A Serological Survey of Infectious Disease in Yellowstone National Park’s Canid Community

BACKGROUND:Gray wolves (Canis lupus) were reintroduced into Yellowstone National Park (YNP) after a >70 year absence, and as part of recovery efforts, the population has been closely monitored. In 1999 and 2005, pup survival was significantly reduced, suggestive of disease outbreaks. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS:We analyzed sympatric wolf, coyote (Canis latrans), and red fox (Vulpes vulpes) serologic data from YNP, spanning 1991-2007, to identify long-term patterns of pathogen exposure, identify associated risk factors, and examine evidence for disease-induced mortality among wolves for which there were survival data. We found high, constant exposure to canine parvovirus (wolf seroprevalence: 100%; coyote: 94%), canine adenovirus-1 (wolf pups [0.5-0.9 yr]: 91%, adults [>or=1 yr]: 96%; coyote juveniles [0.5-1.5 yrs]: 18%, adults [>or=1.6 yrs]: 83%), and canine herpesvirus (wolf: 87%; coyote juveniles: 23%, young adults [1.6-4.9 yrs]: 51%, old adults [>or=5 yrs]: 87%) suggesting that these pathogens were enzootic within YNP wolves and coyotes. An average of 50% of wolves exhibited exposure to the protozoan parasite, Neospora caninum, although individuals' odds of exposure tended to increase with age and was temporally variable. Wolf, coyote, and fox exposure to canine distemper virus (CDV) was temporally variable, with evidence for distinct multi-host outbreaks in 1999 and 2005, and perhaps a smaller, isolated outbreak among wolves in the interior of YNP in 2002. The years of high wolf-pup mortality in 1999 and 2005 in the northern region of the park were correlated with peaks in CDV seroprevalence, suggesting that CDV contributed to the observed mortality. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE:Of the pathogens we examined, none appear to jeopardize the long-term population of canids in YNP. However, CDV appears capable of causing short-term population declines. Additional information on how and where CDV is maintained and the frequency with which future epizootics might be expected might be useful for future management of the Northern Rocky Mountain wolf population

Hepatocellular necrosis associated with the subcutaneous injection of an intranasal Bordetella bronchiseptica-canine parainfluenza vaccine

A three-year-old wire fox terrier inadvertently was given an intranasal Bordetella bronchiseptica and canine parainfluenza vaccine subcutaneously. The dog subsequently developed both a local inflammatory reaction at the injection site and acute, nonseptic hepatocellular degeneration and necrosis. The patient was treated successfully with intravenous fluids and amikacin. Two months after the injection, the serum bile acid concentrations and hepatic histopathology indicated the presence of continued hepatocellular disease.</jats:p

Malignant mesenchymoma associated with an unusual vasoinvasive metastasis in a dog

A case of a malignant mesenchymoma with an unusual, vasoinvasive, metastatic behavior in a three-year-old, intact female basset hound is presented. Malignant mesenchymomas are rare neoplasms in humans and in dogs. No previous reports of a malignant mesenchymoma with vasoinvasive metastasis in the dog were found in the literature. The constituent neoplasms are discussed in relation to reports in the human and veterinary literature, and a potential etiology for this unique presentation is hypothesized.</jats:p

Idiopathic multifocal osteopathy in four Scottish terriers (1991-1996)

This case series describes four Scottish terriers with an osteopathic condition, characterized by multifocal absence of bone in the skull, cervical spine, and proximal radii, ulnae, and femora. All dogs were affected clinically; two dogs were euthanized due to progression of the disease, one died acutely, and one was euthanized for an oral melanoma. Histopathology in one case was characterized by osteoclastic osteolysis and replacement of bone with fibrous tissue. This disease has some characteristics of human osteolysis syndromes. Three of the dogs were related through pedigree analysis, and the pedigree of the other dog was not available. The name, idiopathic multifocal osteopathy, is used to describe a new disease in dogs, found particularly in Scottish terriers.</jats:p