Serosurvey of canine distemper virus in culpeo (Lycalopex culpaeus) and chilla (Lycalopex griseus) foxes of the Araucanía region, Chile

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Felipe A. Hernández
Dominique Surot
Antulemu Vallverdú
Michelle Cueva
Isabel M. Aguirre
Edith A. Mancilla
Gerardo Acosta-Jamett

Abstract

Our goal was to assess whether free-ranging foxes have been exposed to canine distemper virus (CDV) in the Araucanía region in Chile. The study was conducted at three sites in rural areas where free-ranging foxes were trapped and bled from 2009 to 2012. We sampled two species of foxes: the culpeo (Lycalopex culpaeus) (n=13) and the chilla (Lycalopex griseus) (n=14). A serum virus neutralization assay was used to detect the presence and magnitude of functional systemic antibodies to CDV. Overall, CDV seroprevalence in culpeo and chilla foxes was 7.7 and 21.4%, respectively. Exposure to CDV did not differ among the sites. Despite the relatively low seroprevalence found in free-ranging foxes, the presence of CDV-seropositive dogs previously reported in rural sites nearby, suggests a potential risk of pathogen spill over from domestic dogs to foxes in the area.

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How to Cite
Hernández, F. A., Surot, D., Vallverdú, A., Cueva, M., Aguirre, I. M., Mancilla, E. A., & Acosta-Jamett, G. (2023). Serosurvey of canine distemper virus in culpeo (Lycalopex culpaeus) and chilla (Lycalopex griseus) foxes of the Araucanía region, Chile. Austral Journal of Veterinary Sciences, 55(2), 142–146. https://doi.org/10.4067/S0719-81322023000200142
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Author Biography

Felipe A. Hernández, Instituto de Medicina Preventiva Veterinaria, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad Austral de Chile, Valdivia, Chile.

Center for Surveillance and Evolution of Infectious Diseases, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad Austral de Chile, Valdivia, Chile.