Cross-species transmission of retroviruses among domestic and wild felids in human-occupied landscapes in Chile

Irene Sacristán, Francisca Acuña, Emilio Aguilar, Sebastián García, María José López, Javier Cabello, Ezequiel Hidalgo-Hermoso, Jim Sanderson, Karen A. Terio, Vanessa Barrs, Julia Beatty, Warren E. Johnson, Javier Millán, Elie Poulin, Constanza Napolitano

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Human transformation of natural habitats facilitates pathogen transmission between domestic and wild species. The guigna (Leopardus guigna), a small felid found in Chile, has experienced habitat loss and an increased probability of contact with domestic cats. Here, we describe the interspecific transmission of feline leukemia virus (FeLV) and feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) between domestic cats and guignas and assess its correlation with human landscape perturbation. Blood and tissue samples from 102 free-ranging guignas and 262 domestic cats were collected and analyzed by PCR and sequencing. Guigna and domestic cat FeLV and FIV prevalence were very similar. Phylogenetic analysis showed guigna FeLV and FIV sequences are positioned within worldwide domestic cat virus clades with high nucleotide similarity. Guigna FeLV infection was significantly associated with fragmented landscapes with resident domestic cats. There was little evidence of clinical signs of disease in guignas. Our results contribute to the understanding of the implications of landscape perturbation and emerging diseases.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1070-1082
Number of pages13
JournalEvolutionary Applications
Volume14
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - Apr 2021

Keywords

  • Leopardus guigna
  • South America
  • anthropization
  • cross-species pathogen transmission
  • domestic cat
  • feline retrovirus
  • human-occupied landscapes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics
  • Genetics
  • General Agricultural and Biological Sciences

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Cross-species transmission of retroviruses among domestic and wild felids in human-occupied landscapes in Chile'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this