Are endangered tigers in Nepal threatened by diseases from dogs and cats?

Methods

Summary

We will be collecting biological samples from at least 10 more tigers in Nepal to add to the samples we have already collected from 5 tigers in the past. No animals are anesthetized or captured solely for this project  Samples are obtained when an animal is captured, usually in cases where the tiger has attacked livestock or a person and must be removed, when a tiger is found to be obviously ill and is captured for treatment, or if a tiger is found dead in the jungle and it's body is examined. Blood samples are centrifuged and the serum is frozen until it can be analyzed for antibody levels.  If an animal appears ill, ocular and nasal discharge samples are tested for canine distemper virus antigen (Senspert test kit). A full necropsy is performed on any tiger that dies or is found dead and tissues are prepared for histopathology and virus isolation.

Tissues and blood will be analyzed in Nepal when possible, but also will be shipped to the US for analysis.  A CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species) permit has been obtained for shipment to the US.