A serological survey of common feline pathogens in free-living European wildcats (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Felis silvestris</Emphasis>) in central Spain |
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Authors: | Javier Millán Alejandro Rodríguez |
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Institution: | 1.Fundació Natura Parc,Santa Eugènia (Balearic Islands),Spain;2.Department of Conservation Biology,Estación Biológica de Do?ana (CSIC),Sevilla,Spain |
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Abstract: | Twenty-five serum samples of 22 free-living European wildcats (Felis silvestris) captured from 1991 to 1993 in central Spain were tested for evidence of exposure to seven feline pathogens. All the wildcats
but one (95.4%) presented evidence of contact with at least one of the agents (mean = 2.2). Contact with feline leukemia virus
(FeLV) was detected in 81% of the wildcats (antibodies, 77%; antigen p27, 15%). Antibodies to feline calicivirus (FCV, 80%),
feline herpesvirus (FHV, 20%), feline parvovirus (FPV, 18%), and Chlamydophila sp. (27%) were also detected. Analyses were negative for feline immunodeficiency virus and feline coronavirus. The probability
of having antibodies to FPV was inversely related with the concentration of serum cholesterol and with a morphometric index
of body condition. Similarity in the composition of antibodies against disease agents (number and identity of detected and
undetected antibodies) was significantly higher in pairs of female wildcats than in pairs of males or heterosexual pairs,
suggesting that females had a more homogeneous exposure to pathogens. Seroprevalence for FHV was higher in males than in females.
Antibodies to FHV and Chlamydophila sp. were more frequent in winter than in other seasons. In addition, the mean similarity of the pathogen community between
pairs of serum samples was higher if both wildcats were caught during the same season than if they were not. Mean similarity
was lowest when serum samples obtained in winter were compared with those from spring or summer. The results suggest that
some agents probably had a reservoir in domestic cats and may cause some undetected morbidity/mortality in the studied wildcat
population, whereas others, such as FeLV and FCV, may be enzootic. |
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Keywords: | Felid Feline leukemia Feline respiratory disease Seasonality Serology |
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