Prevalence of Bartonella henselae antibody in Florida panthers

Serum samples from 28 free-ranging Florida panthers (Puma concolor coryi) a nd seven mountain lions from Texas (P. concolor stanleyana) living in south Florida (USA) between 1997 to 1998 were tested for antibodies to Bartonell a henselae. Twenty percent (7/35) of the samples were reactive to B. hensel ae antisera with a subspecies prevalence of 18% (5/28) for Florida panthers and 28% (2/7) for cougars from Texas (USA). There was not a significant se x related difference in infection rates among the Florida panthers. Antibod y prevalence was higher in panthers >2-yr of age (40%) compared to panthers >2-yr (13%). Compared to studies of antibody prevalence in mountain lions (P. concolor) from California (USA), overall seroprevalence was lower as wa s prevalence in panthers >2-yr-old. However, the seroprevalence in animals <2-yr from southern Florida was similar to prevalences reported in mountain lions or domestic felids in California.