Are interspecific interactions between dogs and wild carnivores a threat to jaguar health in the Maya Biosphere Reserve?

Methods

Summary

The sampling of domestic dogs will be carried out in one community in the Maya Biosphere Reserve. For sampling, all households will be actively visited and samples of whole blood, nasal swab and fecal samples will be taken. A survey will be carried out of the owners related to the care and handling practices of the dogs, in addition the distance between the sampling point (axis: dog owner house), and the forested area will be determined as well. 

For the non-invasive sampling of wild carnivores, an intensive stool search will be carried out in Laguna del Tigre National Park, seeking to sample only wild carnivorous feces, the GPS point where the sample was taken will also be taken. The wild carnivore species stool samples will be confirmed through molecular techniques.

Viral RNA and DNA will be extracted individually from whole blood and swabs. Using the PCR technique (RNA will be used for CDV, which will be re-transcribed prior to PCR). For CDV a fragment of at least three overlapping segments of the H gene will be amplified. For CPV a fragment of at least 600 bp of the VP2 gene will be amplified. The CDV and CPV products will be sequenced and the nucleotide identity will be verified by similarity to sequences available in GenBank.

Challenges

• Low receptivity from pet owners, to prevent this issue, we will approach pet owners accompanied by the trusted veterinarian of the community.  
• Proper maintenance of the cold chain for the samples. To prevent this potential problem, we will use specialized equipment as a nitrogen dry shipper for the maintenance of the samples when collected. 
• Find the fecal samples. This will be solved with the help of local field technicians which will help us in the field, and that will work with us in advance to locate the samples.

Pre Analysis Plan

The risk of the  transmission of canine distemper virus (CDV) and canine parvovirus (CPV) between domestic dogs (Canis lupus familiaris), and wild carnivores, focusing our efforts primarily  on wild carnivores at risk such as the jaguar (Panthera onca).

The association between ecological, spatial, demographic and management factors as predictors of the probability of exposure to CDV and CPV in domestic dogs and wild carnivores will be assessed using logistic regression models of multivariate mixed effects.