Distemper virus affects wild carnivores of all stripes

Abstract

This news item from the Cornell Chronicle is about: Tigers, lions and other wild carnivores, already under threat from poaching and habitat loss, are falling victim to a virus that could soon drive some endangered populations to extinction. Canine distemper virus strikes wild carnivores of all stripes, including Amur tigers (also called Siberian tigers), which roam the Russian Far East in ever-dwindling numbers. Scientists from the Wildlife Conservation Society, the Baker Institute, and the University of Glasgow are urging swift action to address the crisis by developing control measures for the virus, such as delivering a vaccine that is safe for these animals. They also suggest renaming canine distemper virus to reflect the wide range of animals that can carry the virus and suffer from the disease