title: Seroprevalences to viral pathogens in free-ranging and captive cheetahs (Acinonyx jubatus) on Namibian Farmland.
abstract: Cheetah populations are diminishing rapidly in their natural habitat. One reason for their decline is thought to be a high susceptibility to (infectious) diseases because cheetahs in zoos suffer from high disease-induced mortality. Data on the health status of free-ranging cheetahs are scarce, and little is known about their exposure and susceptibility to infectious diseases. We determined seroprevalences to nine key viruses (feline herpesvirus 1, feline calicivirus, feline parvovirus, feline coronavirus, canine distemper virus, feline immunodeficiency virus [FIV], puma lentivirus, feline leukemia virus, and rabies virus) in 68 free-ranging cheetahs on east-central Namibian farmland, 24 nonvaccinated Namibian captive cheetahs, and several other wild carnivore species and conducted necropsies of cheetahs and other wild carnivores. Eight of 11 other wild carnivores were seropositive for at least one of the viruses, including the first record of an FIV-like infection in a wild felid west of the Kalahari, the caracal (Felis caracal). Seroprevalences of the free-ranging cheetahs were below 5% for all nine viruses, which is significantly lower than seroprevalences in nonvaccinated captive cheetahs and those for five of seven viruses in previously studied free-ranging cheetahs from north-central Namibia (L. Munson, L. Marker, E. Dubovi, J. A. Spencer, J. F. Evermann, and S. J. O'Brien, J. Wildl. Dis. 40:23-31, 2004). There was no clinical or pathological evidence of infectious diseases in living or dead cheetahs. The results suggest that while free-ranging wild carnivores may be a source of pathogens, the distribution of seroprevalences across studies mirrored local human population density and factors associated with human habitation, probably reflecting contact opportunities with (nonvaccinated) domestic and feral cats and dogs. They also suggest that Namibian cheetahs respond effectively to viral challenges, encouraging consistent and sustainable conservation efforts.
authors: Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, Alfred-Kowalke-Strasse 17, D-10315 Berlin, Germany.
authors: Susanne
authors: S
authors: Thalwitzer
authors: Bettina
authors: B
authors: Wachter
authors: Nadia
authors: N
authors: Robert
authors: Gudrun
authors: G
authors: Wibbelt
authors: Thomas
authors: T
authors: Müller
authors: Johann
authors: J
authors: Lonzer
authors: Marina L
authors: ML
authors: Meli
authors: Gert
authors: G
authors: Bay
authors: Heribert
authors: H
authors: Hofer
authors: Hans
authors: H
authors: Lutz
mesh_terms: D002612:Acinonyx / Q000821:virology*; D000818:Animals; D002415:Cats; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D009276:Namibia / Q000453:epidemiology; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D014777:Virus Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary*