Survey of selected viral pathogens in neotropical felids

Abstract

Declines in wild felids populations due to infectious disease have already been reported; however little is known about the impact of pathogens on population dynamics of these species. Wild felids are susceptible to the same pathogens that affect domestic cats. However, different physiological and ecological patterns of the felids may be responsible for different evolutions of infectious in species. In Brazil, neotropical felids populations are in decline and under some degree of threat, and a considerable number of individuals is kept in captivity. This study aims to investigate the presence of viral pathogens in samples from 61 free ranging and 32 captive neotropical felids. Through the perform of molecular tests for PCR (polymerase chair reaction) or RT-PCR (reverse transcriptase followed by polymerase chain reactions) the presence of feline herpervirus (FHV1), feline parvovirus (FPV), feline calicivirus (FCV), feline coronavirus (FCoV), feline leukemia virus (FeLV), feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) and canine distemper virus (CDV) will be investigated. The result of this study will expand the knowledge of the circulation of pathogens in neotropical felids and may be taken into account when elaborating conservation strategies for the species in the wild. (AU)