This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Reprints and Permissions Copyright Information Books from ASM Press MicrobeWorld Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Hofmann-Lehmann, R. Articles by Lutz, H. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Hofmann-Lehmann, R. Articles by Lutz, H.

 Previous Article  |  Next Article 

Clinical and Diagnostic Laboratory Immunology, 09 1996, 554-562, Vol 3, No. 5
Copyright © 1996 by the American Society for Microbiology. All rights reserved.

Prevalence of antibodies to feline parvovirus, calicivirus, herpesvirus, coronavirus, and immunodeficiency virus and of feline leukemia virus antigen and the interrelationship of these viral infections in free-ranging lions in east Africa

R Hofmann-Lehmann, D Fehr, M Grob, M Elgizoli, C Packer, JS Martenson, SJ O'Brien and H Lutz
Department of Internal Veterinary Medicine, University of Zurich, Switzerland. rhofmann@vetklinik.unizh.ch

While viral infections and their impact are well studied in domestic cats, only limited information is available on their occurrence in free- ranging lions. The goals of the present study were (i) to investigate the prevalence of antibodies to feline calicivirus (FCV), herpesvirus (FHV), coronavirus (FCoV), parvovirus (FPV), and immunodeficiency virus (FIV) and of feline leukemia virus (FeLV) antigen in 311 serum samples collected between 1984 and 1991 from lions inhabiting Tanzania's national parks and (ii) to evaluate the possible biological importance and the interrelationship of these viral infections. Antibodies to FCV, never reported previously in free-ranging lions, were detected in 70% of the sera. In addition, a much higher prevalence of antibodies to FCoV (57%) was found than was previously reported in Etosha National Park and Kruger National Park. Titers ranged from 25 to 400. FeLV antigen was not detectable in any of the serum samples. FCoV, FCV, FHV, and FIV were endemic in the Serengeti, while a transient elevation of FPV titers pointed to an outbreak of FPV infection between 1985 and 1987. Antibody titers to FPV and FCV were highly prevalent in the Serengeti (FPV, 75%; FCV, 67%) but not in Ngorongoro Crater (FPV, 27%; FCV, 2%). These differences could be explained by the different habitats and biological histories of the two populations and by the well-documented absence of immigration of lions from the Serengeti plains into Ngorongoro Crater after 1965. These observations indicate that, although the pathological potential of these viral infections seemed not to be very high in free-ranging lions, relocation of seropositive animals by humans to seronegative lion populations must be considered very carefully.

This article has been cited by other articles:

• Driciru, M., Siefert, L., Prager, K. C., Dubovi, E., Sande, R., Princee, F., Friday, T., Munson, L. (2006). A Serosurvey of Viral Infections in Lions (Panthera leo), from Queen Elizabeth National Park, Uganda.. J Wildl Dis 42: 667-671 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Roelke, M. E., Pecon-Slattery, J., Taylor, S., Citino, S., Brown, E., Packer, C., VandeWoude, S., O'Brien, S. J. (2006). T-lymphocyte profiles in fiv-infected wild lions and pumas reveal CD4 depletion.. J Wildl Dis 42: 234-248 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Filoni, C., Catao-Dias, J. L., Bay, G., Durigon, E. L., Jorge, R. S. P., Lutz, H., Hofmann-Lehmann, R. (2006). First Evidence of Feline Herpesvirus, Calicivirus, Parvovirus, and Ehrlichia Exposure in Brazilian Free-ranging Felids.. J Wildl Dis 42: 470-477 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Troyer, J. L., Pecon-Slattery, J., Roelke, M. E., Johnson, W., VandeWoude, S., Vazquez-Salat, N., Brown, M., Frank, L., Woodroffe, R., Winterbach, C., Winterbach, H., Hemson, G., Bush, M., Alexander, K. A., Revilla, E., O'Brien, S. J. (2005). Seroprevalence and Genomic Divergence of Circulating Strains of Feline Immunodeficiency Virus among Felidae and Hyaenidae Species. J. Virol. 79: 8282-8294 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Ryser-Degiorgis, M.-P., Hofmann-Lehmann, R., Leutenegger, C. M., af Segerstad, C. H., Morner, T., Mattsson, R., Lutz, H. (2005). EPIZOOTIOLOGIC INVESTIGATIONS OF SELECTED INFECTIOUS DISEASE AGENTS IN FREE-RANGING EURASIAN LYNX FROM SWEDEN. J Wildl Dis 41: 58-66 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Troyer, J. L., Pecon-Slattery, J., Roelke, M. E., Black, L., Packer, C., O'Brien, S. J. (2004). Patterns of Feline Immunodeficiency Virus Multiple Infection and Genome Divergence in a Free-Ranging Population of African Lions. J. Virol. 78: 3777-3791 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Harrison, T. M., Mazet, J. K., Holekamp, K. E., Dubovi, E., Engh, A. L., Nelson, K., Van Horn, R. C., Munson, L. (2004). ANTIBODIES TO CANINE AND FELINE VIRUSES IN SPOTTED HYENAS (CROCUTA CROCUTA) IN THE MASAI MARA NATIONAL RESERVE. J Wildl Dis 40: 1-10 [Abstract] [Full Text]