Distemper outbreak and its effect on African wild dog conservation. Emerg Infect Dis 8(2

In December 2000, an infectious disease spread through a captive breeding group of African wild dogs (Lycaon pictus) in Tanzania, killing 49 of 52 animals within 2 months. The causative agent was identified as Canine distemper virus (CDV) by means of histologic examination, virus isolation, reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction analysis, and nucleotide sequencing. This report emphasizes the importance of adequate protection against infectious diseases for the successful outcome of captive breeding programs of endangered species. The African wild dog (Lycaon pictus) is a highly endangered carnivore found in Africa south of the Sahara. Its population, estimated at <5,500, has declined dramatically in recent decades. Suggested causes for this decline include habitat loss, killing by humans, reduced prey availability, competition with other carnivores, and infectious diseases, including rabies and canine distemper (1). As part of a conservation plan for the African wild dog, a captive breeding program was established in 1995 at Mkomazi Game Reserve, Tanzania, under the auspices of the Government of Tanzania. A founder group of 25 animals was divided into fou