Canine distemper virus (CDV) is a serious threat to dogs and many other species. It is a highly transmissible and fatal disease that not only affects dogs, but other wildlife as well. Among animals of the same species, the pathogen spreads through interaction, immigration, feeding, and mating. In predators and scavengers, the pathogen spreads through interaction and feeding on infected carcasses. The prevalence of the disease and the multiple routes of transmission mean that there is “frequent interspecies interaction able to create a mixed host-species scenario that endures the maintenance of a persistent infection.” As it is a disease that originates in canines, researchers note that the main way that CDV spreads to wildlife is “undoubtedly” via infected domestic dogs.

In this editorial from the journal Vaccine, the authors detail how outbreaks of CDV among dogs have spread to wildlife, including among wolves in central Italy that live in areas with critically endangered populations of brown bears. The researchers state that CDV transmission from dogs to wildlife have been “well-described” in European and African contexts, and point out the catastrophic effects it can have on wildlife. They point out that vaccination against CDV is the only effective way to keep the broader spread of the disease under control, and recommend that mass vaccination should be considered in strategic areas “as valid preventive measures to protect rare and susceptible wild species.”

For advocates, this short editorial provides several key references for learning about the importance of CDV. It is a good reminder that advocating for companion dogs might include some reference to managing the disease.