Identification of a rubella-related virus in a mountain lion in Colorado raises concerns among experts, who warn it could severely affect the health of felines across the country.
A startling discovery has emerged in the United States, where a virus that can be deadly to both domestic and wild felines has been identified for the first time.
The variant of the rustrela virus, RusV (related to the well-known rubella virus, which causes skin rashes in humans), has been detected in a female mountain lion in Douglas County, Colorado. This finding was recently published in the journal Emerging Infectious Diseases.
The discovery occurred in May 2023, when the big cat showed skin lesions and severe muscle weakness in its hind legs.
“Wildlife officers suspected the mountain lion was ill but were unsure what was causing its behavior,” The Independent reported.
To ease its suffering and prevent brain damage, the feline was sedated and later euthanized.
Research and diagnosis.
Scientists launched a thorough investigation, analyzing tissue samples and performing genetic sequencing. The results indicated that the mountain lion was suffering from the RusV variant of the rustrela virus.
It is important to note that the RusV virus, also known as Rubivirus strelense, causes what is called “staggering disease,” a typically fatal neurological syndrome in felines.
The Independent noted that this disease has been documented in domestic cats in Europe since the 1970s and has also been found in rodents.
Approximately 45 years ago, a similar syndrome was reported in cats in Alabama, though the cause was unclear at the time. According to the publication, “the RusV virus was recently identified as the cause of staggering disease in cats.”
Hybridization method
To confirm the link between the lesions and the RusV virus, researchers used hybridization methods previously developed for virus studies.
Hybridization is the process in which two complementary DNA or RNA molecules bind, allowing the identification of specific genes and the analysis of messenger RNA (mRNA) levels in cells. “mRNA molecules contain the genetic information needed to produce proteins,” The Independent explained.
Distribution and symptoms
It is still unclear how widespread the virus is among domestic and wild cats in the United States.
Symptoms to watch for include a staggering gait, inability to retract claws, extreme sensitivity to touch, tremors, and seizures.
The disease can last from a few days to over a year, typically leading to deterioration that often results in the euthanasia of the animal.
“We are not concerned that this is an isolated case,” Dr. Karen Fox, a wildlife pathologist at Colorado State University and study author, told National Geographic.
“Traditionally, when we find diseases, it means we are at the tip of an iceberg and that many more have been overlooked over time,” she added.
International comparison
Comparative analysis of the strains revealed that the Colorado samples belong to genetic sequences already known in Europe.
This allowed scientists to correlate the samples with documented cases elsewhere. “We found particularly abundant or large signals in the granular cell layer of the hippocampus and in the Purkinje cells of the cerebellum, similar to findings in staggering disease cases in cats in Europe,” stated researchers from the Friedrich-Loeffler Institute in Germany.
If you have questions about your pet’s well-being, please email: DrBorrego@petsvet.com www.petsvet.com
Dr. Enrique Borrego is the medical director of Animal General Hospital, 501 SW Port Saint Lucie Blvd, Port St. Lucie, FL 34953 Tel: 772-344-8835
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