Key result
Systemic feline calicivirus outbreak linked to severe ulcerations and mortality in captive tigers and lions.
Why the study?
A systemic feline calicivirus epidemic occurred in captive exotic felids including Amur tiger cubs and adult African lions despite prior vaccination, requiring investigation.
Case Report
No
Reports a fatal systemic feline calicivirus outbreak in captive exotic felids, likely introduced by a stray cat, despite prior vaccination in adults.
Warns of fatal FCV spillover from stray cats to captive exotic felids; leaves open optimal biosecurity and vaccination strategies.
A 5-day-old, mother-raised, Amur tiger cub (Panthera tigris altaica) presented with tongue ulcerations. Identical lesions appeared and progressed to sloughing of the tongue in the three littermates of this cub the following day. The lesions progressed in all cubs to include sloughing of the carpal, tarsal, metacarpal, and metatarsal foot pad epithelium. Oral ulcerations were also noted in adult African lions (Panthera leo) and Amur tigers (Panthera tigris altaica), but not in two adult snow leopards (Panthera uncia) housed in the same building. All adult cats had been previously vaccinated for common feline diseases including feline calicivirus (FCV). Detection of FCV RNA in oral secretions by a real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction assay (RRT-PCR) confirmed FCV infection in the tiger cubs and one lion. A male lion and a male tiger cub died during the disease outbreak. RRT-PCR confirmed FCV in multiple tissues in both of these animals. A stray cat live-trapped outside the feline building during the epidemic was found to be positive for FCV by virus isolation and was thought to be the source of infection.
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Harrison et al. (2007) conducted a case report in Feline calicivirus (FCV) infection. Feline calicivirus (FCV) infection was evaluated on Clinical signs (oral ulcerations, foot pad sloughing) and mortality. An outbreak of systemic feline calicivirus caused severe oral ulcerations, foot pad sloughing, and mortality in captive Amur tigers and African lions, likely originating from a stray cat.
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