title: Serologic survey for viral and bacterial infections in western populations of Canada lynx (Lynx canadensis).
abstract: A serologic survey for exposure to pathogens in Canada lynx (Lynx canadensis) in western North America was conducted. Samples from 215 lynx from six study areas were tested for antibodies to feline parvovirus (FPV), feline coronavirus, canine distemper virus, feline calicivirus, feline herpesvirus, Yersinia pestis, and Francisella tularensis. A subset of samples was tested for feline immunodeficiency virus; all were negative. For all other pathogens, evidence for exposure was found in at least one location. Serologic evidence for FPV was found in all six areas but was more common in southern populations. Also, more males than females showed evidence of exposure to FPV. Overall, prevalences were low and did not exceed 8% for any of the pathogens tested. This suggests that free-ranging lynx rarely encounter common feline pathogens.
authors.affiliation: Wildlife Biology Program, University of Montana, 32 Campus Drive, Missoula, Montana 59812, USA.
authors.forename: Roman
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Biek
authors.forename: Randall L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Zarnke
authors.forename: Colin
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gillin
authors.forename: Margaret
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wild
authors.forename: John R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Squires
authors.forename: Mary
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Poss
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000097:blood*; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood*; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D002335:Carnivora; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D009656:North America / Q000453:epidemiology; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D017678:Sex Distribution; D014777:Virus Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary*
chemical_list: D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D000914:Antibodies, Viral