Putative progressive and abortive feline leukemia virus infection outcomes in captive jaguarundis (Puma yagouaroundi)

Abstract Background Feline leukemia virus (FeLV) is an exogenous gammaretrovirus of domestic cats (Felis catus) and some wild felids. The outcomes of FeLV infection in domestic cats vary according to host susceptibility, virus strain, and infectious challenge dose. Jaguarundis (Puma yagouaroundi) ar...

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Main Authors: Claudia Filoni, A. Katrin Helfer-Hungerbuehler, José Luiz Catão-Dias, Mara Cristina Marques, Luciana Neves Torres, Manfred Reinacher, Regina Hofmann-Lehmann
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2017-11-01
Series:Virology Journal
Subjects:
Online Access:http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12985-017-0889-z
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author Claudia Filoni
A. Katrin Helfer-Hungerbuehler
José Luiz Catão-Dias
Mara Cristina Marques
Luciana Neves Torres
Manfred Reinacher
Regina Hofmann-Lehmann
author_facet Claudia Filoni
A. Katrin Helfer-Hungerbuehler
José Luiz Catão-Dias
Mara Cristina Marques
Luciana Neves Torres
Manfred Reinacher
Regina Hofmann-Lehmann
author_sort Claudia Filoni
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Feline leukemia virus (FeLV) is an exogenous gammaretrovirus of domestic cats (Felis catus) and some wild felids. The outcomes of FeLV infection in domestic cats vary according to host susceptibility, virus strain, and infectious challenge dose. Jaguarundis (Puma yagouaroundi) are small wild felids from South and Central America. We previously reported on FeLV infections in jaguarundis. We hypothesized here that the outcomes of FeLV infection in P. yagouaroundi mimic those observed in domestic cats. The aim of this study was to investigate the population of jaguarundis at Fundação Parque Zoológico de São Paulo for natural FeLV infection and resulting outcomes. Methods We investigated the jaguarundis using serological and molecular methods and monitored them for FeLV-related diseases for 5 years. We retrieved relevant biological and clinical information for the entire population of 23 jaguarundis held at zoo. Post-mortem findings from necropsies were recorded and histopathological and immunohistopathological analyses were performed. Sequencing and phylogenetic analyses were performed for FeLV-positive samples. For sample prevalence, 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated. Fisher’s exact test was used to compare frequencies between infected and uninfected animals. P-values <0.05 were considered significant. Results In total, we detected evidence of FeLV exposure in four out of 23 animals (17%; 95% CI 5–39%). No endogenous FeLV (enFeLV) sequences were detected. An intestinal B-cell lymphoma in one jaguarundi was not associated with FeLV. Two jaguarundis presented FeLV test results consistent with an abortive FeLV infection with seroconversion, and two other jaguarundis had results consistent with a progressive infection and potentially FeLV-associated clinical disorders and post-mortem changes. Phylogenetic analysis of env revealed the presence of FeLV-A, a common origin of the virus in both animals (100% identity) and the closest similarity to FeLV-FAIDS and FeLV-3281 (98.4% identity), originally isolated from cats in the USA. Conclusions We found evidence of progressive and abortive FeLV infection outcomes in jaguarundis, and domestic cats were probably the source of infection in these jaguarundis.
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spelling doaj.art-21e67500141c4c95a1f93b6ad44268d32022-12-22T01:00:44ZengBMCVirology Journal1743-422X2017-11-0114111310.1186/s12985-017-0889-zPutative progressive and abortive feline leukemia virus infection outcomes in captive jaguarundis (Puma yagouaroundi)Claudia Filoni0A. Katrin Helfer-Hungerbuehler1José Luiz Catão-Dias2Mara Cristina Marques3Luciana Neves Torres4Manfred Reinacher5Regina Hofmann-Lehmann6Institute of Biosciences, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Campus BotucatuVetsuisse Faculty, Clinical Laboratory and Center for Clinical Studies, University of ZurichSchool of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences, Department of Pathology, University of São Paulo (USP)Fundação Parque Zoológico de São Paulo (FPZSP)School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences, Veterinary Hospital (HOVET), University of São Paulo (USP)Institute of Veterinary Pathology, University of GiessenVetsuisse Faculty, Clinical Laboratory and Center for Clinical Studies, University of ZurichAbstract Background Feline leukemia virus (FeLV) is an exogenous gammaretrovirus of domestic cats (Felis catus) and some wild felids. The outcomes of FeLV infection in domestic cats vary according to host susceptibility, virus strain, and infectious challenge dose. Jaguarundis (Puma yagouaroundi) are small wild felids from South and Central America. We previously reported on FeLV infections in jaguarundis. We hypothesized here that the outcomes of FeLV infection in P. yagouaroundi mimic those observed in domestic cats. The aim of this study was to investigate the population of jaguarundis at Fundação Parque Zoológico de São Paulo for natural FeLV infection and resulting outcomes. Methods We investigated the jaguarundis using serological and molecular methods and monitored them for FeLV-related diseases for 5 years. We retrieved relevant biological and clinical information for the entire population of 23 jaguarundis held at zoo. Post-mortem findings from necropsies were recorded and histopathological and immunohistopathological analyses were performed. Sequencing and phylogenetic analyses were performed for FeLV-positive samples. For sample prevalence, 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated. Fisher’s exact test was used to compare frequencies between infected and uninfected animals. P-values <0.05 were considered significant. Results In total, we detected evidence of FeLV exposure in four out of 23 animals (17%; 95% CI 5–39%). No endogenous FeLV (enFeLV) sequences were detected. An intestinal B-cell lymphoma in one jaguarundi was not associated with FeLV. Two jaguarundis presented FeLV test results consistent with an abortive FeLV infection with seroconversion, and two other jaguarundis had results consistent with a progressive infection and potentially FeLV-associated clinical disorders and post-mortem changes. Phylogenetic analysis of env revealed the presence of FeLV-A, a common origin of the virus in both animals (100% identity) and the closest similarity to FeLV-FAIDS and FeLV-3281 (98.4% identity), originally isolated from cats in the USA. Conclusions We found evidence of progressive and abortive FeLV infection outcomes in jaguarundis, and domestic cats were probably the source of infection in these jaguarundis.http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12985-017-0889-zRetrovirusFeLV-AenFeLVIntestinal B-cell lymphomaqPCRRT-qPCR
spellingShingle Claudia Filoni
A. Katrin Helfer-Hungerbuehler
José Luiz Catão-Dias
Mara Cristina Marques
Luciana Neves Torres
Manfred Reinacher
Regina Hofmann-Lehmann
Putative progressive and abortive feline leukemia virus infection outcomes in captive jaguarundis (Puma yagouaroundi)
Virology Journal
Retrovirus
FeLV-A
enFeLV
Intestinal B-cell lymphoma
qPCR
RT-qPCR
title Putative progressive and abortive feline leukemia virus infection outcomes in captive jaguarundis (Puma yagouaroundi)
title_full Putative progressive and abortive feline leukemia virus infection outcomes in captive jaguarundis (Puma yagouaroundi)
title_fullStr Putative progressive and abortive feline leukemia virus infection outcomes in captive jaguarundis (Puma yagouaroundi)
title_full_unstemmed Putative progressive and abortive feline leukemia virus infection outcomes in captive jaguarundis (Puma yagouaroundi)
title_short Putative progressive and abortive feline leukemia virus infection outcomes in captive jaguarundis (Puma yagouaroundi)
title_sort putative progressive and abortive feline leukemia virus infection outcomes in captive jaguarundis puma yagouaroundi
topic Retrovirus
FeLV-A
enFeLV
Intestinal B-cell lymphoma
qPCR
RT-qPCR
url http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12985-017-0889-z
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