PRIMARY STUDY OF SEROPREVALENCE TO VIRUS PATHOGENS IN WILD FELIDS OF SOUTH PRIMORIE, RUSSIA

Seroprevalence to nine different virus pathogens was estimated for Russian big cats (Amur tiger (Panthera tigris altaica Temminck, 1844) and far-eastern leopard (Punthera pardus orientalis (Schiegel, 1857))) in Southern Primorie, Russia (n = 25), in 2008-2016. Serum samples from smaller cats (Eurasian lynx (lynx lynx (Linnaeus, 1758)) and far-eastern wildcat (leopard cat) (Prionailunts bengalensis euptilurus (Elliot, 1871))) were also tested for these pathogens (n = 19) during the same period. Felids of Russian Southern Primorie showed seroprevalence to eight out of nine tested pathogens, including highly dangerous feline immunodeficiency virus, feline leukemia virus, and canine distemper virus. Antibodies to feline panleukopenia virus were found to be much more widespread in cats (45%) than antibodies to any other virus. They were detected in samples taken from tigers, leopards, and far-eastern wildcats but not lynxes. Antibodies to pseudorabies virus were detected only in Amur tiger (29%), whose main prey is the most common carrier of the virus (wild boar), unlike for the other studied cats' species.