Salvador Puma Travel Virus

2002/07/19 Orobengoa, Olatz - Elhuyar Zientziaren Komunikazioa

• Genetika
• Zoologia

However, DNA does not provide up-to-date information on animals that live long and have few descendants, as genetic changes occur very slowly in these species.

A group of biologists from the University of Montana has explained a new way to analyze the evolution of the puma (Felis concolor) in the Rocky Mountains. These biologists analyze the aids-like disease of cats: the immunodeficiency of cats. The disease produces symptoms similar to AIDS in domestic cats. In pums, however, it does not generate any kind of disease and, in addition, scientists have seen that the genome of the virus is integrated into its genome: from mother to puppies.

The variability of the virus is very high, as scientists estimate that 1% of its genome is modified each year. Analyzing the variability of the virus, they have been able to differentiate the populations of the pumas of the Rocky Mountains, and have been able to analyze their migrations over the last decades.

Studies have found similar virus sequences in very remote populations and very different sequences in nearby populations.

Therefore, in the case of puma the variability of the virus seems to be a very adequate source of information. All this information obtained will contribute significantly to the conservation of this animal, as it will allow to know exactly the territory to be protected.