Disease: Florida Panthers

Several diseases affect the panther population. Although there are few documented impacts of disease on panthers, there are reasons for concern.

Florida panthers live in one population with no barrier to prevent a disease from spreading through the entire population. Also, the effects of inbreeding can compromise immune responses, making panthers more susceptible to disease. 

Bacterial, viral, and parasitic diseases that affect panthers include:

  • feline calicivirus;
  • feline panleukopenia virus and feline viral rhinotracheitis (common domestic cat respiratory diseases);
  • feline enteric coronavirus/feline infectious peritonitis;
  • feline immunodeficiency virus/puma lentivirus;
  • feline leukemia;
  • rabies;
  • pseudorabies;
  • Bartonella henselae;
  • Toxoplasma gondii (Roelke 1990, Roelke et al. 1993, Glass et al. 1994, Rolstein et al. 2000 and Land et al. 2004). 

An important part of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission's monitoring program includes testing and vaccination for many diseases. Early detection is critical to responding to disease outbreaks, as in the recent case of feline leukemia. 

Feline Leukemia (FeLV)

In 2003, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) detected feline leukemia in 4 panthers in Collier and Hendry Counties. Feline leukemia is common in domestic cats but normally rare in large wild cats. It is no threat to humans. 

The bulk of information about feline leukemia revolves around research on domestic cats, and many unanswered questions remain concerning how the feline leukemia virus affects panthers. Research indicates it causes a breakdown in cats' immune system, leaving them vulnerable to cancer and other diseases. 

The disease spreads among cats through contact with body fluids such as saliva or blood, and FWC scientists are researching how panthers may have originally contracted the disease. The FWC and National Park Service vaccinated at least half the panther population against feline leukemia by early 2006.

Distribution of Florida Panthers antigen positive for Feline Leukemia Virus (FeLV) and those vaccinated by the FWCC and NPS, July to September 2004. (map)