Image copyright WCS Image caption Scientists say that a quarter of the population may already have been lost

The death of more than 2,000 critically endangered Saiga antelope in Mongolia was caused by a disease that could now threaten the entire population.

Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) scientists, who work in the affected grassland area of Western Mongolia, say the disease originated in livestock.

It is a virus known as PPR or Peste des Petits Ruminants.

WCS veterinary scientist Dr Enkhtuvshin Shiilegdamba told BBC News that 2,500 Saiga had already died.

The animal carcasses are burned to prevent the spread of the disease.

Rapid spread

Image copyright WCS Image caption Animal carcasses have to be burned to contain the spread of the contagious virus PPR

Researchers described the speed of the disease spread as "alarming".

"The first case of PPR was confirmed in the Saiga on only 2nd January this year," Dr Shiilegdamba told BBC News.

She and her colleagues say that this is the first deadly infectious outbreak known to have occurred in this population of animals. And beyond this one, rare species, there is concern for the impact on the wider grassland ecosystem.

"Many other species share this same range," explained Dr Shiilegdamba, "including ibex and big-horned sheep."

"And there are about 1.5 million Mongolian gazelle that migrate through the eastern part of the country.

Image copyright WCS Image caption Saiga are Critically Endangered and researchers believe the disease could wipe out the population in Mongolia

"If this [spreads east] and hits the gazelle population, it could be economically and ecologically devastating."

One major concern is that, with the disappearance of wildlife in the area, there will be a lack of prey for the endemic snow leopard. As well as affecting the health and population of these carnivores, this could put leopards at greater risk of being shot by farmers - as a lack of wild prey drives them to take livestock.

Professor Richard Kock from the UK's Royal Veterinary College agreed that the broader ecological consequences were potentially "dire".

"It is a catastrophe," he told BBC News. "I expect some Saiga will survive, but if surviving animals - in poor condition and with weakened immune systems - in the spring are challenged by opportunist bacteria, extinction is a very real possibility.

"The solution to the PPR problem is effective vaccination of livestock and its elimination from Asia.

"There is a global programme [to co-ordinate this] but no resources coming from donors as yet in any significant way, and this is critically important."

Herds of sheep, goats and other domestic livestock in the affected area have been vaccinated, but Dr Amanda Fine, a vet with the WCS wildlife health program in Asia agreed that "further immunisation" was needed "in not only Saiga range areas but [in the habitats] of other affected species".

"We need to ensure the disease does not spread to unaffected populations," added Dr Fine, "in order to save the last population of Mongolian Saiga from extinction".