JWD Your personal alerts
HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced]


     

Journal of Wildlife Diseases, 44(3), 2008, pp. 537-552
© Wildlife Disease Association  2008
This Article
Right arrow Full Text
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow reprints & permissions
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Cunningham, M. W.
Right arrow Articles by O’Brien, S. J.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Cunningham, M. W.
Right arrow Articles by O’Brien, S. J.

EPIZOOTIOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT OF FELINE LEUKEMIA VIRUS IN THE FLORIDA PUMA

 Mark W. Cunningham1,10, Meredith A. Brown2, David B. Shindle1,3, Scott P. Terrell4, Kathleen A. Hayes5, Bambi C. Ferree1, R. T. McBride6, Emmett L. Blankenship7, Deborah Jansen7, Scott B. Citino8, Melody E. Roelke9, Richard A. Kiltie1, Jennifer L. Troyer9 and Stephen J. O’Brien2

1 Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, 1105 SW Williston Road, Gainesville, Florida 32601, USA
2 Laboratory of Genomic Diversity, National Cancer Institute-Frederick, Frederick, Maryland 21702, USA
4 Disney’s Animal Kingdom, 1200 North Savannah Circle, Bay Lake, Florida 32830, USA
5 Center for Retrovirus Research, The Ohio State University, 1925 Coffey Road, Columbus, Ohio 43210, USA
6 Rancher’s Supply Inc., PO Box 725, Alpine, Texas 79830, USA
7 Big Cypress National Preserve, National Park Service, Ochopee, Florida 34141, USA
8 White Oak Conservation Center, Animal Science Building, 581705 White Oak Road, Yulee, Florida 32097, USA
9 Laboratory of Genomic Diversity, SAIC-Frederick, Frederick, Maryland 21702, USA
10 Corresponding author (email: mark.cunningham{at}myfwc.com)

ABSTRACT:   Feline leukemia virus (FeLV) was not detected in Florida pumas (Puma concolor coryi) in almost 20 yr of surveillance; however, the finding of two FeLV antigen-positive pumas during the 2002–2003 capture season led to an investigation of FeLV in the population. Between January 1990 and April 2007, the proportion of pumas testing FeLV antibody positive increased, with antibody-positive pumas concentrated in the northern portion of puma range. Five of 131 (4%) pumas sampled between July 2000 and April 2007 were viremic, with all cases clustered in Okaloacoochee Slough (OKS). Clinical signs and clinical pathology at capture were absent or included lymphadenopathy, moderate-to-severe anemia, and lymphopenia. All viremic pumas died; causes of death were septicemia (n=2), intraspecific aggression (n=2), and anemia/dehydration (n=1). Outcome after FeLV exposure in pumas was similar to that in domestic cats, with evidence of regressive, latent, and persistent infections. Management of the epizootic included vaccination, and as of April 2007, 52 free-ranging pumas had received one or more inoculations. Vaccinations were concentrated in OKS and in a band between OKS and the remainder of the puma population. There have been no new cases since July 2004; however, the potential for reintroduction of the virus remains.
  Key words:  Feline leukemia virus, Florida panther, infectious disease, Puma concolor coryi, retrovirus, vaccination.

3 Current address: Conservancy of Southwest Florida, 1450 Merrihue Drive, Naples, Florida 34102, USA






HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
Copyright © 2008 by the Wildlife Disease Association.