Surveillance of Major Canine Pathogens in Feral Dogs and Big Cats at the Domestic-Wildlife Interface in Panna Tiger Reserve, India

The present study was conducted at Panna Tiger Reserve of Madhya Pradesh for sero-surveillance for canine parvovirus (CPV), canine distemper virus (CDV) and canine adenovirus (CAV) infections in feral dogs. Biological samples were also collected from the wild carnivore species which were immobilized or died during the study period. Serum samples were subjected for detection of IgG antibodies against CPV, CDV and CAV infections. Additionally biological samples of wild carnivores were subjected to molecular diagnosis of CPV and CDV genes. Seroprevalence for CPV, CDV and CAV infections was observed as 3.5%, 4.4% and 0.89%, respectively, whereas for mixed infections of CPV+CDV, CPV+CAV, CDV+CAV and CPV+CDV+CAV, it was observed as 48.2%, 1.7%, 4.4% and 36.6%, respectively. Sex wise, age wise and distance wise seroprevalence was non-significant in the present study. Seroprevalence for CPV, CDV and CAV infections in cats was observed as 50%, 100% and 0%, whereas in wild carnivores, it was observed as 100%, 90% and 0% respectively. PCR based diagnosis in the wild carnivore also revealed CDV positive cases. Serological and genomic evidence of pathogens in dogs-cats of buffer villages and wild carnivores of Panna tiger reserve indicated that the viruses may pose a high risk of spillover to wild carnivores. Study also indicated that dog population is immuned to major infectious diseases but can be a threat to the compromised wild carnivore species including tigers.