Characterization of Regionally Associated Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV) in Bobcats (Lynx rufus)

Authors

Danielle M. Lagana, Colorado State University
Justin S. Lee, Colorado State University
Jesse S. Lewis, Colorado State UniversityFollow
Sarah N. Bevins, Colorado State UniversityFollow
Scott Carver, Colorado State University
Linda L. Sweanor, Colorado State University
Roy McBride, Rancher’s Supply, Inc.
Caleb McBride, Rancher’s Supply, Inc.
Kevin R. Crooks, Colorado State UniversityFollow
Sue VandeWoude, Colorado State UniversityFollow

Date of this Version

2013

Citation

Lagana, D.M., J.S. Lee, J.S. Lewis, S. N. Bevins, S. Carver, L.L. Sweanor, R. McBride, C. McBride, K.R. Crooks, and S. VandeWoude. 2013. Characterization of regionally associated Feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) in Bobcats (Lynx rufus). Journal of Wildlife Diseases 49(3):718-722. doi: 10.7589/2012-10-243.

Comments

U.S. government work.

Abstract

Feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) classically infects felid species with highly divergent species-specific FIVs. However, recent studies have detected an FIV strain infecting both bobcats (Lynx rufus) and pumas (Puma concolor) in California and Florida. To further investigate this observation, we evaluated FIV from bobcats in Florida (n525) and Colorado (n580) between 2008 and 2011. Partial viral sequences from five Florida bobcats cluster with previously published sequences from Florida panthers. We did not detect FIV in Colorado bobcats.