Big cats such as tigers and lions are susceptible to contagious diseases harboured by dogs, particularly canine distemper virus (CDV), which is known to kill large numbers of big cats in Africa and Russia. However, it has not been recorded among leopards in the wild, only from those in captivity. In northeastern Iran leopards kill dogs for food, and recently clinical signs of CDV have been seen among local dogs. Conequently, there is a potential for an undetermined level of threat to the welfare of the leopard population.

Blood samples from more than 80 dogs belonging to nine major communities around Tandoureh National Park were therefore collected during winter 2015–16 to investigate the prevalence of CDV in the local dog population, which is a major source of prey for part of the park’s leopard population. ELISA kits (which detect the presence of antibodies to the virus) were acquired for testing of the canine blood samples by a veterinary student hired to undertake the lab investigation in the University of Tehran’s Faculty of Veterinary Medicine. Additionally, blood samples from eight different leopards living in the region were analysed. The results will be published soon, but preliminary findings show high exposure of the dogs to CDV. No leopard was found to be infected.