Rajkot: The vaccine from US for precautionary administration to the lions and other animal with suspected Canine Distemper Virus infection arrived today and the vaccination based on advise from a committee of vets, experts and senior forest officials would be started most likely from tomorrow.

Superintendent of Sakkarbaug zoo of Junagadh and DCF of forest department M K Vala said that around 300 vials of the PUREVAX Ferret Distemper vaccine purchased at an estimated cost of around 9 lakhs (actual cost Rs 5.23 lakhs + tax and other expenses) was brought to Rajkot airport via Mumbai from Atlanta in the US. It would be kept safely at the zoo for use as per direction of the higher ups including the PCCF and the expert vets.

He said that the 300 vials can be used for maximum 100 animals. Three vials are used for completion of three shots of vaccination to a single animal with second and third ones at an interval of 3-3 weeks.

Vala said that the vaccine is not given to already infected animals. It is given to the healthy one to prevent the infection. Initially it is likely to be given to the lions around the Sarasiya vidi area of Dalkhaniya range in Gir forest in Amreli district where the 23 lions have died since September 12 of which 4 have been confirmed with CVD infection.

He said that the CVD infection affects multiple organs of the animals.

Meanwhile a vet said that the vaccine is recommended for the vaccination of healthy animals of age 8 weeks or older for prevention of disease due to canine distemper virus. Administration of vaccines may cause lethargy, fever, and inflammatory or hypersensitivity types of reactions. Transient lethargy, as well as pain and swelling at the site of injection, may occur following use of this product.

The deadliness of the CD virus can be understood from the fact that it was responsible for death of nearly 1000 African lions in Serengeti, Tanzania, East Africa in early 90’s and is also suspected to have played a considerable role in extinction of Tasmanian tigers.

Canine distemper (sometimes termed hardpad disease) is a viral disease that affects a wide variety of animal families, including domestic and wild species of dogs, coyotes, foxes, pandas, wolves, ferrets, skunks, raccoons, and big cats. It affects several body systems, including the gastrointestinal and respiratory tracts and the spinal cord and brain, with common symptoms that include high fever, eye inflammation and eye/nose discharge, labored breathing and coughing, vomiting and diarrhea, loss of appetite and lethargy, and hardening of nose and footpads. The viral infection can be accompanied by secondary bacterial infections and can present eventual serious neurological symptoms.

DeshGujarat