Threats to the Iberian lynx (Lynx pardinus) by feline pathogens.

In order to determine the importance of various infectious agents as potential threats to Iberian lynx conservation, 77 free-ranging animals were screened for presence of 14 feline pathogens between November, 2003 and September, 2007. Evidence of presence of 13 out of 14 infectious agents was found: antibodies to feline calicivirus (FCV) were detected in 29/74 (39.2%); to feline parvovirus (FPV) in 22/74 (29.7%); to feline coronavirus (FCoV) in 19/74 (25.7%); to canine distempervirus (CDV) in 12/74 (16.2%); to feline herpesvirus (FHV) in 9/74 (12.2%), and to Anaplasma phagocytophilum in 4/74 (5.4%) animals. PCR of blood samples detected FPV in 2/75 (2.7%); CDV in 1/75 (1.3%); Cytauxzoon felis in 24/77 (31.2%); Mycoplasma haemofelis in 25/77 (32.5%); ‘Candidatus Mycoplasma haemominutum’ in 27/77 (35.1%); ‘Candidatus Mycoplasma turicensis’ in 10/77 (13%); Chlamydophila felis in 1/75 (1.3%), and Bartonella henselae in 16/75 (21.3%) samples. CDV- and FPV-positive animals were found only in the Doñana area, while all C. felis-positive lynxes originated from Sierra Morena area. No evidence of infection with feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) was found. In 2007, an outbreak of feline leukemia virus (FeLV) infection was witnessed. Thirteen lynxes became feline leukemia virus (FeLV)provirus-positive; eleven of these were antigenemic. Sequencing of the FeLV surface glycoprotein gene revealed a common origin of the virus. Seven of the provirus-positive, antigenemic lynxes died within a few months, indicating that FeLV might be particularly virulent in Iberian lynxes. Our data on the prevalence and virulence of infectious diseases in the Iberian lynx suggest that infectious agents of felids may constitute important threats to the survival of Iberian lynxes and have to be constantly monitored. The implementation of control measures such as vaccination campaigns of lynxes and domestic animals in the surrounding lynx habitats should also be maintained over time.

Peer Reviewed