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Death of a Wild Wolf from Canine
Parvoviral Enteritis

by

L. David Mech1
Harold J. Kurtz2
Sagar Goyal2

Abstract: A 9-mo-old female wolf (Canis lupus) in the Superior National Forest of Minnesota (USA) died from a canine parvovirus (CPV) infection. This is the first direct evidence that this infection effects free-ranging wild wolves.

Key Words: Canine parvovirus, wolf, Canis lupus, disease, serology, mortality.

In the U. S., serologic evidence of canine parvovirus (CPV) infection has been found among wild populations of wolves (Canis lupus) in Minnesota (Mech et al., 1986), Wisconsin (Wydeven et al., 1995), Alaska (Zarnke and Ballard, 1987), and Montana (Johnson et al., 1994). Evidence also was found that CPV infection may be influencing population changes in wolves in the central Superior National Forest (SNF) of Minnesota through early pup mortality (Mech and Goyal, 1995). However, the only documentation of wolves dying from CPV infection involved 10 captive, 2 to 14 mo-old wolves (Mech et al., 1986). In the present note, we document death of a wild wolf due to CPV infection in the SNF (48°N, 92°W).

This resource is based on the following source (Northern Prairie Publication LDM0156): 
Mech, L. David, Harold J. Kurtz, and Sagar Goyal.  1997.  Death of a Wild Wolf 
     from Canine Parvoviral Enteritis.  Journal of Wildlife Diseases 
     33(2):321-322.

This resource should be cited as: 

Mech, L. David, Harold J. Kurtz, and Sagar Goyal.  1997.  Death of a Wild Wolf 
     from Canine Parvoviral Enteritis.  Journal of Wildlife Diseases 
     33(2):321-322.  Jamestown, ND: Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center 
     Online.  http://www.npwrc.usgs.gov/resource/mammals/wild2/index.htm 
     (Version 21APR2000).

Table of Contents

1 Patuxent Wildlife Research Center, Biological Resources Division, U. S. Geological Survey, Laurel, Maryland 20708, USA
Current address: North Central Forest Experiment Station, 1992 Folwell Ave., St. Paul, Minnesota 55108, USA
2 College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN 55108, USA
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