Abstract
From 2002 through 2005, an outbreak of feline leukemia virus (FeLV) occurred in Florida panthers (Puma concolor coryi). Clinical signs included lymphadenopathy, anemia, septicemia, and weight loss; 5 panthers died. Not associated with FeLV outcome were the genetic heritage of the panthers (pure Florida vs. Texas/Florida crosses) and co-infection with feline immunodeficiency virus. Genetic analysis of panther FeLV, designated FeLV-Pco, determined that the outbreak likely came from 1 cross-species transmission from a domestic cat. The FeLV-Pco virus was closely related to the domestic cat exogenous FeLV-A subgroup in lacking recombinant segments derived from endogenous FeLV. FeLV-Pco sequences were most similar to the well-characterized FeLV-945 strain, which is highly virulent and strongly pathogenic in domestic cats because of unique long terminal repeat and envelope sequences. These unique features may also account for the severity of the outbreak after cross-species transmission to the panther.
Highlights
Follow this and additional works at: https://nsuworks.nova.edu/cnso_bio_facarticles Part of the Genetics and Genomics Commons, Immunology and Infectious Disease Commons, and the Veterinary Medicine Commons
feline leukemia virus (FeLV)-Pco sequences were most similar to the well-characterized FeLV-945 strain, which is highly virulent and strongly pathogenic in domestic cats because of unique long terminal repeat and envelope sequences
We describe the molecular genetic characterization of circulating FeLV strains isolated from the 2001–2005 outbreak and compare them with FeLV strains isolated from domestic cats
Summary
Follow this and additional works at: https://nsuworks.nova.edu/cnso_bio_facarticles Part of the Genetics and Genomics Commons, Immunology and Infectious Disease Commons, and the Veterinary Medicine Commons. From 2002 through 2005, an outbreak of feline leukemia virus (FeLV) occurred in Florida panthers (Puma concolor coryi). Not associated with FeLV outcome were the genetic heritage of the panthers (pure Florida vs Texas/Florida crosses) and co-infection with feline immunodeficiency virus. Genetic analysis of panther FeLV, designated FeLV-Pco, determined that the outbreak likely came from 1 cross-species transmission from a domestic cat. FeLV-Pco sequences were most similar to the well-characterized FeLV-945 strain, which is highly virulent and strongly pathogenic in domestic cats because of unique long terminal repeat and envelope sequences These unique features may account for the severity of the outbreak after cross-species transmission to the panther. The Florida panther (Puma concolor coryi) is the only remaining puma ( called cougar or mountain lion) population east of the Mississippi River in North America.
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