Samples From 21 Lions Test Positive for Canine Distemper Virus

10/10/2018

Samples From 21 Lions Test Positive for Canine Distemper Virus

The Quint

https://www.thequint.com/news/india/gir-lions-at-risk-of-the-dangerous-cdv-infections

Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and National Institute of Virology (NIV) asked the Gujarat government on Tuesday to move healthy lions from Gujarat's Gir forest after fresh samples of the wild cats tested positive for a virus, which had wiped out 30 percent of lion population in East Africa, indicating "active disease transmission".

"This indicates active disease transmission among the Gir lions," the ICMR and NIV said in a statement. The ICMR, New Delhi, is the apex body in India for the formulation, coordination and promotion of biomedical research.

ICMR-NIV had received a total of 80 samples of nasal, ocular and rectal swabs from 27 Gir lions which were sick and under treatment and observation at Sakkarbaug Zoo, Junagadh, Gujarat. The samples were referred to ICMR-NIV, Pune by the director of Sakkarbaug Zoo on October 6.

"Since the CDV is transmitted by airborne route as well as infected body secretions, healthy lions from Gir forest may be shifted to an alternate suitable location," it said. It also said the lions should be immediately vaccinated with the available vaccine for the CDV. "At present, most of the available vaccines are made up of the CDV American genotypes 1 and 2 and these vaccines have been used in a number of countries and have been found to be effective," it said.

In the past, the CDV wiped out 30 per cent of the total population of lions in Serengeti forest areas in East Africa, ICMR had earlier said. ICMR-NIV had also earlier said it had found the CDV responsible for the death of five Asiatic lions in the Gir forest and as such for the first time a complete genome of the CDV was recovered by the NIV.

The Gujarat forest department Sunday started vaccination of lions in the Gir sanctuary to protect them from a deadly virus which is responsible for the death of some of the big cats in their last abode.