Buy Pathogen exposure in endangered island fox (Urocyon littoralis) populations: Implications for conservation management [An article from: Biological Conservation] by D.L. Clifford, J.A.K. Mazet, E.J. Dubovi, Garcelon available and for sale on Brightsurf

View Larger Image	Pathogen exposure in endangered island fox (Urocyon littoralis) populations: Implications for conservation management [An article from: Biological Conservation] by D.L. Clifford, J.A.K. Mazet, E.J. Dubovi, Garcelon List Price:  $10.95 Available:  Available for download now Sales Rank:  4080883 Studio:  Elsevier Binding:  Digital Number Of Pages:  13 Publication Date:  August 01, 2006 Publisher:  Elsevier
FORMATS HTML EDITORIAL REVIEWS Product Description This digital document is a journal article from Biological Conservation, published by Elsevier in 2006. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Media Library immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser. Description: Island fox (Urocyon littoralis) populations on four California Channel Islands have declined severely since 1994. Canine distemper (CDV) was suspected to be responsible for the decline of the Santa Catalina Island fox, so knowledge of infectious disease exposure in the remaining island fox populations was urgently needed. This study reviewed previous pathogen exposure in island foxes and investigated the current threat by conducting a serologic survey of foxes on all islands and sympatric feral cats on three islands from 2001 to 2003 for antibodies against canid pathogens. Before the decline, foxes had evidence of exposure to CDV, canine adenovirus (CAV), canine parvovirus (CPV), and Toxoplasma, with exposure to these five pathogens differing greatly by island. Exposure to canine coronavirus (CCV), canine herpesvirus (CHV), and Leptospira was rare. In 2001-2003, wild-born foxes had evidence of exposure to CDV (5.2-32.8%) on 5 of 6 islands, CPV (28-100%) and CAV (4.7-100%) on five islands, and Toxoplasma gondii (2.3-15.4%) on four islands. Exposure to CCV, CHV and Leptospira was less common. Sharing of infectious agents between sympatric foxes and feral cats appeared minimal, but CDV exposure was detected in two cats on Santa Catalina Island. Domestic dogs have historically been present on the islands, but it is not known if canine diseases can be maintained in fox populations without the continual presence of dogs. Targeted vaccination programs against the most virulent pathogens and continued intensive disease surveillance may help protect the critically small remaining fox populations from disease outbreaks that could threaten the success of ongoing conservation efforts.