According to KhabarOnline, Babak Bastani, the head of the Pardisan Wildlife Rehabilitation Center, emphasized that the commercial vaccines available are designed and produced solely for domestic dogs and cats, following the publication of reports regarding the outbreak of panleukopenia at the Pardisan Wildlife Rehabilitation Center. He stated that using these vaccines on wild species is an off-label use and potentially dangerous, as it could lead to shock, severe allergic reactions, or even fatal diseases in wild animals.
Bastani outlined three essential conditions for the safe use of vaccines in wild species: the absence of severe allergic reactions, the establishment of lasting immunity, and the elimination of the risk of the animal contracting a disease post-injection. He noted that according to reputable wildlife veterinary sources, there have been multiple reports of the resurgence of pathogenic agents in vaccines for domestic animals, leading to severe diseases in wild species.
He added that globally, the number of approved and safe vaccines for wildlife is very limited. In this context, only a small number of safe trivalent vaccines for cheetahs at the National Turan Center have been imported into the country, adhering strictly to scientific regulations and cold chain protocols.
Bastani pointed out that the panleukopenia virus exhibits high resistance in the environment and can be transmitted through indirect contact, such as shoes, clothing, and equipment. He emphasized that even with strict hygiene and disinfection practices, completely eliminating the risk of this virus entering any rehabilitation center worldwide is impossible, and managing it requires quarantine, biosecurity measures, and continuous monitoring.
The first case of the disease at the Pardisan Rehabilitation Center was observed in an acute form in a wild cat, leading to the rapid death of the animal. Following this incident, specialized investigations were conducted in collaboration with the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Tehran, and comprehensive quarantine and disinfection of the center were implemented. Despite these measures, due to the disease’s incubation period, a caracal also became infected and, despite advanced treatments and the tireless efforts of veterinarians, unfortunately died.
To reduce the virus circulation, all felids at the center were quarantined, and after a scientific assessment of the components of a newly arrived killed vaccine, an off-label experimental injection was conducted with careful monitoring. However, center officials stressed that due to the lack of precise immunogenicity assessment capabilities in the country, there are scientific doubts regarding the effectiveness of this vaccine.
The Pardisan Rehabilitation Center will remain under quarantine until further notice. The Department of Environment also announced that the Pardisan Rehabilitation Center will remain in quarantine status until further notice, and simultaneously, the improvement of infrastructure and the reconstruction of cages and holding spaces based on international standards have commenced to enhance the biosecurity and safety of the center. This organization expressed gratitude for the public and media’s sensitivity and emphasized that all veterinary and health decisions are made based on scientific knowledge, available resources, and in consultation with domestic and international experts. Protecting wildlife is a complex process that requires continuous cooperation from the community, media, and responsible institutions.
