Challenges Managing Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) at the Wildlife ...

Wildlife Conservation SocietyChallenges Managing Foot and Mouth Diseaseat Wildlife/Livestock Interface level onMongolia's Eastern SteppeSh. Enkhtuvshin,Veterinary Epidemiologist,WCS Mongolia CountryProgramThe Grasslands of Mongolia’sEastern Steppe“The eastern steppes ofMongolia represent one ofthe last great unspoiledgrazing ecosystems in theworld” –George Schaller1

Mongolia’s Eastern SteppeEastern Steppe250,000 km 2 Serengeti25,000 km 22

Mongolian Gazelle(Procapra gutturosa)Mongolian Gazelle• PopulationDecline– 18 million?– 1994: 2.67million– 2005: 1.13million• Range Reduction– 1.1 million km 2 (1950) to 435,000 km 2 (2000)3

Mongolian Gazelle: CurrentStatus• Population Estimates– 1.13 million (+/-250,000)• Population Density– 15 gazelle/km 2• Range– Individual gazelle rangesover 25,000 km 2Mongolian Gazelle: PopulationDynamics• Nomadic “UnpredictableDistribution”• Extreme spatiotemporalvariability in foodavailability (stochasticrainfall events)• Large arearequirements for range4

Conservation ChallengesRangeland Resources & PastureDegradation• Grasslandcompetition withlivestock• Pastureovergrazing• Climate Change– Drying of thesteppe• Land developmentoil extraction andmining5

Number of provincesDisease issues• Disease at theinterface of wildlifeand livestock is anemerging issue– Example of Foot &Mouth Disease (FMD)– FMD consultantDr. Gavin Thomson’svisit from SouthAfrica22181052FMD outbreaks in Mongoliahistorically and recentlyOFFICIALLY RECORDED OUTBREAKS OF FMD IN MONGOLIA1937-1947 1964-1974 2000 – 20106

Recent FMD outbreaks in MongoliaEURO-SAME-SA0.02SEACathayUKG/10/2001 (AJ311722)O/JPN/2000 (AB050978)O/Mongolia/2000O/Mongolia/2001O/CHA/2/99 (AJ318831)O/Russia/2000O/Mongolia/2002O/Russia/2004O/Tajikistan/2003O/Tajikistan/2001O/Tajikistan/2002O/AFG/201/2004 (EF457985)O/ISR/7/2007 (FJ561315)O/JOR/6/2006 (FJ561317)O/Kazakhstan/1/2007O/PAK/10/2006 (EF494503)O1/Manisa/Turkey/69 (AJ251477)O/HLJOC12/CHA/03 (DQ119643)O/Mongolia/2004O/MYA/2/2000 (DQ164927)O/LAO/2/2001 (EU667445)O/MYA/7/2002 (DQ164928)O/VN/SL192/2009 (HM055508)O/VN/QN133/2009 (GU582121)O/Mongolia/CO3/2010-Cattle KhalhgolO/Mongolia/C05/2010-Cattle KhalhgolTAW/81/97 AJ296321O/Russia/1995O/HKN/12/91 (AJ294921)O/PHI/5/95 (DQ164946)O/Corrientes/Arg/06 (DQ834727)O1/BFS (J02185)Fig. Neighbor-joining tree showing the position of FMDV O/Mongolia/2010 field isolates. Based on complete VP1 sequences.7

Disease issues:FMD control and prevention• Creation of Control zoneThis includes outbreak zone, buffer zone, vaccination zone, andhealthy zone• Quarantine and disinfection activitiesQuarantine and disinfection of livestock, livestock products,human and traffic movements and disinfection of livestockpremises• Modified stamping outModified stamping out of clinically ill livestock and gazelles asof 2010 experience. The compensation for stamping out iscalculated to equal 90% of the livestock market price• Ring vaccination: Vaccination of high risk or outbreak areasfrom government without any feesFMD control activitiesTotal number of livestock and wildlife destroyedduring 2010 FMD outbreaksYear Species Number Destroyed2010 Cattle 6,7302010 Sheep 13,4952010 Goats 5,6982010 Camels 102010 Gazelles 1,616Total 27,5498

WCS FMD serosurveillance studysummary in Gazelles1998-99 Found no evidence of FMD infection inpopulation of 78 adult gazelles2001 FMDV-NS was detected in 67% out of 33adult gazelles2005-07 FMDV-NS was detected in 10.9% out of57 gazelle calves (maternal immunity)2008 Found no evidence of FMD in population of36 adult gazellesFMD outbreaks in Gazelles in 2010The State Central Veterinary Laboratory detectedfollowing infections in Gazelles: FMDV gene from 8 (57.1%) samples out of 14 gazelles andFMDV antibody from 11 serum out of 14 gazelle samplescollected from Eastern Steppe. 32 serum samples were positive with FMDV –NS antibodyELISA out of 62 serum samples collected from EasternSteppe.9

FMD outbreaks in GazellesWhat is the FMD conclusionGazelles were detected with FMD clinical signs such as lameness,weight loss, fallen hoof. Gazelles are suspected for the spread ofFMD in livestock (since 2001, 2004 & 2010) therefore, a selectivecull of clinically ill gazelles was ordered. A total of 1,616 Mongoliangazelle were destroyed on the Eastern Steppe.• FMD outbreaks have:– usually been extensions of livestock-associated Asianpandemics (e.g. 2000/1/2; 2005; 2010)– These viruses did not persist in Mongolia therefore,FMD is not endemic– Mongolia has an FMD high-risk area Eastern Steppebordering with China and Russia (primary outbreaksdetected 50-100 km from borders)10

What is the FMD conclusion• Once FMD occurs on eastern Steppe, do gazellescontribute to spread of the infection?– answer unknown– pending further investigation needed, but should beassumed they spread the infection– but, they are likely to be less effective spreadersthan cattle or other livestock• The issue of ‘carriers’ (for both livestock & gazelles) ismisunderstood in Mongolia and therefore modifiedstamping out is a major part of the FMD control activityWCS Activities• Provide governmentorganizations with correct FMDepidemiology information andrecommendations for futureFMD control and preventionactivities and policies• Promote the adoption of FMDcontrol activities to supportwildlife conservation• Promote high level of livestockherd immunity at FMD high riskareas• Cross pollination withapproaches from internationalAHEAD/SCAPES and otherhealth programs11

Collaboration with Environmentalorganizations• Landscape-LevelConservation Planning• InternationalConservation Policydevelopment• Development ofCommunity-BasedNatural ResourceManagement• Transboundaryconservation activitiesCollaboration with Veterinary Agencies• Long term diseasesurveillance studies inlivestock and wildlife suchas Mongolian gazelles• Environmentally friendlydisease control andprevention activitiesfavoring wildlifeconservation12

Thank You for Your Attention!Acknowledgements• USAID• AHEAD• TAD Scientific13