Parvovirus in Wolves

Parvovirus is a disease mainly spread among the canine family.

Mammals such as wolves, foxes, coyotes, and many other dog like mammals.
CPV and CDV are very common viruses that are easily spread among these
animals. CDV is known as canine distemper virus. It is spread by the
respiratory system, by droplets (snot, drool, mucus-membranes, etc). It
affects the respiratory system, gastrointestinal system, and the central
nervous system of canines. It was first noticed in 1905. CPV is known as;
canine parvovirus. CPV is spread by direct/indirect contact with other canines
feces, it started in the 1970's, and in two years it spread worldwide.
Well, how is this spread? An article I read stated, "Both CPV and CDV
are primarily spread by contact between individuals, and they can spread
rapidly because carnivores such as wolves have high dispersal rates,
disperse over wide distances, and have large home ranges." Parvovirus
originally started out affecting cats, in the last couple decades it has made it
way to canines. As the virus is spread from different animals, certain aspects
of it are altered. Parvovirus only affects certain animals, but most commonly
it is seen now days in canines. In depth, CPV gives animals bloody diarrhea,
they become lethargic, have a fever, vomit, and they have a loss of appetite.
All these factors add up, and anorexia becomes another problem because
PREVALENCE OF
ANTIBODIES TO CANINE
PARVOVIRUS
ANDDISTEMPER VIRUS IN
WOLVES IN THE
CANADIANROCKY
MOUNTAINS

the

body

looses

dehydration.

capability

to

absorb

nutrients,

which

also

causes

Eyes and mouth will be red and dry, as well as signs of

tachycardia. Mainly affects the gastrointestinal system. CDV's symptoms are

pus drainage from the eyes,

nasal secretion, fever, reduced appetite,

vomiting, and coughing. CDV is spread by airborne exposure. For the most
part affects the respiratory system.
CPV is spread in the canines stool. Very small amounts of the stool is
still very infectious, and will infect you just as if it were a large piece of stool.
Some animals can be infected with this virus, and show no symptoms but
carry and pass on the virus in their stool. CDV on the other hand is spread by
droplets (airborne). When someone who is CDV positive sneezes they
discharge droppings via the nose or mouth, these droppings are highly
contagious and will cause the virus to spread among those around them. The
nose, mouth, and eyes are heavily involved in the spread of the CDV virus.
From 2000-2008 a group captured wolves to test them for CDV, and
CPV.

Some of the same wolves were captured multiple times, averaging

around 2.5 years apart. 94% of the wolves were said to be antibody-positive.
Which verified the antibodies were built up in the wolves blood.

24% of

wolves were CDV positive meaning that they're more prone to being infected
PREVALENCE OF
ANTIBODIES TO CANINE
PARVOVIRUS
ANDDISTEMPER VIRUS IN
WOLVES IN THE
CANADIANROCKY
MOUNTAINS

by CDV. These tests were done on all different ages, sexes, and condition of
wolves in different locations. For the study they calculated how far or how
close the wolves were from human activity. This contributed to the results
and data.
According to the results of this experiment, the sex of the wolves and
the age of the wolves played a large role in the statistics. Males greater than
age of two resulted in 87.5 of them present with antibodies for CPV, and 0
with CDV.

Males under the age of two resulted in 97 positive for CPV

antibodies, and 17 with CDV antibodies. For females greater than the age of
two 78 positive for CPV antibodies, and 0 for CDV. For females under the age
of two, 100 were found to have antibodies against CPV and 49 were found to
have antibodies against CDV.

According to this data there are less CDV

positive individuals, which could result in more becoming infected due to the
fact that not many of them have the antibodies to fight it off.
My viewpoint on parvovirus is based on the research I have done. From
the results I found that the prevalence amount was less in CDV. I think this is
due to the fact that less are exposed to this virus. Female and male wolves
under the age of two were found to have the only antibody prevalence to
CDV. I think that with CPV being so common with in the canines that they
PREVALENCE OF
ANTIBODIES TO CANINE
PARVOVIRUS
ANDDISTEMPER VIRUS IN
WOLVES IN THE
CANADIANROCKY
MOUNTAINS

built up antibodies in the blood to fight the virus. Wolves are more prone to
getting CDV than CPV due to the fact that they are less immune to CDV.

PREVALENCE OF
ANTIBODIES TO CANINE
PARVOVIRUS
ANDDISTEMPER VIRUS IN
WOLVES IN THE
CANADIANROCKY
MOUNTAINS