Assessing Seroprevalence of Major Viral Infections in Big Cats

Abstract

Background: Big cats are widespread across the globe and India is also the host of this group of animals. Canine distemper virus (CDV), a morbillivirus that causes one of the most contagious and lethal viral diseases known in canids, has an expanding host range, including wild animals and its cases have also been observed in big cats. In such a situation, serological analysis of the biological samples may give significant information on the presence of diseases in a particular area. Sampling in big cats is often challenging hence in the present study, serum samples of big cats available in the laboratory were subjected to detection of antibodies against major viral infections including canine distemper. Methods: Serum samples collected from Royal Bengal tigers and Indian leopards irrespective of age and sex of the animals were subjected to the serological analysis of canine distemper virus (CDV), canine parvovirus (CPV) and canine adenovirus (CAV) infections using commercially available dot-ELISA kit. Result: Seroprevalence of antibodies against CDV and CPV infections in tigers and leopards was observed which indicated an exposure of these species to canine distemper and canine parvovirus infection in the ecosystem. Results also revealed constant seroprevalence of CPV infection throughout the study period whereas CDV seroprevalence was observed variable during this period. These findings also suggested significant presence of the viral pathogens in big cats.