Canine Distemper in Endangered Ethiopian Wolves

A severe outbreak of canine distemper virus (CDV) in the Ethiopian wolf (Canis simensis), one of the world's rarest canids, was documented in Bale Mountains National Park (BMNP), Ethiopia, with mortality rates reaching 68% in affected subpopulations. The study, conducted between 2005-2006 and 2010, revealed that CDV outbreaks, occurring shortly after a rabies outbreak, led to the eradication of several wolf packs, exacerbating population recovery challenges. Death rates were significantly higher among subadult wolves (83%-87%) compared to adults (34%-39%), highlighting the dual threat posed by these viral diseases to this critically endangered species. The research underscores the urgent need for targeted conservation strategies to mitigate the combined impact of rabies and CDV on Ethiopian wolf populations.

Gordon, C. H., Banyard, A. C., Hussein, A., Laurenson, M. K., Malcolm, J. R., Marino, J., Regassa, F., Stewart, A.-M. E., Fooks, A. R., & Sillero-Zubiri, C. (2015). Canine Distemper in Endangered Ethiopian Wolves. Emerging Infectious Diseases, 21(5), 824–832. https://doi.org/10.3201/eid2105.141920