No abstract

The co-occurrence of domestic cats (Felis silvestris catus) and wild felids in rural landscapes can facilitate pathogen transmission. However, in the relatively-isolated regions of southern South America there have been no comprehensive studies to assess disease transmission risks between domestic cats and forest-dwelling wild felids such as guigna (Leopardus guigna). We evaluated hemoplasma infection and the possibility of transmission between domestic cats and guignas by comparing spatial and phylogenetic patterns of pathogen prevalence. Blood/spleen samples were collected from 102 wild guignas and 262 co-occurring rural domestic cats across the entire distribution range of guigna in Chile. Hemoplasma infection was assessed by direct sequencing of the 16S RNA gene. Infection with hemoplasmas was common and geographically widespread across different bioclimatic areas for both species. The most common feline Mycoplasma species in guigna and domestic cats were Candidatus M. haemominutum (CMhm) (15.7% guigna; 10.3% domestic cat) and Mycoplasma haemofelis (Mhf) (9.8% guigna, 6.1% domestic cat). A previously undescribed Mycoplasma sp. sequence was found in two guignas and one cat. Continuous forest-landscapes were associated with higher hemoplasma-prevalence in guignas. Shared hemoplasma nucleotide sequence types between guigna and domestic cats were rare, suggesting that cross-species transmission between guignas and domestic cats may occur, but is probably uncommon. Ectoparasites, which have been linked with hemoplasma transmission, were not found on guignas and were infrequent on domestic cats. Our results suggest that transmission pathways vary among hemoplasma species and, contrary to our predictions, domestic cats did not appear to be the main driver of hemoplasma infection in guignas in these human-dominated landscapes.

No abstract

No abstract

Article type : Original Article Epidemiology and molecular characterization of Carnivore protoparvovirus-1 infection in the wild felid Leopardus guigna in Chile Short running title: Carnivore protoparvovirus-1 at the wild-domestic interface.

OPEN ACCESS Journal of Threatened Taxa | www.threatenedtaxa.org | 26 April 2018 | 10(5): 11566-11573Abstract: The interaction between humans and small carnivores is a phenomenon especially frequent in rural fringes, as is the case of communities surrounding natural areas. In Chile, two species of threatened carnivores, the Darwin's Fox and the Guigna, have increased their contact with humans due to human-induced changes in their habitat. The objective of this study was to characterize the interactions of these species with humans by assessing human perceptions and attitudes toward them, and to assess livestock and poultry ownership and management practices in local communities to evaluate their possible roles in the phenomenon. We conducted semi-structured interviews in rural communities adjacent to natural protected areas of two different regions in southern Chile. We found that people have a more positive perception of Darwin's Foxes than Guignas, but both species are considered damaging due to poultry attacks. Livestock and poultry management was generally deficient. Improvements in animal management and education programs could lead to a significant decrease in negative interactions.

This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

26Owned, free-roaming domestic cats are abundant in the Chilean countryside, having high 27 probability of contact with wildlife and potentially participating as reservoirs of zoonotic 28 pathogens. In the present study, 131 cats from two remote study areas (Valdivia and Chiloe 29 Island) in southern Chile were analyzed for infection/exposure to eight pathogens. Serum 30 samples from 112 cats were tested for antigens against feline leukemia virus (FeLV antigen-31 ELISA) and antibodies against feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV-ELISA) and canine 32 distemper virus (CDV-serum neutralization), yielded occurrence of 8.9% 1.7% and 0.8% 33 respectively. The presence of DNA of five vector-borne pathogens, piroplasmids, Ehrlichia 34 spp., Anaplasma spp., Rickettsia spp. and Bartonella spp. was investigated in thirty cats. 35 Overall observed occurrence was 6.6% (2/30) for both Anaplasma platys, and B. henselae, 36 and 3.3% (1/30) for both Bartonella sp. and Theileria equi. Observed occurrence for all 37 vector-borne pathogens in Valdivia area was significantly higher than in Chiloe Island (5/15 38 vs 0/15; p=0.04). Our results represent the first description of exposure to CDV and DNA 39 detection of T. equi and A. platys in domestic cats in Chile. The results highlight the 40 importance of performing pathogen screening in owned, free-roaming rural cats to evaluate 41 their potential role as reservoirs of infection and vectors for disease transmission to wildlife. 42Keywords: Feline and canine virus; PCR; rural free-roaming domestic cat; serology; vector-43 borne pathogen. 44 3 1. Introduction. 45 The domestic cat (Felis silvestris catus) is one of the most widely distributed terrestrial mammals [7,24] 46 due to their association with humans, and it has been listed among the 100 worst non-native invasive 47 species in the world [37]. Owned, free-roaming domestic cats are abundant in rural Chile, where they 48 are usually allowed to wander, sometimes around natural preserved areas. Their ability to roam 49 increases their probability of interacting with other domestic animals and wildlife species, and their 50 chances of contact with a range of pathogens. These owned free-roaming cats are rarely subjected to 51 any prophylactic programs or receive any type of veterinary care, further increasing their probability 52 of pathogen infection [45,65]. This makes them a potential reservoir of pathogens of relevance for 53 wildlife [22,41,43,46]. 54Examples of pathogen spillover from a domestic species to a wild counterpart have been described 55 elsewhere [9,15,26,46,49,58]. Canine distemper virus (CDV) has caused several fatal epidemics in 56 wild canids such as African wild dogs (Lycaon pictus) [9] and wild felids such as Serengeti lions 57 (Panthera leo) [16,58]; and more recently domestic dogs have been identified as the origin of CDV 58 infection in Iberian wolves (Canis lupus signatus) [48] and jackals (Canis mesomelas) [26]. Likewise, 59 possible cross-species transmission of feline leukemia viru...