Knowledge needed to prevent devastating consequences of zoonotic diseases in wildlife populations

Prevalence of zoonotic diseases in wild populations, such as canine distemper virus and parvovirus, and the rates of transmission between their wild and domestic hosts, are still poorly understood. Based on research in other areas of the world, it is known that exposure to and transmission of these diseases both to and from domestic and wild animals is being driven by increasingly close contact between humans and their associated domestic animals with wild populations, and widespread lack of proper veterinary care of domestic animals. Transmission among wild populations has also risen, largely due to urbanization and destruction of habitat, which forces animals to inhabit much smaller areas than normal, which are nearer to areas of human activity, leading to increases in interactions and conflict between individuals. Infection with these diseases can lead to potentially devastating consequences, compromising the health of both individuals and populations. However, in order to understand a disease process, and use that knowledge to help prevent or mitigate potential effects, one must understand the system from which it came: What is the natural history of the parasite? Is it endemic, where a proportion of a population likely has already been exposed and have some defenses, or is it an entirely novel entity that has the potential to be epidemic? What is the natural history of the host species? What effect can the introduction of a completely novel parasite have on a na?ve animal population? In order to answer all those questions and fulfill the gaps of knowledge before potential zoonotic outbreaks, there is an urgent need on specific research based on the systematic collection of fresh samples. This project will study areas which combine the proximity of human activity to wildlife and will focus on whether the resultant interactions influences presence and transmission of zoonotic disease. This project aims to: 1) produce a complete collection of hundreds of fresh samples from the field. 2) produce adjusted protocols for identifying areas of overlaps with presence of a selected wildlife and feral/invasive species, 3) produce a complete an accessible collection of maps showing areas as potential zones for zoonotic diseases, 4) a complete set of organized samples ready for deeper laboratory analysis. Results from this research can help inform future preventative measures to help decrease the rates of transmission diseases to vulnerable wildlife species in protected areas.