PATHOGEN PREVALANCE IN AMERICAN BLACK BEARS () OF THE JEMEZ MOUNTAINS, NEW MEXICO, USA.

Informed management of American black bears () requires knowledge of the distribution and pathology of diseases affecting the species. Little information is available on pathogen prevalence from black bear populations in the Southwest, US, and it is unknown how these infections may influence black bear populations or disease transmission. We captured New Mexico black bears () during 2016-17 as part of a long-term monitoring project and opportunistically collected 36 blood samples from 12 female and 17 male black bears. We wanted to determine prior exposure to canine distemper virus, canine parvovirus, , , West Nile virus, , and the tick-borne pathogens, spp., spp., , spp., and spp. Approximately half (55%, 16/29) of the individuals sampled had antibodies to , and 37% (10/27) had antibodies to . Prevalence of antibodies to West Nile virus, , and canine parvovirus were lower (i.e., 11, 10, and 3%, respectively). We detected no antibodies to canine distemper, , spp., or spp. We documented changes in antibody titer levels for both sexes of several recaptured black bears. Our data will inform managers of pathogen prevalence and distribution in black bears in north-central New Mexico and provide a vital baseline dataset for future pathogen monitoring. Additionally, these data support actions to minimize exposure through handling wild individuals or through hunter harvest activities.