THE PROGRAMME► Disease Control and Prevention

Objective: Multi-pronged approach to reduce the threat that diseases pose to the survival of the Ethiopian wolf (see mortality and pathogens) with the following objectives: prevent disease transmission from domestic dogs; assess prevalence and threat of canid pathogens to wolves; investigate a vaccination scheme to protect Ethiopian wolves.

Efforts to control the spread of canid-related diseases to Ethiopian wolves started in the Mountains Bale in 1995, led by Dr Karen Laurenson, formerly of the Centre for Tropical Veterinary Medicine of the University of Edinburgh, UK and currently an Africa Programme Officer for the Frankfurt Zoological Society.

Spill-over from sympatric dogs living in and around wolf habitat is the likely source of pathogen transmission to Ethiopian wolves. Rabies is widespread in domestic dog populations, by far the most abundant carnivores in the Bale Mountains. EWCP activities to control disease includes: vaccination of domestic dogs, monitoring of disease incidence among dogs and wild carnivores and, more recently, an emergency vaccination of wolves.

►Vaccination of domestic dogs: protecting Ethiopian wolves from canid-related diseases.
Since 1995 te EWCP is vaccinating domestic dogs in the Bale Mountains to reduce rabies incidence in the reservoir population (over 40,000 vaccinations). Vaccination campaigns also reached the Guassa-Menz range in 2003/2004 and Delanta, South Wollo, in 2003, following outbreaks of rabies among domestic dogs in nearby areas.

While in Bale these efforts reduced rabies incidence in dogs, a new rabies outbreack among wolves was detected in 2003, and more recently canine distemper killed several wolves in one other local population. With human and dog populations on the increase, it is becoming more and more difficult to achieve the required level of coverage. We are working to develop a more efficient campaign that may includes oral vaccination.

►Sterilisation campaign: limiting the growth of the dog population.
A total of 496 dogs were surgically sterilised dogs in settlements aroud wolf ranges in Bale. The intensive campaign, however, was not effective in limiting the growth of the dog population (over 95% of males and a significant proportion of the female population would have to be sterilised). Not only are dogs extremely aggressive and reluctance to be handled, but also several owners did not want their dogs to be esterilized.

►Disease monitoring: determining incidence of disease in dogs, wolves and other wildlife.
A permanent presence of EWCP monitoring teams serves to detect incipient disease outbreaks across wolf populations. While monitoring wolves, the team also conduct regular questionnaires and counts of domestic dogs to assess their abundance and trends.

Early detection of a rabies outbreak in Bale in 2003, and the collection of samples for diagnosis, lead to an emergency parenteral vaccination of wolves in adjacent subpopulations, and surveys permitted to track the route of the disease through the domestic dog population. Studies of disease prevalence in small wild carnivores in Bale has confirmed that dogs are indeed the main reservoir for canid diseases there (see Research).

►Vaccination of Ethiopian wolves.
In 2004, EWCP carried out an emergency intervention to contain the rabies outbreak to the Web Valley subpopulation -one of three areas with high densities of wolves in Bale. Through capture and parenteral vaccination, a total of 72 wolves were vaccinated. All 18 wolves recaptured a month later had sero-converted on vaccination, evidencing an immune response similar to that of dogs.

A simulation model predicts high chances that the outbreak would have been bigger had vaccination not taken place (see Research). The study suggets that targeted reactive vaccination, rather than blanket vaccination, can control infectious diseases like rabies in threatened wild canid populations.

►Sustainable solutions to reduce dog ownership in and around wolf range.
We are starting a pilot work to reduce domestic dog populations by persuading people not to replace their current dogs once they die off, but instead construct predator-proof enclosures to keep their livestock and to dig pits for refuse disposal and defecation. Complemnetary, the EWCP considers a dog oral contraceptive campaign.

►Long-term strategy for controlling canid related diseases.
EWCP examines the cost-effectiveness of both oral and parenteral vaccination in Ethiopia wolves. Already oral bait acceptance trials have been conducted in Bale (see Research). The efficacy and cost-effectiveness of using oral vaccines in dogs and wolves needs to be tested to develop a cost effective strategy, which may also include: reducing dog populations, law enforcement in protected areas and strengthening the capacity of local veterinary clinics.

Indirect advantages of dog vaccination are public health benefits, economic benefits, reduced livestock losses and valuable opportunities for community liaison and environmental advocacy.