Prevalence and implications of feline coronavirus infections of captive and free-ranging cheetahs (Acinonyx jubatus)

J L Heeney; J F Evermann; A J McKeirnan; L Marker-Kraus; M E Roelke; M Bush; D E Wildt; D G Meltzer; L Colly; J Lukas

doi:10.1128/JVI.64.5.1964-1972.1990

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Prevalence and implications of feline coronavirus infections of captive and free-ranging cheetahs (Acinonyx jubatus)

Journal article

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Prevalence and implications of feline coronavirus infections of captive and free-ranging cheetahs (Acinonyx jubatus)

J L Heeney, J F Evermann, A J McKeirnan, L Marker-Kraus, M E Roelke, M Bush, D E Wildt, D G Meltzer, L Colly and J Lukas

Journal of virology, Vol.64(5), pp.1964-1972

05/1990

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1128/JVI.64.5.1964-1972.1990

Handle:

https://hdl.handle.net/2376/116138

PMCID: PMC249350

PMID: 2157864

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https://doi.org/10.1128/JVI.64.5.1964-1972.1990View

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Abstract

Oregon

Animals, Zoo

Antigens, Viral - analysis

Prevalence

United States

Africa

Acinonyx - microbiology

Blotting, Western

Animal Diseases - epidemiology

Animals, Wild

Animals

Coronaviridae Infections - veterinary

Cats - microbiology

Coronaviridae Infections - epidemiology

Animal Diseases - microbiology

Carnivora - microbiology

The extent and progression of exposure to feline infectious peritonitis (FIP) virus in the cheetah, Acinonyx jubatus, was monitored by a world-wide serological survey with indirect fluorescent antibody titers to coronavirus. The indirect fluorescent antibody assay was validated by Western blots, which showed that all indirect fluorescent antibody-positive cheetah sera detected both domestic cat and cheetah coronavirus structural proteins. There was a poor correlation between indirect fluorescent antibody results and the presence of coronaviruslike particles in cheetah feces, suggesting that electron microscopic detection of shed particles may not be an easily interpreted diagnostic parameter for FIP disease. Low, but verifiable (by Western blots [immunoblots]) antibody titers against coronavirus were detected in eight free-ranging cheetahs from east Africa as well as from captive cheetahs throughout the world. Of 20 North American cheetah facilities screened, 9 had cheetahs with measurable antibodies to feline coronavirus. Five facilities showed patterns of an ongoing epizootic. Retrospective FIP virus titers of an FIP outbreak in a cheetah-breeding facility in Oregon were monitored over a 5-year period and are interpreted here in terms of clinical disease progression. During that outbreak the morbidity was over 90% and the mortality was 60%, far greater than any previously reported epizootic of FIP in any cat species. Age of infection was a significant risk factor in this epizootic, with infants (less than 3 months old) displaying significantly higher risk for mortality than subadults or adults. Based upon these observations, empirical generalizations are drawn which address epidemiologic concerns for cheetahs in the context of this lethal infectious agent.

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Title: Prevalence and implications of feline coronavirus infections of captive and free-ranging cheetahs (Acinonyx jubatus)
Creators: J L Heeney - Laboratory of Viral Carcinogenesis, National Cancer Institute, Frederick, Maryland 21701-1013
J F Evermann
A J McKeirnan
L Marker-Kraus
M E Roelke
M Bush
D E Wildt
D G Meltzer
L Colly
J Lukas
Publication Details: Journal of virology, Vol.64(5), pp.1964-1972
Academic Unit: Veterinary Clinical Sciences, Department of
Publisher: United States
Identifiers: 99900547783601842
Language: English
Resource Type: Journal article