Volume 174, Issues 1–2, 7 November 2014, Pages 50–59
Highlights
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- Large mortality outbreak amongst raccoons in Berlin, Germany.
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- We confirm canine distemper virus (CDV) infection in 74 raccoons.
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- We performed phylogenetic analyses of the CDV H-gene in raccoon-derived isolates.
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- Our isolates clustered within the “Europe lineage” close to European foxes and dogs.
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- Results indicate CDV transmission amongst raccoon and fox in urban areas.
Abstract
From
December 2012 to May 2013, an outbreak occurred among urban wild
carnivores from Berlin. We collected 97 free-ranging raccoons from the
city area. PCR assays, histopathology and immunohistochemistry confirmed
canine distemper virus (CDV) infection in 74 raccoons. Phylogenetic
analysis of haemagglutinin gene fragments (1767 nucleotides) of CDV
isolated from four raccoons showed close relation to CDV isolates from
foxes from Germany and a domestic dog from Hungary; all belonging to the
“Europe” lineage of CDV. These study results suggest an inter-species
transmission of CDV as the origin for the outbreak among the raccoon
population. Implications for domestic pets and suggested interspecies
transmission between urban wildlife and raccoons are discussed. This is
the first major outbreak of CDV amongst free-ranging raccoons in Europe.
Keywords
- Canine distemper virus;
- Invasive species;
- Urban areas;
- Raccoon;
- Germany;
- Procyon lotor
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