On a chilly May morning last year, Erica Rhinehart was strolling through her Douglas County, Colorado neighborhood with her Bengal cat, Mara, when a neighbor alerted her to a disturbing sight: a mountain lion in the yard. Observing from inside her home, Rhinehart watched as the young female mountain lion, also known as a cougar, struggled with impaired movement. The animal, unable to properly use its hind legs, clumsily dragged itself towards a nearby pine tree. Despite Rhinehart’s efforts to contact wildlife rehabilitation centers, Colorado Parks and Wildlife soon euthanized the ailing animal. The exact cause of the cougar’s distress remained a mystery at that time.
Recent findings, published this month in Emerging Infectious Diseases, have identified the cause of the cougar’s suffering as a fatal neurologic condition known as staggering disease. This disease, previously documented in domestic cats in Europe and various zoo animals, marks the first confirmed case in North America affecting both wildlife and domestic animals.
“We’re not overly concerned if this is an isolated incident,” notes Karen Fox, a wildlife pathologist at Colorado State University who investigated the case. “However, the discovery of such diseases often indicates that we may be uncovering just the tip of the iceberg.”
What is Staggering Disease?
Staggering disease derives its name from the unsteady gait of affected animals, including the Colorado cougar. Infected felines exhibit a range of symptoms, including loss of use in their hind legs, inability to retract claws, and in domestic cats, an increase in affectionate behavior.
The disease was first reported in Sweden in 1974 and has since been observed in other northern European regions, including Austria and Germany. It has also affected a range of zoo animals, from lions and marsupials to otters and donkeys. Despite its presence in domestic cats, comprehensive statistics on mortality rates due to the disease are lacking.
Recent research has linked staggering disease to a mutated strain of the rustrela virus, which is related to the rubella virus known to affect humans, particularly during pregnancy.
Diagnosis of the Cougar Case
When the cougar’s condition was initially examined, Fox suspected a pelvic fracture might explain the unusual movements. However, x-rays and a necropsy yielded no such findings. It was only upon further investigation that Fox discovered severe inflammation and lesions in the cougar’s brain and spinal cord.
“This inflammation disrupts the normal function of the spinal cord, which affects the signals sent between the brain and the nerves controlling the legs,” Fox explains. The team identified RNA from the rustrela virus in the tissue samples, confirming the disease’s presence.
As experts continue to investigate, the implications of this discovery remain uncertain. The identification of staggering disease in North America could signal a broader, previously undetected issue, warranting continued vigilance and research in wildlife health.
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