Vaccination of Asiatic Lions Should be Done With a Methodical Approach

Asiatic lion

In India's Gujarat state, the Asiatic lion population was hit hard by a canine distemper epidemic almost two years ago in which nearly 27 lions were found dead. The situation prompted the need of vaccinating the lions to prevent any further loss. A recent report by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) indicated that the forest department is in the process of obtaining 1,000 doses of purevax ferret distemper vaccine from Merial Inc. In 2018, 1,300 doses of the vaccine were obtained, out of which 1,100 had been utilized. Between January and May, as many as 85 lions died. Out of these deaths, 59 occurred in the Gir East Division, the same area where the virus killed the 27 lions in 2018 in a period of less than two months. The report did not affirm the canine distemper virus (CDV) or any other virus as the cause of death of the lions. In response to the deaths, the ministry advised establishing a special committee of experts by the government of Gujarat to investigate the exact cause. The report's findings showed that the lion mortality during the years 2018 and 2019 were 112 and 134 respectively. Forest department stated that new vaccines have started arriving and may soon be provided to the lions. The Indian Council for Medical Research had in October 2018 suggested "existing CDV vaccine which should work as protective intervention against Gir lions." The decision, however, did not sit well with many wildlife experts who felt it can further put the lions' lives in jeopardy. Currently, there is no CDV vaccine for the cat family and the only ones available are for dogs and ferrets.

Canine distemper virus cytoplasmic inclusion body

I find it very disappointing that the forest department of Gujarat decided to simply provide the current CDV vaccine to the lions without taking any careful steps in testing the vaccine once they obtain it. I strongly recommend the forest department and anybody involved in the vaccination of the lions to take the warnings presented by wildlife experts into consideration. For example, a veterinary official pointed out that since no challenge studies have been conducted, then no claims would be made that antibodies made by the vaccine in lions to protect them against the virus. He further added that clinical trials of any vaccine need to be carried out to test its efficiency including its long term and short term side effects. Adding to the point, a researcher from Wildlife Institute of India (WII) indicated that the vaccine should be used on captive lions and not wild ones. This vaccine can only give immunity against canine distemper for roughly six months or so. I strongly urge the forest department to take the experts' advice into serious consideration. I believe that a great deal of research needs to be undertaken to develop a CDV vaccine specifically for big cats, but that can take time. Right now, I would recommend utilizing the current vaccine on foxes, jackals, wolves, and stray dogs in Gujarat, in order to prevent the lion population from again plummeting to the CDV virus in the future.

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