Canine Distemper Outbreak by Natural Infection in a Group of Vaccinated Maned Wolves in Captivity

Canine distemper virus (CDV) is one of the most significant infectious disease threats to the health and conservation of free-ranging and captive wild carnivores. CDV vaccination using recombinant canarypox-based vaccines has been recommended for maned wolf (Chrysocyon brachyurus) after the failure of modified live vaccines that induced disease in vaccinated animals. Here, we report a CDV outbreak in a captive population of maned wolves that were previously vaccinated. Five juveniles and one adult from a group of seven maned wolves housed in an outdoor exhibit died in April–May 2013 in a zoo in the Metropolitan Region, Chile. Clinical signs ranged from lethargy to digestive and respiratory signs. Diagnosis of CDV was confirmed by histopathology, antibody assays, and viral molecular detection and characterization. The phylogenetic analyses of the nucleotide sequence of the H gene of the CDV genome identified in the two positive samples suggest a close relation with the lineage Europe 1, commonly found in South America and Chile. CDV infections in maned wolves have not been previously characterized. To the authors’ best knowledge, this is the first report of the clinical presentation of CDV in a canine species previously immunized with a recombinant vaccine.