The Florida panther (Puma concolor coryi) is one of the most endangered mammals, with the entire population estimated to consist of only 30–50 adult animals. Between 1978 and 1999, 73 free-ranging Florida panther carcasses were submitted for postmortem evaluation, of which 47 (64%) were radiocollared and 26 (36%) were uncollared cats. Overall, mortality of panthers <6-mo-old was due to vehicular trauma in 25 (35%), intraspecific aggression in 19 (26%), illegal kill in seven (10%), research activities in two (3%), infectious diseases in two (3%), esophageal tear in one (1%), pleuritis in one (1%), pyothorax in one (1%), aortic aneurysm in one (1%), atrial septal defect in one (1%), and causes of death were undetermined in 13 (18%) due to autolysis. Of the 25 panthers that were killed by vehicular trauma, 20 (80%) died between October and April. This coincides with increased number of winter visitors to south Florida. Among radiocollared panthers, intraspecific aggression was the primary cause of mortality ...

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Causes of mortality of free-ranging Florida panthers.

Cytauxzoon felis is a long-recognized hemoparasite of free-ranging Florida panthers (Puma concolor coryi), but its prevalence and effect on the population has not been assessed. Red blood cell indices and white blood cell counts were compared between infected and noninfected Florida panthers and Texas cougars (Puma concolor stanleyana) from 1983–1997 in Florida (USA). The prevalence of cytauxzoonosis for both populations was 39% (11/28) for Texas cougars, 35% for Florida panthers (22/63) and 36% overall. Thirteen hematologic parameters were compared between C. felis positive and negative panthers and cougars. Florida panthers had significantly lower mean cell hemoglobin count (MCHC) and higher white blood cell (WBC), neutrophil, monocyte and eosinophil counts (P ≤ 0.05) than Texas cougars. Infected Florida panthers had significantly lower mean cell hemoglobin (MCH) and monocyte counts and higher neutrophil and eosinophil counts than infected Texas cougars. Although statistically significant differences we...

https://bioone.org/journals/Journal-of-Wildlife-Diseases/volume-35/issue-3/0090-3558-35.3.613/Hematologic-Effects-of-Cytauxzoonosis-in-Florida-Panthers-and-Texas-Cougars/10.7589/0090-3558-35.3.613.pdf

Hematologic effects of cytauxzoonosis in Florida panthers and Texas cougars in Florida.

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the state of knowledge about the helminthology of wild mammals in Argentine Patagonia and its link with the conservation of parasite species and biodiversity. To this end, the information included in the previously reported checklist of the helminths found in terrestrial wild mammals of Argentine Patagonia was completed and updated. The methodology used for the search was the same as that previously used, with slight modifications. Eighty-two species of mammals currently inhabit the region, and an additional six species are considered to have become extinct before the 20th century. The reports used to complete and update the information correspond to research done since 2015 to date. Considering the number of records analysed in the previously reported checklist and those of the current update, a total of 1918 helminthological reports for current Patagonian mammals and 2141 on mammal species that inhabited Patagonia before the 20th century were accounted for. It is important to point out that 41% of the 82 species of wild mammals currently inhabiting Patagonia have not been studied helminthologically; 38% of these without helminthological records are either threatened or do not have categorization, and 79% of mammals without helminthological studies have some degree of endemism. Therefore, in order to evaluate conservation priorities, the information about the parasitic richness in Patagonian wild mammals should be substantially increased, especially in those endangered or endemic.

Updated checklist of helminths found in terrestrial mammals of Argentine Patagonia.

Relações entre a onça-pintada, onça-parda e moradores locais em três unidades de conservação da Floresta Atlântica do estado do Paraná, Brasil

Objective - To determine prevalences of heartworm exposure (ie, positive heartworm antibody test results) and heartworm infection (ie, positive heartworm antigen test results or identification of mature heartworms at necropsy) among nondomestic cats housed in an area in rural North Carolina where Dirofilaria immitis is known to be endemic and among nondomestic cats housed in areas with a low prevalence of dirofilariasis or in an area considered to be free from heartworms. Design - Cross-sectional prevalence survey. Animals - 97 nondomestic cats in North Carolina (study population) and 29 nondomestic cats in Colorado; Queensland, Australia; or Auckland, New Zealand (control population). Procedure - Results of serologic tests and post-mortem examinations were reviewed. Results - Results of heartworm antibody tests were positive for 57 of 75 (76%) study cats and 1 of 29 (3%) control cats. Male study cats had a significantly higher risk of heartworm exposure than did female study cats (relative risk, 1.3). Results of heartworm antigen tests were negative for all 47 study cats and 16 control cats that were tested. Postmortem examinations were performed on 21 study cats, and 1 (5%) was found to be infected with heartworms. Conclusions and Clinical Relevance - Results suggested that nondomestic cats housed outdoors in the southeastern United States are at risk for heartworm exposure and infection, with male cats having a greater risk of exposure than female cats.

Prevalence of naturally occurring Dirofilaria immitis infection among nondomestic cats housed in an area in which heartworms are endemic.

Blood samples from Florida panthers (Felis concolor coryi) collected from 1986 to 1993 during the months of December through May were screened for the presence of microfilariae (mff) by the Difil® filter test. Thirty-five of 47 (74.5%) panthers older than 2 yr of age were positive with microfilaremias ranging from 10 to 7,380 mff/ml of whole blood. No panthers that were 6 mo of age or less (n = 10) were microfilariae- positive, and only 20% of the panthers in the 1-yr class (n = 5) were positive. A representative number of microfilariae (n = 40) from each of 7 freshly collected positive blood samples was measured and morphological characteristics were noted. The average length of microfilariae processed by the modified Knott's technique was 320 /Am (273-370 /Am) with a width of 4-5 /Am. Of the 280 microfilariae measured, 202 (72.14%) had tapered heads and straight tails with an average length of 319 /im (276-368 /Am), 61 (21.79%) had blunt heads and straight tails and averaged 323 /urn (274-366 /Am), 16 (5.71%) had tapered heads and button-hooked tails with an average length of 320 /Am (290-368 /am), and 1 (0.35%) had a blunt head and button-hooked tail and measured 320 /Am. The finding of no significant difference (P > 0.05) between length measurements due to differences in head and tail shape leads us to believe that all microfilariae were of 1 species. Based on micro- filarial length measurements, review of necropsy reports, and comparison with bobcat microfilariae, the most likely filarial species infecting the Florida panther is Dirofilaria striata (Molin, 1858).

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E Melody

Papers

Microfilariae in the Free-Ranging Florida Panther (Felis concolor coryi)