Out of 23 Asiatic lions in Gir National Park, some died due to Canine Distemper Virus (CDV) which finds its connections in East Africa; however, the virus can be restrained by using the available CDV vaccinations, confirms Indian Council of Medical research (ICMR) report. The report was submitted to the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change by ICMR on Thursday.
“We tested 24 samples of 12 Asiatic lions for CDV and five samples were found positive. Out of these 12 lions, three were already dead, eight were under treatment and one had already recovered. Samples were found positive in three dead lions, one which recovered and one which was under treatment,” said a senior scientist of ICMR.
The samples were received by ICMR-National Institute of Virology (NIV), Pune after investigations were done by Department of Veterinary, Pathology and Animal Husbandry, the scientist added.
According to the report, the samples were collected between September 19 and September 24 2018 and were received by NIV on September 26. Further on October 2, 22 more samples were tested for the disease and were found to be negative, suggested the report.
“Till date no complete genome of CDV is reported from India. For the first time a complete genome of CDV was recovered by ICMR-NIV, Pune. The sequence was compared to available CDV sequences and it was found to be related to the East African strains,” stated the report.
In India, only a few reports are available regarding the detection of CDV in captive wild carnivores which included tigers and red panda, the report added.
Stating the cure, the report further said, “It is felt that the existing CDV vaccine should work as a protective intervention for lions during the current CDV outbreak.” Vaccination of lions with CDV should be taken up on an urgent basis, added the report. The report was sent to the union environment ministry by the institute on Thursday. In a letter sent to the ministry by ICMR headquarters along with the report said, “Full genome sequencing has been carried out at ICMR-NIV. The genome is closely related to the East African strains of CDV. Hence, we assume that the currently available CDV vaccine should be effective in this outbreak.” As of now, 23 lions have been reported dead in Gir National Park, Gujarat.