Altered lentiviral infection dynamics follow genetic rescue of the Florida panther

Abstract

Wildlife translocations are a commonly used strategy in endangered species recovery programmes. Although translocations require detailed assessment of risk, their impact on parasite distribution has not been thoroughly assessed. This is despite the observation that actions that alter host–parasite distributions can drive evolution or introduce new parasites to previously sequestered populations. Here, we use a contemporary approach to amplify viral sequences from archived biological samples to characterize a previously undocumented impact of the successful genetic rescue of the Florida panther ( Puma concolor coryi ). Our efforts reveal transmission of feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) during translocation of pumas from Texas to Florida, resulting in extirpation of a historic Florida panther FIV subtype and expansion of a genetically stable subtype that is highly conserved in Texas and Florida. We used coalescent theory to estimate viral demography across time and show an exponential increase in the effective population size of FIV coincident with expansion of the panther population. Additionally, we show that FIV isolates from Texas are basal to isolates from Florida. Interestingly, FIV genomes recovered from Florida and Texas demonstrate exceptionally low interhost divergence. Low host genomic diversity and lack of additional introgressions may underlie the surprising lack of FIV evolution over 2 decades. We conclude that modern FIV in the Florida panther disseminated following genetic rescue and rapid population expansion, and that infectious disease risks should be carefully considered during conservation efforts involving translocations. Further, viral evolutionary dynamics may be significantly altered by ecological niche, host diversity and connectivity between host populations.

Bioaccumulation of Pathogen Exposure in Top Predators

“…New advances in molecular technologies, including next-generation sequencing and sensitive serosurveillance, have afforded opportunities for detection of microparasites from freeranging wildlife [23][24][25][26]. Protocols permitting detection of pathogens in excreta have been perfected, allowing noninvasive sampling techniques that augment sample collection protocols that would otherwise be invasive, expensive, and potentially harmful to either animals or field personnel [27][28][29].…”

“…Protocols permitting detection of pathogens in excreta have been perfected, allowing noninvasive sampling techniques that augment sample collection protocols that would otherwise be invasive, expensive, and potentially harmful to either animals or field personnel [27][28][29]. Furthermore, significant advances in bioinformatics approaches have accelerated pathogen genomic characterization that estimates time and place of transmission events based on phylodynamic and phylogeographic analyses [13,14,23,[30][31][32][33]. Because of these recent refinements in field and diagnostic methods, inferring source of infection and tracking of pathogen host switching have become substantially more feasible and accurate.…”

“…Clinically inapparent cross-species transmissions recorded include: (i) feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) from bobcat to puma [13,34]; (ii) Mycoplasma haemominutum from domestic cats to bobcats and puma, and (iii) from bobcat to puma [35]; and (iv) feline foamy virus (FFV) from domestic cat to puma [14]. FIV infection is highly restricted following host switching in geographically limited sites [23], while FFV infection has rapidly disseminated to high prevalence in free-ranging puma populations [14]. While of no apparent impact to the host, such asymptomatic prey-transmitted infections result in population level changes in microflora, which may have consequences for host immunity or susceptibility to other pathogens.…”

“…Furthermore, the degree of pathogen adaptation and frequency of intraspecific transmission of spillover agents in feline predators varies from minimal (i.e., FIV of bobcat origin in puma [13,23]) to extensive (i.e., FeLV in Florida panthers [6,36]), highlighting the varied outcomes in predatory species and the need for additional studies of this phenomenon.…”

Predation-Driven Spillover: Pathogen Bioaccumulation in Top Predators

“…These range from no infection in the predator, to adaptation and replication of the pathogen in the predator host, and transmission within the predator population, with either virulent or avirulent outcomes. New advances in molecular technologies, including next generation sequencing and sensitive serosurveillance, have afforded opportunities for detection of microparasites from free-ranging wildlife [9][10][11][12]. Protocols permitting detection of pathogens in excreta have been perfected, allowing noninvasive sampling techniques that augment sample collection protocols that would otherwise be invasive, expensive, and potentially harmful to either animals or field personnel [13][14][15].…”