Multiple Introductions of Domestic Cat Feline Leukemia Virus in Endangered Florida Panthers1

Abstract

The endangered Florida panther (Puma concolor coryi) had an outbreak of infection with feline leukemia virus (FeLV) in the early 2000s that resulted in the deaths of 3 animals. A vaccination campaign was instituted during 2003–2007 and no additional cases were recorded until 2010. During 2010–2016, six additional FeLV cases were documented. We characterized FeLV genomes isolated from Florida panthers from both outbreaks and compared them with full-length genomes of FeLVs isolated from contemporary Florida domestic cats. Phylogenetic analyses identified at least 2 circulating FeLV strains in panthers, which represent separate introductions from domestic cats. The original FeLV virus outbreak strain is either still circulating or another domestic cat transmission event has occurred with a closely related variant. We also report a case of a cross-species transmission event of an oncogenic FeLV recombinant (FeLV-B). Evidence of multiple FeLV strains and detection of FeLV-B indicate Florida panthers are at high risk for FeLV infection.

Assessing cross-species transmission of hemoplasmas at the wild-domestic felid interface in Chile using genetic and landscape variables analysis

“…These shared biological features and the ubiquitous presence of domestic cats around human settlements make co-occurring domestic and wild felids an important study system to investigate frequency and impact of pathogen spillover at the wildlife-human interface 5 . Transmission of pathogens from domestic to wild felids has been linked with population declines among wild species, such as the case in bobcats ( Lynx rufus ) with the outbreak of feline panleukopenia virus in 1988 6 , and the outbreaks of feline leukemia virus (FeLV) in Iberian lynx ( Lynx pardinus ) in 2006 7 and Florida panther ( Puma concolor coryi ) in 2001–2004 8 and 2010–2016 9 . Therefore, gaining a better understanding of the mechanisms, ubiquity, and patterns of pathogen transmission among domestic and wild felids has epidemiological, ecological and conservation implications.…”

Synergistic China–US Ecological Research is Essential for Global Emerging Infectious Disease Preparedness

“…An important step in the right direction was the Ecology and Evolution of Infectious Diseases (EEID) program through the NSF's announcement in August 2018, of the addition of the National Natural Science Foundation of China as a new international collaborative partner. Through a relatively modest government investment of $275 million USD (including contributions from foreign partners) since 2000, this program has funded over 150 individual projects and led to some key discoveries that have greatly advanced our understanding and prediction of EID spillover, amplification and spread (Lloyd-Smith et al 2005;Kilpatrick et al 2006;Gilbert et al 2008;Chiu et al 2019;Lee et al 2017;Carver et al 2016;Coffey et al 2008). Continuation of this program and further collaborative funding efforts between the USA and China are needed.…”

Novel Circoviruses Detected in Feces of Sonoran Felids

“…Altered viral evolutionary dynamics (largely due to anthropogenic factors such as facilitating viral movement around the world, spillover from domestic animals, increasingly dense populations of wildlife due to habitat encroachment, and climate change) and altered exposure of wildlife to viruses through vector range expansion create conditions for accelerated emergence of viruses, some of which may cause new disease outbreaks in wildlife populations [14,15]. Notable examples include the spillover of feline leukemia virus (FeLV) from domestic cats into the endangered Florida panther [16] and spillover of CDV from domestic dogs into wildlife populations within Serengeti National Park, Tanzania, affecting spotted hyenas, African lions, and other species [17,18]. This may be especially problematic for already threatened populations, as small populations typically have lower genetic diversity (and possibly stress-induced immunosuppression) and, therefore, decreased adaptive potential to assist survival of a proportion of the population experiencing the effects of a novel viral disease [15,[19][20][21].…”