Adams H, van Vuuren M, Bosman A-M, Keet D, New J, Kennedy M
Department of Comparative Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tennessee, 2407 River Drive, Knoxville, TN 37996, USA.
J S Afr Vet Assoc. 2009 Sep;80(3):151-6. doi: 10.4102/jsava.v80i3.193.
Feline immunodeficiency virus is a lentivirus of domestic cats that causes significant lifelong infection. Infection with this or similar lentiviruses has been detected in several nondomestic feline species, including African lions (Panthera leo). Although lion lentivirus (FIVple) infection is endemic in certain lion populations in eastern and southern Africa, little is known about its pathogenic effects or its epidemiological impact in free-ranging lions. This report describes the epidemiological investigation of lentivirus positivity of free-ranging lions in the Kruger National Park, South Africa. A nested polymerase chain reaction assay for virus detection was performed on all whole blood samples collected. In addition, serum samples were tested for cross-reactive antibodies to domestic feline lentivirus antigens and to puma lentivirus synthetic envelope peptide antigen. The results were analysed in conjunction with epidemiological data to provide a descriptive epidemiological study on lion lentivirus infection in a free-ranging population of lions. The overall prevalence of lentivirus infection was 69%, with a prevalence of 41% in the north of the park, and 80% in the south. Adult males had the highest prevalence when combining the factors of sex and age: 94%. The lowest prevalences were found among juveniles, with male juveniles at 29%. Adults were 5.58 times more likely to test positive for FIVple than juveniles, with adult males being 35 times more likely to be test positive for FIVple compared with juvenile males. This research represents the 1st epidemiological study of the lion lentivirus among free-ranging lions in the Kruger National Park.
猫免疫缺陷病毒是家猫的一种慢病毒，可导致严重的终身感染。在包括非洲狮（Panthera leo）在内的几种非家猫物种中，已检测到感染这种或类似的慢病毒。尽管狮慢病毒（FIVple）感染在非洲东部和南部的某些狮子种群中呈地方性流行，但对于其致病作用或在野生狮子中的流行病学影响知之甚少。本报告描述了对南非克鲁格国家公园野生狮子慢病毒阳性情况的流行病学调查。对采集的所有全血样本进行了用于病毒检测的巢式聚合酶链反应检测。此外，还检测了血清样本中针对家猫慢病毒抗原和美洲狮慢病毒合成包膜肽抗原的交叉反应抗体。结合流行病学数据对结果进行分析，以提供关于野生狮子种群中狮慢病毒感染的描述性流行病学研究。慢病毒感染的总体患病率为69%，公园北部患病率为41%，南部为80%。综合性别和年龄因素，成年雄性患病率最高：为94%。在幼狮中患病率最低，雄性幼狮为29%。成年狮子FIVple检测呈阳性的可能性是幼狮的5.58倍，成年雄性检测呈阳性的可能性是雄性幼狮的35倍。这项研究是对克鲁格国家公园野生狮子中狮慢病毒的首次流行病学研究。
