IUCN / SSC Cat Specialist Group - Digital Cat Library |
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| Winterbach, C.W.; Funston, P.J.; Hemson, G.; Winterbach, H.; Roelke, M.E.; Troyer, J.L.; Alexander, K.; O'Brien, S.J. | |
| Sero-Prevalence_of_Feline_Immunodeficiency_Virus_in_African_Lions - is it Host Density Dependent? | |
| 2007 Conference Proceeding | |
The Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV) is confirmed to be endemic in free-ranging populations of nine Felidae and one Hyaenidae species. FIV is widely distributed in multiple populations of the lion (Panthera leo) in Africa at diverse FIV-prevalence levels. We found a correlation (R2 = 0.732, n=9) between sero-prevalence of FIV and lion population density, indicating that the prevalence of FIV in lion populations may be density dependant. We investigated indirect measures of potential contact between individuals in prides and between prides to determine if these indices support the FIV density dependence hypothesis. High density lion populations from the Okavango Delta (Botswana) and the Kruger National Park in South Africa are compared with low density populations from the Makgadikgadi Pans National Park and the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park in Botswana. Average group size and pride size were used as indicators of contact between individuals within the pride. The potential contact between prides was assessed from home range size, the home range overlap between neighbouring prides and the average and maximum distances lions moved. These indices indicate a higher rate of contact between individuals in high density populations than low density populations. |
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