Snapshot of Viral Infections in Wild Carnivores Reveals Ubiquity of Parvovirus and Susceptibility of Egyptian Mongoose to Feline Panleukopenia Virus

Abstract

The exposure of wild carnivores to viral pathogens, with emphasis on parvovirus (CPV/FPLV), was assessed based on the molecular screening of tissue samples from 128 hunted or accidentally road-killed animals collected in Portugal from 2008 to 2011, including Egyptian mongoose (Herpestes ichneumon, n = 99), red fox (Vulpes vulpes, n = 19), stone marten (Martes foina, n = 3), common genet (Genetta genetta, n = 3) and Eurasian badger (Meles meles, n = 4). A high prevalence of parvovirus DNA (63%) was detected among all surveyed species, particularly in mongooses (58%) and red foxes (79%), along with the presence of CPV/FPLV circulating antibodies that were identified in 90% of a subset of parvovirus-DNA positive samples. Most specimens were extensively autolysed, restricting macro and microscopic investigations for lesion evaluation. Whenever possible to examine, signs of active disease were not present, supporting the hypothesis that the parvovirus vp2 gene fragments detected by real-time PCR possibly correspond to viral DNA reminiscent from previous infections. The molecular characterization of viruses, based on the analysis of the complete or partial sequence of the vp2 gene, allowed typifying three viral strains of mongoose and four red fox’s as feline panleukopenia virus (FPLV) and one stone marten’s as newCPV-2b type. The genetic similarity found between the FPLV viruses from free-ranging and captive wild species originated in Portugal and publicly available comparable sequences, suggests a closer genetic relatedness among FPLV circulating in Portugal.Although the clinical and epidemiological significance of infection could not be established, this study evidences that exposure of sympatric wild carnivores to parvovirus is common and geographically widespread, potentially carrying a risk to susceptible populations at the wildlife-domestic interface and to threatened species, such as the wildcat (Felis silvestris) and the critically endangered Iberian lynx (Lynx pardinus).

Fatal canine adenovirus type 1 acute infection in a Yorkshire Terrier puppy in Portugal: a case report

“…The possibility that CPV-2 vaccine virus may have also contributed to the clinical disease of the Yorkshire puppy is remote, since vaccine parvovirus was not isolated in cell culture after three passages indicating that, if present, the viral charge was very low, in agreement with the high Ct value (38.5) obtained in the real time PCR. Furthermore, we obtained lower Ct values with fresh samples from cats and dogs with active disease (Duarte et al 2013), in contrast with the high Ct value obtained for the index case. Moreover, previous studies confirmed that most cases of parvovirus-like disease occurring shortly after vaccination were related to infection with either field strains of CPV type 2 (CPV-2) or other viruses, bacteria or parasites, rather than to reversion to virulence of the modified live virus contained in the vaccine.…”

“…The seroprevalence of CAdV-1 in foxes and wolves was highly variable, ranging from 4.7% to 100%. For wild carnivores from Portugal, data is limited to red foxes (n=4), with none testing positive for CAdV-1 (Duarte et al 2013). Wild species are likely reservoirs of CAdV-1, from which sporadic spill over to susceptible unvaccinated domestic dogs may occur.…”

Potential Pathogens Reported in Species of the Family Viverridae and Their Implications for Human and Animal Health

“…These were the SARS coronavirus (SARS CoV) (Guan et al, 2003;Poon et al, 2005); HPAI H5N1 (Roberton et al, 2006;Wu et al, 2013) and a number of variants of the rabies virus (Enurah et al, 1988a;Wilde et al, 1991;Tremlett et al, 1994;Nel et al, 2005;Susetya et al, 2008;Pfukenyi et al, 2009;Matsumoto et al, 2011). Three important viruses of domestic carnivores were also reported, including canine distemper virus (CDV) (Machida et al, 1992;Hur et al, 1999;Chandra et al, 2000;L opez-Peña et al, 2001;Hirama et al, 2004;Chen et al, 2007;Takayama et al, 2009), feline parvovirus (caused by the feline panleukopenia virus, FPV) (Ikeda et al, 1999;Demeter et al, 2009) and canine parvovirus (CP) (Santos et al, 2009;Xiao-Ying et al, 2011;Duarte et al, 2013). In more recent years, the use of advanced molecular techniques has enabled the identification of five novel viruses of uncertain significance.…”

“…Neurological signs Tanzania (wild) (Marston et al, 2012) Family Paramyxoviridae Canine distemper virus M Binturong (Arctictis binturong), Masked palm civet, Common palm civet (Paradoxurus hermaphroditus), Small Indian civet, Common genet Depression, dyspnoea, coughing, oculonasal discharge, gastrointestinal signs, dehydration, neurological signs, foot pad hyperkeratosis USA, Korea, Taiwan, Japan, Spain, Thailand (wild, farm, zoo) (Machida et al, 1992;Hur et al, 1999;Chandra et al, 2000;L opez-Peña et al, 2001;Hirama et al, 2004;Chen et al, 2007;Takayama et al, 2009;Techangamsuwan et al, 2014) Family Parvoviridae Feline panleukopenia virus M Formosan gem-faced civet (P. larvata taivana), Common palm civet Lethargy, vomiting, diarrhoea Taiwan, Hungary (farm, zoo) (Ikeda et al, 1999;Demeter et al, 2009) Canine parvovirus M Common genet, Masked palm civet Fever, diarrhoea, depression, anorexia, vomiting Portugal, China (wild) (Santos et al, 2009;Xiao-Ying et al, 2011;Duarte et al, 2013) Family Reoviridae Mammalian reovirus MPC/04…”

Canine parvovirus: the worldwide occurrence of antigenic variants

“…The very high prevalence of CPV-2a/2b infections in these large cats compared to domestic cats may suggest a higher susceptibility of these species for these virus types . An isolate from a stone marten (Martes foina) collected in Portugal revealed the presence of CPV-2b (Duarte et al, 2013), such a stone marten CPV-2a strain was referred by Steinel et al (2001). In Italy, four isolates from wolves analysed by Battilani et al (2001) were antigenically and genetically identified as CPV-2b.…”