Chiang mai: Autopsy results on a tiger in Chiang Mai indicate it suffered from canine distemper with a mycoplasma complication.
According to Thai News Agency, the Department of Livestock Development has examined the carcasses of over 70 tigers that died in a tourist area in Chiang Mai province. They found the tigers were suffering from canine distemper (CDV) combined with a Mycoplasma spp. bacterial infection, causing severe pneumonia. The department confirmed that the disease is not transmissible from animals to humans. They also advised zoo operators to improve internal management and hygiene, as this is another factor contributing to the tigers' poor health.
Dr. Narong Liengcharoen, Director of the Animal Disease Control, Prevention and Treatment Division, Department of Livestock Development, clarified the news circulating about a possible link between the tiger deaths and avian influenza. He stated that the Department of Livestock Development, in collaboration with relevant agencies, investigated the area, collected samples from the tigers and chicken carcasses, and sent them for laboratory testing. The results confirmed that no genetic material of the influenza A virus was found.
The tiger samples were found to contain Canine Distemper Virus (CDV), the virus that causes canine distemper in dogs and large wild cats, and Mycoplasma spp., a respiratory pathogen. This co-infection of viruses and bacteria led to severe pneumonia and complications, ultimately resulting in the tiger's death.
Dr. Narong added that canine distemper in tigers has key symptoms affecting the respiratory and digestive systems, and in some cases, it can spread to the nervous system. CDV is not a zoonotic disease (it's not transmitted from animals to humans), so the public doesn't need to worry about human transmission.
Regarding contributing factors, captive tigers are prone to inbreeding, which can weaken their immune systems, reduce their immunity, and increase their susceptibility to infections. Early symptoms or signs of illness may be unclear, and the exact cause could already be unknown, allowing infections to spread within the animal group. The Department of Livestock Development therefore recommends that operators implement disease control measures, including cleaning and disinfecting animal rearing areas, immediately isolating sick animals, and maintaining good hygiene.
The Department of Livestock Development requests the cooperation of the public to immediately notify livestock officials or volunteer livestock workers in their area if they find any animals that are sick or have died unusually. This is to facilitate investigation and disease control measures. Contact your nearest district or provincial livestock office, or inquire further at the Animal Disease Control, Prevention and Treatment Division, Department of Livestock Development, or via the Department of Livestock Development hotline at 096-301-1946, or through the DLD 4.0 application.