Research overview: pathogen pollution and the introduction of disease to wild felids

The concept of pathogen pollution describes the human-mediated introduction of pathogens into new host populations, a recurring driver of disease in wild felids. This overview surveys how activities such as keeping domestic cats and dogs, translocating animals and encroaching on wildlife habitat introduce novel pathogens to wild cats, from feline leukemia virus in the Iberian lynx to distemper in lions. It examines why introduced pathogens are especially dangerous to naive populations, the parallels with biological invasions, and the management focus on preventing introduction rather than treating outbreaks. The synthesis connects a unifying conceptual framework to diverse felid disease cases. It aims to help readers see many felid disease threats as instances of pathogen pollution, a perspective that emphasizes human responsibility for, and the preventability of, much wildlife disease.