Endangered Wolves Threatened by Rabies Outbreak
The Ethiopian wolf is the world’s rarest canid so the introduction of an infectious disease, such as rabies, could have dramatic effects on its already dwindling population which is around 500 individuals. WildCRU and the Ethiopian government established the Ethiopian Wolf Conservation Programme (EWCP) to protect these rare carnivores.
Five samples from carcasses found in the Bale Mountains were submitted to VLA between 2008 and 2009. All carcasses were shown to be infected, confirming an extended outbreak of rabies. This is the third time in less than 20 years that the disease has resulted in substantial wolf mortality in the Bale Mountains; typically three out of every four animals died.
Dr Claudio Sillero, Oxford University’s WildCRU and EWCP Director, reports: “Despite the efforts of our veterinary team, who vaccinate thousands of dogs in Bale's villages every year, the virus has raised its ugly head again.
“Our vaccination response targeted wolf packs adjacent to the affected packs to contain the virus. We are currently working to develop an oral vaccination approach to provide a proactive, rather than a reactive, rabies control strategy to protect these rare carnivores.”
Further analysis suggests that the virus has been introduced by domestic dogs living near the wolves where rabies is endemic. In response, EWCP has vaccinated 100 wolves in the affected area providing a cordon sanitaire (quarantine line) to protect other packs. EWCP and VLA will continue to monitor, and carry out tests, to assess the effectiveness of these actions.
Dr Nicholas Johnson, Senior Scientist from VLA’s Rabies and Wildlife Zoonoses Group, explains: “This work demonstrates the jump of rabies from the dog population in Ethiopia to a wild species and emphasises the need for continued monitoring of the Ethiopian wolf population so that appropriate actions, such as vaccination programmes, can be introduced to prevent further spread.”
Head of VLA’s Rabies & Wildlife Zoonoses Group, Professor Tony Fooks, talks about the importance of controlling the disease: “The circulation of rabies virus in domestic dogs with the capability of crossing the species barrier to wild canids and to infect humans will continue to have a major impact on human health. Rabies remains endemic in many African countries, largely due to financial limitations and a poor medical and veterinary infrastructure. Rabies continues to be a neglected disease.
“Continual surveillance and strict control measures to eliminate rabies from animals and thereby protect the human population is of paramount importance. The multi-disciplinary response by the EWCP with VLA is an example of how collaboration between international organisations can effectively contribute to the control of disease outbreaks.”
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