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Nájera F, López G, Del Rey-Wamba T, Malik RA, Garrote G, López-Parra M, Fernández-Pena L, García-Tardío M, Arenas-Rojas R, Simón MA, Zorrilla I, Fernández I, Alcaide EM, Ruiz C, Revuelta L, Salcedo J, Hofmann-Lehmann R, Meli ML. Long-term surveillance of the feline leukemia virus in the endangered Iberian lynx (Lynx pardinus) in Andalusia, Spain (2008-2021). Sci Rep 2024; 14:5462. [PMID: 38443503 PMCID: PMC10914683 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-55847-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2023] [Accepted: 02/28/2024] [Indexed: 03/07/2024] Open
Abstract
Feline leukemia virus (FeLV) infection is considered one of the most serious disease threats for the endangered Iberian lynx (Lynx pardinus) Over 14 years (2008-2021), we investigated FeLV infection using point-of-care antigen test and quantitative real-time TaqMan qPCR for provirus detection in blood and tissues in lynxes from Andalusia (Southern Spain). A total of 776 samples from 586 individuals were included in this study. The overall prevalence for FeLV antigen in blood/serum samples was 1.4% (5/360) (95% CI: 0.2-2.6), FeLV proviral DNA prevalence in blood samples was 6.2% (31/503) (95% CI: 4.1-8.6), and FeLV proviral DNA in tissues samples was 10.2% (34/333) (95% CI: 7-13.5). From a subset of 129 longitudinally sampled individuals, 9.3% (12/129) PCR-converted during the study period. Our results suggest that FeLV infection in the Andalusian population is enzootic, with circulation of the virus at low levels in almost all the sampling years. Moreover, since only one viremic individual succumbed to the infection, this study suggests that lynxes may therefore control the infection decreasing the possibility of developing a more aggressive outcome. Although our results indicate that the FeLV infection in the Iberian lynx from Andalusia tends to stay within the regressive stage, continuous FeLV surveillance is paramount to predict potential outbreaks and ensure the survival of this population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fernando Nájera
- Wildlife Health Center, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA, 95616, USA.
- Department of Animal Physiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Complutense University of Madrid, 28040, Madrid, Spain.
- Asistencia Técnica de la Dirección General del Medio Natural y Desarrollo Sostenible de la Junta de Comunidades de Castilla-La Mancha, Plaza del Cardenal Siliceo s/n, 45071, Toledo, Spain.
| | - Guillermo López
- Agencia de Medio Ambiente y Agua de Andalucía, C/ Johan G. Gutenberg 1, Isla de la Cartuja, 41092, Seville, Spain.
| | - Tere Del Rey-Wamba
- Agencia de Medio Ambiente y Agua de Andalucía, C/ Johan G. Gutenberg 1, Isla de la Cartuja, 41092, Seville, Spain
| | - Rimsha A Malik
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, 08544, USA
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, 14853, USA
| | - Germán Garrote
- Agencia de Medio Ambiente y Agua de Andalucía, C/ Johan G. Gutenberg 1, Isla de la Cartuja, 41092, Seville, Spain
| | - Marcos López-Parra
- Agencia de Medio Ambiente y Agua de Andalucía, C/ Johan G. Gutenberg 1, Isla de la Cartuja, 41092, Seville, Spain
| | - Leonardo Fernández-Pena
- Agencia de Medio Ambiente y Agua de Andalucía, C/ Johan G. Gutenberg 1, Isla de la Cartuja, 41092, Seville, Spain
| | - Maribel García-Tardío
- Agencia de Medio Ambiente y Agua de Andalucía, C/ Johan G. Gutenberg 1, Isla de la Cartuja, 41092, Seville, Spain
| | - Rafael Arenas-Rojas
- Agencia de Medio Ambiente y Agua de Andalucía, C/ Johan G. Gutenberg 1, Isla de la Cartuja, 41092, Seville, Spain
| | - Miguel A Simón
- Consejería de Sostenibilidad, Medio Ambiente y Economía Azul, avda. Manuel Siurot, nº 50, 41013, Seville, Spain
| | - Irene Zorrilla
- Agencia de Medio Ambiente y Agua de Andalucía, C/ Johan G. Gutenberg 1, Isla de la Cartuja, 41092, Seville, Spain
| | - Isabel Fernández
- Agencia de Medio Ambiente y Agua de Andalucía, C/ Johan G. Gutenberg 1, Isla de la Cartuja, 41092, Seville, Spain
| | - Eva M Alcaide
- Agencia de Medio Ambiente y Agua de Andalucía, C/ Johan G. Gutenberg 1, Isla de la Cartuja, 41092, Seville, Spain
| | - Carmen Ruiz
- Agencia de Medio Ambiente y Agua de Andalucía, C/ Johan G. Gutenberg 1, Isla de la Cartuja, 41092, Seville, Spain
| | - Luis Revuelta
- Department of Animal Physiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Complutense University of Madrid, 28040, Madrid, Spain
| | - Javier Salcedo
- Consejería de Sostenibilidad, Medio Ambiente y Economía Azul, avda. Manuel Siurot, nº 50, 41013, Seville, Spain
| | - Regina Hofmann-Lehmann
- Clinical Laboratory, Department of Clinical Diagnostics and Services, and Center for Clinical Studies, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, 8057, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Marina L Meli
- Clinical Laboratory, Department of Clinical Diagnostics and Services, and Center for Clinical Studies, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, 8057, Zurich, Switzerland
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Chiu ES, Hoover EA, VandeWoude S. A Retrospective Examination of Feline Leukemia Subgroup Characterization: Viral Interference Assays to Deep Sequencing. Viruses 2018; 10:E29. [PMID: 29320424 PMCID: PMC5795442 DOI: 10.3390/v10010029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2017] [Revised: 01/03/2018] [Accepted: 01/08/2018] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Feline leukemia virus (FeLV) was the first feline retrovirus discovered, and is associated with multiple fatal disease syndromes in cats, including lymphoma. The original research conducted on FeLV employed classical virological techniques. As methods have evolved to allow FeLV genetic characterization, investigators have continued to unravel the molecular pathology associated with this fascinating agent. In this review, we discuss how FeLV classification, transmission, and disease-inducing potential have been defined sequentially by viral interference assays, Sanger sequencing, PCR, and next-generation sequencing. In particular, we highlight the influences of endogenous FeLV and host genetics that represent FeLV research opportunities on the near horizon.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elliott S Chiu
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Pathology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80524, USA.
| | - Edward A Hoover
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Pathology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80524, USA.
| | - Sue VandeWoude
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Pathology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80524, USA.
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