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Chen CC, Chang AM, Chen WJ, Chang PJ, Lai YC, Lee HH. Molecular survey of selected viral pathogens in wild leopard cats (Prionailurus bengalensis) in Taiwan with an emphasis on the spatial and temporal dynamics of carnivore protoparvovirus 1. Arch Virol 2021; 166:427-438. [PMID: 33389172 PMCID: PMC7778563 DOI: 10.1007/s00705-020-04904-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/29/2020] [Accepted: 10/19/2020] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
The leopard cat (Prionailurus bengalensis) was listed as an endangered species under the Wildlife Conservation Act in Taiwan in 2009. However, no study has evaluated the possible direct or indirect effects of pathogens on the Taiwanese leopard cat population. Here, we targeted viral pathogens, including carnivore protoparvovirus 1 (genus Protoparvovirus), feline leukemia virus (FeLV), feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV), coronaviruses (CoVs), and canine distemper virus (CDV), through molecular screening. The spatial and temporal dynamics of the target pathogens were evaluated. Through sequencing and phylogenetic analysis, we clarified the phylogenetic relationship of viral pathogens isolated from leopard cats and domestic carnivores. Samples from 23 live-trapped leopard cats and 29 that were found dead were collected from 2015 to 2019 in Miaoli County in northwestern Taiwan. Protoparvoviruses and CoVs were detected in leopard cats, and their prevalence (95% confidence interval) was 63.5% (50.4%–76.6%) and 8.8% (0%–18.4%), respectively. Most of the protoparvovirus sequences amplified from Taiwanese leopard cats and domestic carnivores were identical. All of the CoV sequences amplified from leopard cats were identified as feline CoV. No spatial or temporal aggregation of protoparvovirus infection in leopard cats was found in the sampling area, indicating a wide distribution of protoparvoviruses in the leopard cat habitat. We consider sympatric domestic carnivores to be the probable primary reservoir for the identified pathogens. We strongly recommend management of protoparvoviruses and feline CoV in the leopard cat habitat, particularly vaccination programs and population control measures for free-roaming dogs and cats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chen-Chih Chen
- Institute of Wildlife Conservation, College of Veterinary Medicine, National Pingtung University of Science and Technology, Pingtung, Taiwan.
- Research Center for Animal Biologics, National Pingtung University of Science and Technology, Pingtung, Taiwan.
| | - Ai-Mei Chang
- Graduate Institute of Animal Vaccine Technology, College of Veterinary Medicine, National Pingtung University of Science and Technology, Pingtung, Taiwan
| | - Wan-Jhen Chen
- Institute of Wildlife Conservation, College of Veterinary Medicine, National Pingtung University of Science and Technology, Pingtung, Taiwan
| | - Po-Jen Chang
- Formosan Wild Sound Conservation Science Center, Miaoli, Taiwan
| | - Yu-Ching Lai
- Department of Landscape Architecture and Environmental Design, Huafan University, New Taipei City, Taiwan
| | - Hsu-Hsun Lee
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, National Pingtung University of Science and Technology, Pingtung, Taiwan
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Kerr TJ, Matthee S, Govender D, Tromp G, Engelbrecht S, Matthee CA. Viruses as indicators of contemporary host dispersal and phylogeography: an example of feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV P le ) in free-ranging African lion (Panthera leo). J Evol Biol 2018; 31:1529-1543. [PMID: 29964350 DOI: 10.1111/jeb.13348] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2017] [Revised: 06/13/2018] [Accepted: 06/18/2018] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Measuring contemporary dispersal in highly mobile terrestrial species is challenging, especially when species are characterized by low levels of population differentiation. Directly transmitted viruses can be used as a surrogate for traditional methods of tracking host movement. Feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) is a species-specific lentivirus, which has an exceptionally high mutation rate and circulates naturally in wild felids. Using samples derived from 35 lion (Panthera leo) prides, we tested the prediction that FIV in lions (FIVP le ) can be used to track the dispersal of individuals between prides. As FIVP le subtypes are geographically structured throughout Africa, we predicted that this marker could be used to detect phylogeographic structure of lions at smaller spatial scales. Phylogenetic analyses of FIVP le pol-RT sequences showed that core pride members (females and subadults) shared evolutionary close viral lineages which differed from neighbouring core prides, whereas sequences from sexually mature males associated with the same pride were always the most divergent. In six instances, natal pride associations of divergent male lions could be inferred, on the assumption that FIVP le infections are acquired during early life stages. Congruence between the genetic pattern of FIV and pride structure suggests that vertical transmission plays an important role in lion FIV dynamics. At a fine spatial scale, significant viral geographic structuring was also detected between lions occurring north of the Olifants River within the Kruger National Park (KNP) and those occupying the southern and central regions. This pattern was further supported by phylogenetic analyses and the confinement of FIVP le subtype E to the northern region of KNP. The study provides new insights into the use of retroviral sequences to predict host dispersal and fine-scale contemporary geographic structure in a social felid species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tanya J Kerr
- Department of Conservation Ecology and Entomology, Faculty of AgriScience, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South Africa.,Division of Medical Virology, Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa.,Evolutionary Genomics Group, Department of Botany and Zoology, Faculty of Science, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South Africa
| | - Sonja Matthee
- Department of Conservation Ecology and Entomology, Faculty of AgriScience, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South Africa
| | - Danny Govender
- Scientific Services, SANParks, Skukuza, South Africa.,Department of Paraclinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, Onderstepoort, South Africa
| | - Gerard Tromp
- Division of Molecular Biology and Human Genetics, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, SAMRC-SHIP South African Tuberculosis Bioinformatics Initiative (SATBBI), Center for Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa.,Division of Molecular Biology and Human Genetics, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, NRF/DST Centre of Excellence for Biomedical Tuberculosis Research, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa.,Division of Molecular Biology and Human Genetics, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, South African Medical Research Council Centre for Tuberculosis Research, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Susan Engelbrecht
- Division of Medical Virology, Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa.,National Health Laboratory Service (NHLS), Tygerberg Coastal, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Conrad A Matthee
- Evolutionary Genomics Group, Department of Botany and Zoology, Faculty of Science, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South Africa
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