Feline leukemia virus in a captive bobcat

An 11-mo-old captive-bred male neutered bobcat (Felis rufus) presented with lethargy, anorexia, leukopenia, neutropenia, lymphopenia, and nonregenerat ive anemia. The animal was diagnosed as feline leukemia virus (FeLV) positi ve by immunofluorescent antibody and enzyme-linked immunosorbant assay (ELI SA) testing. It died despite supportive care. Pathologic examination reveal ed multifocal non-suppurative encephalitis, diffuse interstitial pneumonia, multifocal hepatocellular necrosis, non-suppurative peritonitis, and lymph oid depletion. FeLV was isolated from peripheral blood mononuclear cells, b one marrow, spleen, and lymph node. FeLV-specific gag sequences were amplif ied by DNA polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and aligned with known domestic cat FeLV's. The source of the virus was speculated to be a domestic cat tha t was a surrogate nurse. Case reports of FeLV in nondomestic felids are few , and FeLV does not appear to be enzootic in wild felids, except European w ildcats (Felis silvestris) in France and Scotland. Introduction of FeLV int o free-living and captive nondomestic felid populations could have serious consequences for their health and survival. Measures to prevent the introdu ction of this virus to nondomestic felids are warranted.