Frequent Transmission of Immunodeficiency Viruses among Bobcats and Pumas

Abstract

With the exception of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), which emerged in humans after cross-species transmissions of simian immunodeficiency viruses from nonhuman primates, immunodeficiency viruses of the family Lentiviridae represent species-specific viruses that rarely cross species barriers to infect new hosts. Among the Felidae, numerous immunodeficiency-like lentiviruses have been documented, but only a few cross-species transmissions have been recorded, and these have not been perpetuated in the recipient species. Lentivirus seroprevalence was determined for 79 bobcats (Lynx rufus) and 31 pumas (Puma concolor) from well-defined populations in Southern California. Partial genomic sequences were subsequently obtained from 18 and 12 seropositive bobcats and pumas, respectively. Genotypes were analyzed for phylogenic relatedness and genotypic composition among the study set and archived feline lentivirus sequences. This investigation of feline immunodeficiency virus infection in bobcats and pumas of Southern California provides evidence that cross-species infection has occurred frequently among these animals. The data suggest that transmission has occurred in multiple locations and are most consistent with the spread of the virus from bobcats to pumas. Although the ultimate causes remain unknown, these transmission events may occur as a result of puma predation on bobcats, a situation similar to that which fostered transmission of HIV to humans, and likely represent the emergence of a lentivirus with relaxed barriers to cross-species transmission. This unusual observation provides a valuable opportunity to evaluate the ecological, behavioral, and molecular conditions that favor repeated transmissions and persistence of lentivirus between species.

Variability in assays used for detection of lentiviral infection in bobcats (Lynx rufus), pumas (Puma concolor), and ocelots (Leopardus pardalis)

“…All four samples that were equivocal on PLV immunoblot were sequenced and determined to be unique isolates of PLV. All other sequenced PCR products, except for the aforementioned contaminant, were homogeneous with previously described PLV sequences (Carpenter et al, 1996;Franklin et al, 2007). The type of samples used (serum, plasma, or whole blood) did not affect assay results.…”

“…Host-specific lentiviruses have been isolated from numerous nondomesticated felids, including three American species: puma (Puma concolor; Carpenter et al, 1996), bobcat (Lynx rufus; Franklin et al, 2007), and ocelot (Leopardus pardalis; Troyer et al, 2005). Unlike domestic cat feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV), which can cause severe immunosuppression and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-like symptoms in felids, lentiviruses of wild felids have not historically been associated with significant pathogenicity (VandeWoude and Apetrei, 2006).…”

Characterization of Regionally Associated Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV) in Bobcats (Lynx rufus)

“…FIV-PcoB infects pumas across most of their range in North and South America, while FIV-PcoA was initially detected only in pumas from Florida (Puma concolor coryii) and southern California (Carpenter et al, 1996;Biek et al, 2003Biek et al, , 2006). An analysis of FIV sequences from bobcats (Lynx rufus) in California (n518) and Florida (n51) demonstrated these isolates cluster with FIV-PcoA (Franklin et al, 2007), suggesting interspecific transmission occurs between bobcats and pumas in these regions. Franklin et al (2007) concluded that FIV-PcoA has coevolved with bobcats and now infects pumas in these two geographic regions due to a ''jump'' from one host to another.…”

“…An analysis of FIV sequences from bobcats (Lynx rufus) in California (n518) and Florida (n51) demonstrated these isolates cluster with FIV-PcoA (Franklin et al, 2007), suggesting interspecific transmission occurs between bobcats and pumas in these regions. Franklin et al (2007) concluded that FIV-PcoA has coevolved with bobcats and now infects pumas in these two geographic regions due to a ''jump'' from one host to another.…”

“…Only one FIV sequence has been reported from Florida bobcats, and it was a historical sequence that had not been highly annotated (Franklin et al, 2007). We also sought to sequence FIV isolates from bobcats in Colorado, a geographic region from which no bobcat FIV sequences have been published.…”