New world origin of canine distemper: Interdisciplinary insights

ConclusionsThe measles epidemics that decimated indigenous South American populations in the 1500–1700 s likely facilitated the establishment of CDV as a canine pathogen, which eventually spread to Europe and beyond.SignificanceUnderstanding the historical and environmental conditions that have driven morbilliviral evolution provides important insights into potential future threats of animal/human cross-species infections.LimitationsInterpreting historical disease descriptions is difficult and the archaeological specimens are limited. Molecular sequence data and codon usage analyses rely on modern viruses.Suggestions for further researchInterdisciplinary approaches are increasingly needed to understand diseases of the past and present, as critical information and knowledge is scattered in different disciplines.
Source: International Journal of Paleopathology - Category: Pathology Source Type: research