Concurrent Rabies and Canine Distemper Outbreaks and Infection in Endangered Ethiopian Wolves.

Intensive disease surveillance in an endangered population of Ethiopian wolves provided evidence of concurrent outbreaks of rabies and canine distemper viruses in 2019, including co-infection in an individual animal. Disease surveillance and intensive monitoring of wolf packs in Ethiopia were essential in detecting the concurrent outbreaks and enabled accurate assessment of disease from both pathogens. The study highlights the risk posed to endangered populations that are susceptible to, or live in areas with, reservoir hosts for canine distemper and rabies viruses.

Could wild boar be the Trans-Siberian transmitter of African swine fever?

China has experienced a sudden multi-focal and multi-round of African swine fever (ASF) outbreaks during 2018. The subsequent epidemiological survey resulted in a debate including the possibility of a transboundary spread from European Russia to China through wild boar. We contribute to the debate by assessing a hypothetical overland Euro-Siberian transmission path and its associated ASF arrival dates.

High probability areas for ASF infection in China along the Russian and Korean borders.

African swine fever (ASF) is a transcontinental, contagious, fatal virus disease of pig with devastating socioeconomic impacts. Interaction between infected wild boar and domestic pig may spread the virus. The disease is spreading fast from the west of Eurasia towards ASF-free China.

Feasibility and efficacy of oral rabies vaccine SAG2 in endangered Ethiopian wolves.

Diseases are a major cause of population declines in endangered populations of several canid species. Parenteral vaccination efforts to protect Ethiopian wolves (Canis simensis) from rabies have targeted the domestic dog reservoir, or the wolves themselves in response to confirmed outbreaks. Oral vaccination offers a more cost-efficient, safe and proactive approach to protect Ethiopian wolves and other threatened canids from rabies.

Canine distemper in endangered Ethiopian wolves.

The Ethiopian wolf (Canis simensis) is the world's rarest canid; ≈500 wolves remain. The largest population is found within the Bale Mountains National Park (BMNP) in southeastern Ethiopia, where conservation efforts have demonstrated the negative effect of rabies virus on wolf populations. We describe previously unreported infections with canine distemper virus (CDV) among these wolves during 2005-2006 and 2010.

Complete genomic sequence of rabies virus from an ethiopian wolf.

Ethiopian wolves are the rarest canid in the world, with only 500 found in the Ethiopian highlands. Rabies poses the most immediate threat to their survival, causing epizootic cycles of mass mortality. The complete genome sequence of a rabies virus (RABV) derived from an Ethiopian wolf during the most recent epizootic is reported here.