Serosurvey of Viral Infections in Free-Ranging Namibian Cheetahs (Acinonyx Jubatus)

Abstract

Cheetahs (Acinonyx jubatus) in captivity have unusually high morbidity and mortality from infectious diseases, a trait that could be an outcome of population homogeneity or the immunomodulating effects of chronic stress. Free-ranging Namibian cheetahs share ancestry with captive cheetahs, but their susceptibility to infectious diseases has not been investigated. The largest remaining population of free-ranging cheetahs resides on Namibian farmlands, where they share habitat with domestic dogs and cats known to carry viruses that affect cheetah health. To assess the extent to which free-ranging cheetahs are exposed to feline and canine viruses, sera from 81 free-ranging cheetahs sampled between 1992 and 1998 were evaluated for antibodies against canine distemper virus (CDV), feline coronavirus (feline infectious peritonitis virus; FCoV/ FIPV), feline herpesvirus 1 (FHV1), feline panleukopenia virus (FPV), feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV), and feline calicivirus (FCV) and for feline leukemia virus (FeLV) antigens. Antibodies against CDV, FCoV/FIPV, FHV1, FPV, and FCV were detected in 24, 29, 12, 48, and 65% of the free-ranging population, respectively, although no evidence of viral disease was present in any animal at the time of sample collection. Neither FIV antibodies nor FeLV antigens were present in any free-ranging cheetah tested. Temporal variation in FCoV/FIPV seroprevalence during the study period suggested that this virus is not endemic in the free-ranging population. Antibodies against CDV were detected in cheetahs of all ages sampled between 1995 and 1998, suggesting the occurrence of an epidemic in Namibia during the time when CDV swept through other parts of sub-Saharan Africa. This evidence in free-ranging Namibian cheetahs of exposure to viruses that cause severe disease in captive cheetahs should direct future guidelines for translocations, including quarantine of seropositive cheetahs and preventing contact between cheetahs and domestic pets.

Mixed infection by Feline astrovirus and Feline panleukopenia virus in a domestic cat with gastroenteritis and panleukopenia

“…1 Transmission of viruses (FPV, Felid herpesvirus 1, FCoV, and FCV) between cheetahs and domestic cats has previously been described. 11,17 Astroviruses are considered to be species-specific viruses, but interspecies transmission and/or recombination between either related or unrelated species has been hypothesized, involving cows and red deer, human beings and marine mammals, and human beings and/or ruminants/minks. 10,16,22 Interestingly, in the capsid gene (ORF2), FAstVs appear to resemble human AstVs more closely than other mammalian viruses, thus suggesting a relatively recent intersection in their evolution.…”

A Serosurvey of Viral Infections in Lions (Panthera leo), from Queen Elizabeth National Park, Uganda

“…The following methods were used: virus neutralization test (VNT) to detect CDV, FCV, and FHV1 antibodies; both Western blot and an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) to detect FIV antibodies; ELISA to detect FeLV antigen; and hemagglutination inhibition/ 2-mercaptoethanol (HAI/2-ME) to detect FPV IgG antibodies (Harrison et al, 2004;Munson et al, 2004). Feline coronovirus (FCoV or FIPV) antibodies were determined by indirect immunofluorescence (IFA) at the Washington Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory, Pullman, Washington, USA (Harrison et al, 2004;Munson et al, 2004).…”

Detection of Chlamydophila felis and Feline Herpesvirus Type-1 in non-domestic felids in Brazil

“…Furthermore, several studies have reported the absence of seropositivity to FIV among non-domestic felids around the world (OLMSTED et al, 1992;SPENCER et al, 1992;BROWN et al, 1993;ROELKE et al, 1993, PAUL-MURPHY et al, 1994OSOFSKY et al, 1996;MUNSON et al, 2004;MILLÁN;RODRÍGUEZ, 2009;THALWITZER et al, 2010). Among 18 free-ranging Knowledge of the occurrence of these agents in captive non-domestic felids may contribute to future ecological investigations regarding the epidemiology of these pathogens among free-ranging non-domestic felids and domestic cats in Brazil.…”