Serological and demographic evidence for domestic dogs as a source of canine distemper virus infection for Serengeti wildlife

This study examined the large domestic dog population living around the Serengeti to test whether dogs sustained the canine distemper virus that spilled into lions and other carnivores. Through serosurveys and demographic sampling of village dogs, the authors showed that the dog population was numerous and turned over quickly enough to maintain endemic CDV transmission, acting as a reservoir from which the pathogen could repeatedly spill into wildlife. The findings provided the epidemiological rationale for mass dog vaccination programs at protected-area boundaries as a tool to protect endangered carnivores. It is a foundational One Health example showing that controlling disease in a domestic reservoir, rather than vaccinating wildlife directly, can be the most practical intervention for conserving wild felids.