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Furtado, M.M.; Hayashi, E.M.K.; Allendorf, S.D.; Coelho, C.J.; de Almeida Jacomo, A.T.; Megid, J.; Ramos Filho, J.D.; Silveira, L.; Torres, N.M.; Ferreira Neto, J.S.
Exposure of free-ranging wild carnivores and domestic dogs to canine distemper virus and parvovirus in the Cerrado of Central Brazil
2016  EcoHealth (13): 549-557

Human population growth around protected areas increases the contact between wild and domestic animals, promoting disease transmission between them. This study investigates the exposure of free-ranging wild carnivores and domestic dogs to canine distemper virus (CDV) and parvovirus in Emas National Park (ENP) in the Cerrado savanna of central Brazil. Serum samples were collected from 169 wild carnivores, including the maned wolf (_Chrysocyon brachyurus_), crab-eating fox (_Cerdocyon thous_), hoary fox (_Pseudalopex vetulus_), puma (_Puma concolor_), ocelot (_Leopardus pardalis_), pampas cat (_Leopardus colocolo_), jaguarondi (_Herpailurus yagouaroundi_), striped hog-nosed skunk (_Conepatus semistriatus_) and coati (_Nasua nasua_), and from 35 domestic dogs living on rural properties bordering ENP. Serological tests showed that 10.6% of wild carnivores (maned wolves, crab-eating foxes and ocelots) and 71.4% of domestic dogs were exposed to CDV, and 56.8% of wild carnivores, including all species sampled except coatis, and 57.1% of domestic dogs were exposed to parvovirus. This report is the first to indicate that the free-ranging pampas cat, jaguarundi and striped hog-nosed skunk are exposed to parvovirus. CDV and parvovirus deserve attention in ENP, and it is extremely important to monitor the health of carnivore populations and perform molecular diagnosis of the viruses to determine the possible involvement of the domestic dog in their transmission.

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