Molecular characterization of Babesia and Cytauxzoon species in wild South-African meerkats.
Parasitology
; 142(4): 543-8, 2015 Apr.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-25374302
ABSTRACT
Piroplasms, including Babesia, Cytauxzoon and Theileria species, frequently infect domestic and wild mammals. At present, there is no information on the occurrence and molecular identity of these tick-borne blood parasites in the meerkat, one of South Africa's most endearing wildlife celebrities. Meerkats live in territorial groups, which may occur on ranchland in close proximity to humans, pets and livestock. Blood collected from 46 healthy meerkats living in the South-African Kalahari desert was screened by microscopy and molecular methods, using PCR and DNA sequencing of 18S rRNA and ITS1 genes. We found that meerkats were infected by 2 species one species related to Babesia sp. and one species related to Cytauxzoon sp. Ninety one percent of the meerkats were infected by the Cytauxzoon and/or the Babesia species. Co-infection occurred in 46% of meerkats. The pathogenicity and vectors of these two piroplasm species remains to be determined.
Key words
Full text:
1
Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Protozoan Infections, Animal
/
Carnivora
/
Piroplasmida
Limits:
Animals
Country/Region as subject:
Africa
Language:
En
Journal:
Parasitology
Year:
2015
Type:
Article
Affiliation country:
United kingdom