UH Hilo Center for Maunakea Stewardship - Research Library

Evidence of Feline Immunodeficiency Virus, Feline Leukemia Virus, and Toxoplasma gondii in Feral Cats on Mauna Kea, Hawaii

Author:
Banko, P. C., Danner, Raymond, Goltz, Daniel M., Hess, Steven C.
Title:
Evidence of Feline Immunodeficiency Virus, Feline Leukemia Virus, and Toxoplasma gondii in Feral Cats on Mauna Kea, Hawaii
Periodical:
Journal of Wildlife Diseases
Year:
2007
Volume:
43
Pages:
315-318
Subject:
Cats Feline immunodeficiency virus Feline leukemia virus Felis catus Feral cats Toxoplasma gondii
Summary:
Since infectious agents may be transmitted to native wildlife, domestic pets, or humans, and since diseases may limit populations and reduce the risk of predation on native wild life, it is important to understand the infectious diseases that are carried by introduced predatory mammals. In Hawaii, the feral domestic cat, (Felis catus), may carry and transmit the feline immunodeficiency virus, (FIV), the feline leukemia virus, (FeLV), and the coccidian protozoan, Toxoplasma gondii. The FIV and FeLV have been evaluated as potential biological control agents in island ecosystems and the T. gondii is known to cause illness in several Hawaiian bird species, in the endangered Hawaiian monk seal, (Monachus schauinslandi), and in humans. While some of the impacts of the T. gondii on wildlife are known, and while the pathogenesis of the FIV and the FeLV in cats have been well studied, the seroprevalence of infectious agents in wild fields that are located in remote natural areas of Hawaii are poorly understood. As a result, the FIV and FeLV were examined in an effort to determine whether these potential biological control agents already existed in feral cats. In addition, the prevalence for toxoplasmosis was examined to determine if the risk of transmission exists for native wildlife, particularly for the endangered bird species on Mauna Kea, on the island of Hawaii.
Label:
Animals
URL:
https://meridian.allenpress.com/jwd/article/43/2/315/123770/Evidence-of-Feline-Immunodeficiency-Virus-Feline
Date:
April 2007
Collection:
Periodicals