title: Factors associated with pathogen seroprevalence and infection in Rocky Mountain cougars.
abstract: Serological and genetic material collected over 15 years (1990-2004) from 207 cougars (Puma concolor) in four populations in the Rocky Mountains were examined for evidence of current or prior exposure to feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV), feline parvovirus (FPV), feline coronavirus (FCoV), feline calicivirus (FCV), canine distemper virus (CDV), feline herpesvirus (FHV), and Yersinia pestis. Serologic data were analyzed for annual variation in seroconversions to assess whether these pathogens are epidemic or endemic in cougars, and to determine whether family membership, age, sex, or location influence risk of exposure. FIV and FPV were clearly endemic in the studied populations, whereas exposure to FCoV, FCV, CDV, and Y. pestis was more sporadic. No evidence was found for FHV. Age was the most consistent predictor of increased exposure risk, often with no other important factors emerging. Evidence for transmission within family groups was limited to FIV and FCoV, whereas some indication for host sex affecting exposure probability was found for FIV and Y. pestis. Overall, cougar populations exhibited few differences in terms of pathogen presence and prevalence, suggesting the presence of similar risk factors throughout the study region.
authors.affiliation: Wildlife Biology Program, University of Montana, Missoula, Montana 59812, USA. rbiek@emory.edu
authors.forename: Roman
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Biek
authors.forename: Toni K
authors.initials: TK
authors.lastname: Ruth
authors.forename: Kerry M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Murphy
authors.forename: Charles R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Anderson
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: DeSimone
authors.forename: Rachel
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gray
authors.forename: Maurice G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Hornocker
authors.forename: Colin M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Gillin
authors.forename: Mary
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Poss
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000818:Animals; D000835:Animals, Wild / Q000382:microbiology / Q000821:virology; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000097:blood; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood*; D017927:Calicivirus, Feline / Q000276:immunology; D016765:Coronavirus, Feline / Q000276:immunology; D004217:Distemper Virus, Canine / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D006564:Herpesviridae / Q000276:immunology; D016089:Immunodeficiency Virus, Feline / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D017992:Parvovirus / Q000276:immunology; D010930:Plague / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000635:transmission / Q000662:veterinary*; D046011:Puma / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000821:virology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D012737:Sex Factors; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D014777:Virus Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000635:transmission / Q000662:veterinary*; D015010:Yersinia pestis / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D000914:Antibodies, Viral