The Society for the Conservation of Biodiversity of Maldonado (Socobiome) detected diseases characteristic of domestic animals in wild animals. They are the first records (scientifically documented) found in Uruguay.
Among the main findings, the non-profit organization dedicated to the recovery of native fauna told El País, the presence of the virus was found as canine distemper in wild terrestrial and marine species when they are pathogens that should not be present under normal ecological conditions.
From Socobioma they reported that several animals have entered the center with preventable pathologies (distemper, parvovirus) in dogs and cats, which shows a growing problem linked to the irresponsible management of the ownership of domestic animals.
“It is not an isolated case, but a pattern that we are observing more frequently,” said Lourdes Casas, veterinarian and Socobioma representative. Among the confirmed cases there are sea lions, leopards and mountain foxes.
The genomic studies, which are carried out in conjunction with the Evolutionary Genetics Section of the Faculty of Sciences of the University of the Republic and with the collaboration of the Ministry of Livestock, conclude that “wild fauna is being exposed to pathogens of domestic origin.”
Therefore, Socobioma warns that in terms of health and environmental implications, the findings can lead to a “high impact” phenomenon that affects ecosystems and natural areas.
“Irresponsible ownership, lack of vaccination, abandonment and uncontrolled interaction between domestic and wild animals generate a real health risk, not only for biodiversity, but also for public health. Some of these diseases, such as distemper, can cause significant mortalities in wild populations, compromising their conservation. What happens with domestic animals does not remain within homes, it is reaching ecosystems and leaving measurable consequences,” Casas warned.
The specialist, who founded and directs Socobioma, detailed some scenarios in which infection occurs from dogs and cats to wild animals, particularly canines.
“One of the causes is packs, but not the only one. Dogs that are abandoned also end up interacting with animals in the bush, which is another way it can happen. When you take them for a walk to parks or areas where there is fauna. Dogs can be carriers, they eliminate it through urine (a wild animal can become infected by smelling it) and that is also a route of transmission, which is added to direct contact,” he said.
The main concern lies especially in distemper, which specifically affects the canine population, and which can spread to all carnivores: foxes, skunks, wild cats, ferrets and all mammals of the national fauna.
“The virus has three stages that can appear at the same time or pass from one to another. A digestive stage in which diarrhea predominates, then a respiratory stage in which bronchopneumonia occurs and then the neurological stage in which nervous symptoms predominate, which generates involuntary contractions, muscle atrophy and paralysis that ends up leading to death. On Monday a fox died. The cases are more than those evaluated or scientifically proven. It is the first time it has been detected in Uruguay, “But the disease was there, only now we are looking for it. Two infected foxes already represent a very high number, because we have no way to stop the spread of the disease. It is not possible to vaccinate wild animals or exercise effective control,” Casas said, referring to the exponential transmission behavior that viruses can have.
Vaccinate and identical genome
Because the cases reported occurred in different parts of the country (Canelones, San José and Maldonado), Socobioma places special emphasis on the fact that to carry out adequate control it is necessary to strengthen mandatory vaccination policies for domestic animals.
Of the cases analyzed – carried out mostly on already dead animals – the case of a fox that died in June at the Socobioma facilities was recorded, after being admitted with distemper and parvovirus, presenting “neurological symptoms.”
“Genomic studies demonstrate that the variants detected in wildlife are genetically very similar—and in some cases practically identical—to the variants currently circulating in domestic dogs. These results constitute the first documented and confirmed records for Uruguay,” the organization expressed.
