewtopic.php?f=317&t=7000

[Lisbeth]

I do not even remember what I post

[stefan9]

As far as I know EWT plans to do this in KNP as well. They currently have a fund raising project to do this for as many packs as possible around the country.

[Bushcraft]

I watched them dart a dog last week in KNP, not sure if it was for this though

[RogerFraser]

Endangered Wildlife Trust
Yesterday at 9:00am
Wild Dogs Update

A second pack of Wild Dogs in the Kruger National Park has been successfully darted, vaccinated and fitted with a GPS tracking collar as part of the ongoing disease survey and vaccination of Wild Dogs in this park. This pack is a new pack which has formed after females from the Orpen Pack dispersed and joined a dispersal group of males from the Berg n Dal Pack. The pack is doing well and are raising a litter of five new pups which is a welcome boost to the Wild Dog population in Kruger!

[stefan9]

That is excellent news. Thank you for sharing Roger Fraser

[Lisbeth]

Good news