Immunity Problems

All animals need a healthy immune system in order to survive the constant onslaught of viruses, bacteria, fungi, etc. that affect organism health.

• Good defense systems have multiple lines of protection against pathogens. Can you name these multiple lines of protection that animals use?

Cheetahs are more susceptible to Feline Infectious Peritonitis (FIP) than domestic cats and lions. In fact, the mortality for lions exposed to FIP is about 0%, for domestic cats it is about 10% and for cheetahs it is about 60%.

• Why do you think that cheetahs are more susceptible to FIP than lions?

A current problem with lions is tuberculosis.

• Do you think that cheetahs can contract tuberculosis from lions? Defend your answer

It would be easy to blame diseases for the decline in cheetahs, however the high mortality of cheetahs to FIP is primarily observed in zoos and relatively small wildlife preserves where the cheetahs are held in high densities. Cowpox is also a problem in captive populations of cheetah. Fortunately cheetah ecology and behavior place them at low risk to infectious diseases. They are somewhat asocial, live in low densities, eat fresh kill and live in dry climates. Perhaps there is another explanation.