Canine Distemper Virus

Context

Concerns have been raised over a possible outbreak of Canine Distemper Virus (CDV) in the Kanha Tiger Reserve after a tigress and her four cubs were recently found dead in the area.

About Canine Distemper Virus (CDV)

1. Canine distemper is a viral disease that spreads easily and can be severe, affecting multiple body systems such as the lungs, digestive tract, and nervous system.
2. It is seen mainly in pet dogs and cats, but it can also infect a wide range of wild animals.

Causative Virus

1. The infection is caused by a virus belonging to the Morbillivirus group, which is part of the Paramyxoviridae family.
2. This virus group is related to pathogens responsible for diseases like measles and mumps in humans.

Animals Affected

1. Apart from domestic pets, it has been recorded in wildlife such as foxes, wolves, coyotes, raccoons, skunks, and mustelids like mink and ferrets.
2. Large wild cats including lions, tigers, and leopards, as well as marine mammals like seals, have also been impacted.
3. In India, cases such as deaths of jackals in Assam zoos have been linked to similar viral infections.

Human Aspect

1. Humans are not affected by canine distemper.
2. However, there is a possibility of humans acting as passive carriers, potentially aiding in indirect spread.

Common Signs and Symptoms

1. Early indicators include fever, tiredness, reduced appetite, coughing, and discharge from the eyes or nose.
2. Digestive issues like diarrhoea may also appear.
3. In advanced stages, animals may develop neurological problems such as muscle twitching, paralysis, seizures, and hardening of paw pads and nose.

Kanha Tiger Reserve Top of Form

1. This reserve lies in Madhya Pradesh and extends over nearly 940 sq km, covering parts of Mandla and Balaghat districts.
2. Earlier, the region consisted of two separate protected areas—Hallon and Banjar—which were later merged.
3. It was designated as a national park in 1955 and subsequently included under Project Tiger in 1973.
4. It is known as the largest national park in the central part of India.
5. The area is especially important for conserving the hard ground barasingha, the state animal of Madhya Pradesh.
6. Wildlife in the reserve includes species such as tigers, leopards, dholes, bears, gaurs, and reptiles like the Indian python.
7. The forest cover is mainly composed of dense sal trees, which form a significant part of its ecosystem.
8. It became the first tiger reserve in India to introduce a mascot, called “Bhoorsingh the Barasingha.”