Leah Garrick Biology 1615 Wed.

noon

Exploring The Ecologic Basis For Extreme Susceptibility Of Pallas

Cats To Fatal Toxoplasmosis

Introduction: The pallas cat is a small wild cat from Central Asia. They are considered
to be an endangered species. To help increase the population, zoos have captured two
dozen wild-born cats and started a breeding program. Between 1996-2001 they have
had 65 kittens born into captivity. Unfortunately there has been a very high death rate of
the kittens (>60%). The necropsy of the dead kittens revealed that the majority were
infected with Toxoplasma Gondii.

Almost all of the adult cats in zoos had a positive antibody but rarely showed any
signs of the infection. However, in pregnancy the antibody of the infection does not
protect their kittens. The high death rate of the kittens is jeopardizing the maintenance to
the breeding program to protect the Pallas cat species. It is unknown why they are so
susceptible to the fatal toxoplasmosis. Comparative data would be important in
determining whether toxoplasmosis is endemic to wild populations or just in captivity of
the cats.

Reason for research: The specific objectives of this study was to 1) Evaluate general
health of the Pallas cats in Mongolia, including stool samples, blood tests, viral
antibodies and antigens. 2) Determine prevalence of exposure to T. gondii in the
Mongolian Pallas cats, domesticated cats, and the species they prey upon. 3) Assess
fecal cortisol levels as an indirect indicator of basal stress. 4) To compare findings to
those from other wild-born Pallas cat studies in North American zoos.

Materials and methods: Biologic Mongolian samples were collected from 15 wild
Pallas cats, 15 domestic cats, and 45 animals they prey on. Samples were also
collected from nine Pallas cats born in US zoos. They caught the wild-born Pallas cats
and sedated them to get all the samples they needed. They collected plasma, red and
white blood cells, whole blood cells, serum, and fecal samples from the pallas and
domestic cats.

Sample analysis was done with assessments of blood cell and biochemistry
parameters, serum antibodies against antigens of select viral agents, serum antibodies
against T. gondii DNA, fecal floatation, and fecal cortisol metabolite concentrations.
They also did complete blood cell counts. They killed the prey animals after getting the

needed blood and fecal samples. After the prey animals were dead, they removed
tissues from their brains for analysis.

Results: The differences were not significant in blood values or in most biochemistry
parameters among wild and captive Pallas cats. The only exceptions were the wild
Pallas cats had higher serum aspirate aminotransferase and total bilirubin and lower
glucose levels compared to the captive Pallas cats. Viral screening with domestic cats
showed no evidence of FIV, FeLV, or coronavirus in wild or captive populations.

With the 15 wild Pallas cats, 13 were negative for anti-T gondii immunoglobulins.
Assessment of the immunoglobulin titers from Mongolian, domestic cats and species of
prey showed a complete absence of exposure to T. gondii. With all the blood samples
from the wild Pallas cats, domestic cats, and their prey items as well as brain tissue
from prey animals found no evidence of T. gondii DNA. Comparison of fecal corticoid
metabolite concentrations showed no big difference between wild and captive Pallas
cats.

Discussion: The results suggest that the general health of the captive and wild Pallas
cats is comparable, based on the blood biochemistry analysis and complete blood cell

counts. With the exceptions being glucose, serum AST, and total bilirubin. No large
differences were noticed between populations biochemical parameters or hematologics.

Furthermore, the captive animals that were sampled in the study were adults,
whereas six of the 15 wild cats were juveniles. However, four of the wild Pallas cats
were FIV positive. This was the first report of free ranging FIV positive cats in Central
Asia. In captivity, Pallas cats are potential hosts for FIV, with both suspected and
confirmed cases reported in zoos.

Conslusion: The present results do not support the hypothesis that chronic stress is
causing the extreme susceptibility of Toxoplasmosis in Pallas cats. Although there was a
presence of antibody positive T gondii in two wild Pallas cats from Mongolia, information
suggested that most wild pallas cats have minimal opportunity to exposure of the
parasite in their natural habitat. The suspicion is that the wild-born Pallas cats only
came into contact with T. gondii after being taken into captivity.

There was no evidence of T. gondii antibodies seen in any of the domestic cats,
pikas, rodents, or gerbils that were sampled in Mongolia. For Pallas cats previously
infected with T. gondii, drug options should be explored that might help with

transmission of the disease to fetus in utero or after birth to help newborns. There is still
possibility of cultural or ecologic problems with T. gondii among wild Pallas cats.

Bibligraphy: Journal of Wildlife Diseases, 41 (4), 2005, pg 691-700