Epidemiology, molecular characterization and risk factors of Carnivore
protoparvovirus-1 infection and disease in the wild felid Leopardus
guigna in Chile
Abstract
Landscape anthropization has been identified as one of the main drivers
of pathogen emergence worldwide, facilitating pathogen spillover between
domestic species and wildlife. The present study investigated Carnivore
protoparvovirus-1 (CPPV) infection using molecular methods in 98
free-ranging wild guignas (Leopardus guigna) and 262 co-occurring owned,
free-roaming rural domestic cats. We also assessed landscape
anthropization variables as potential drivers of infection. CPPV DNA was
detected in guignas across their entire distribution range, with
observed prevalence of 13.3% (real-time PCR) and 9% (conventional PCR)
in guignas, and 6.1% (conventional PCR) in cats. Prevalence in guigna
did not vary depending on age, sex, study area or landscape variables.
Prevalence was higher in juvenile cats (16.7%) than in adults (4.4%).
Molecular characterization of the virus by amplification and sequencing
of almost the entire vp2 gene (1746 bp) from one guigna and five
domestic cats was achieved, showing genetic similarities to canine
parvovirus 2c (CPV-2c) (one guigna and one cat), feline panleukopenia
virus (FPV) (one cat), CPV-2 (no subtype identified) (two cats), CPV-2a
(one cat). The CVP-2c-like sequence found in a guigna clustered together
with domestic cat and dog CPV-2c sequences from South America,
suggesting possible spillover from a domestic to a wild species as the
origin of infection in guigna. No clinical signs of disease were found
in PCR-positive animals except for the CPV-2c-infected guigna, which had
hemorrhagic diarrhea and died a few days after arrival at a wildlife
rescue center. Our findings reveal widespread presence of Carnivore
protoparvovirus-1 across the guigna distribution in Chile and suggest
that virus transmission potentially occurs from domestic to wild
carnivores, causing severe disease and death in susceptible wild
guignas.