Lions hounded again by canine distemper

23/12/2016
Lions hounded again by canine distemper

Nyoooz
http://www.nyoooz.com/ahmedabad/693560/lions-hounded-again-by-canine-distemper

Summary: AHMEDABAD: The threat of canine distemper is again hounding the Asiatic lion in its last abode. After tests by Indian Veterinary Research Institute (IVRI) confirmed that the four lions sent to Etawah in UP from Gujarat's Sakkarbaug Zoo had died of canine distemper virus (CDV), UP authorities ordered vaccine for the virus. Dr Bhuva is now the advisor to UP government for the Etawah Lion Safari project.Quoting findings, Bhuva said, "The IVRI has confirmed that the four lions which died in Etawah had died of canine distemper virus. "Since these animals were sent from Gujarat, there is always a possibility of an active virus in Gujarat, and hence we have given the surplus vaccine to Sakkarbaug zoo," Bhuva added.A P Singh, chief conservator of forest, said, "Recently, two lions were diagnosed with canine distemper. "In 1994, CDV caused widespread deaths of lions in Serengeti National Park, Tanzania, causing fatal neurological disease characterized by grand mal seizures and myoclonus.

AHMEDABAD: The threat of canine distemper is again hounding the Asiatic lion in its last abode. After tests by Indian Veterinary Research Institute (IVRI) confirmed that the four lions sent to Etawah in UP from Gujarat's Sakkarbaug Zoo had died of canine distemper virus (CDV), UP authorities ordered vaccine for the virus. Seven doses of the vaccine, brought from the American Zoo Veterinary Association have also been sent to Sakkarbaug Zoo, because authorities believe the virus is present in Gujarat, the last abode of Asiatic lions.While the alarm about the presence of canine distemper virus in Asiatic lions had earlier been raised by Dr Richard Kock of Britain's Royal Veterinary College , this time the former director of Sakkarbaug Zoo, Junagadh, C N Bhuva, has confirmed the threat. 

Dr Bhuva is now the advisor to UP government for the Etawah Lion Safari project.Quoting findings, Bhuva said, "The IVRI has confirmed that the four lions which died in Etawah had died of canine distemper virus. We then sought information about its vaccine and ordered some doses.""Though the dose was not scientifically tested, we learned that there was no side-effect and hence to save the other six lions we ordered and administered the vaccine with positive results," said Bhuva."However, in one case, the results were not positive and hence we ordered a batch of 10 more doses, of which three were used in Etawah, and the remaining seven were sent to Sakkarbaug Zoo. We have documented the entire vaccination in Etawah," said Bhuva."Since these animals were sent from Gujarat, there is always a possibility of an active virus in Gujarat, and hence we have given the surplus vaccine to Sakkarbaug zoo," Bhuva added.A P Singh, chief conservator of forest, said, "Recently, two lions were diagnosed with canine distemper.