RESUMO
The Iriomote cat (IC; Prionailurus iriomotensis) and the Tsushima leopard cat (TLC; Prionailurus bengalensis euptilura) are endangered wild felids in Japan. As a part of ongoing conservation activities, we conducted a molecular, epidemiologic survey of Bartonella, Ehrlichia, and Anaplasma infections in wild IC and TLC populations. Blood samples (47 from 33 individual IC; 22 from 13 TLC) were collected between August 2002 and January 2011. Using PCR analysis, we confirmed the presence of Bartonella henselae in ICs and Bartonella clarridgeiae in TLCs, with prevalences of 6% and 8%, respectively. Using PCR and basic local alignment search tool analyses, we identified Ehrlichia canis in both cats and Anaplasma bovis in TLCs. The prevalence of E. canis was 12% in ICs and 8% in TLCs, and the prevalence of A. bovis was 15% in TLCs. This is the first report, to our knowledge, of B. henselae, B. clarridgeiae, E. canis, and A. bovis infections in these two endangered species. Continuous monitoring of these pathogens is needed for their conservation.
Assuntos
Anaplasmose/epidemiologia , Felidae , Vigilância de Evento Sentinela/veterinária , Anaplasma/classificação , Anaplasma/isolamento & purificação , Animais , Bartonella/classificação , Bartonella/isolamento & purificação , Infecções por Bartonella/epidemiologia , Infecções por Bartonella/veterinária , Reservatórios de Doenças/veterinária , Ehrlichia/classificação , Ehrlichia/isolamento & purificação , Ehrlichiose/epidemiologia , Ehrlichiose/veterinária , Espécies em Perigo de Extinção , Japão/epidemiologia , Dados de Sequência Molecular , Filogenia , Reação em Cadeia da Polimerase/veterinária , PrevalênciaRESUMO
This epidemiological survey was conducted to determine the prevalence of Hepatozoon, Babesia and Theileria infection in the Iriomote cat (IC) and the Tsushima leopard cat (TLC). Blood samples from 43 ICs and 14 TLCs were collected between November 2002 and January 2012. Polymerase chain reaction and DNA sequencing analyses detected a Hepatozoon felis infection prevalence of 72.0% (31/43 cats) and 100% (14/14 cats) in ICs and TLCs, respectively. The degree of Hepatozoon parasitemia observed on blood smears ranged from 0.1 to 4.7%. However, no cases had obvious clinical signs of hepatozoonosis. Neither Babesia- nor Theileria-infected wildcats were detected in this study.
Assuntos
Eucoccidiida , Felidae , Doenças Transmitidas por Carrapatos/epidemiologia , Doenças Transmitidas por Carrapatos/veterinária , Animais , Babesia , Sequência de Bases , Primers do DNA/genética , Feminino , Japão/epidemiologia , Masculino , Dados de Sequência Molecular , Reação em Cadeia da Polimerase/veterinária , Prevalência , Análise de Sequência de DNA/veterinária , Especificidade da Espécie , TheileriaRESUMO
An epidemiological survey of Iriomote cats (Prionailurus bengalensis iriomotensis) was conducted to understand the prevalence and molecular characteristics of hemotropic mycoplasma (hemoplasma). A series of ecological surveys of Iriomote cats were performed between November 2003 and September 2010. During this period, 31 Iriomote cats were captured or found, and 39 blood samples were collected. Polymerase chain reaction screening for hemoplasmas and BLAST searches revealed that 4 of the 31 cats were positive for hemoplasma infection (n=3, Mycoplasma haemofelis [Mhf]; n=1, 'Candidatus M. turicensis' [CMt]). The 4 infected cats were captured or found in the northern area of the island of Iriomote. Phylogenetic analyses revealed close relationships between Mhf and CMt isolated from Iriomote cats compared with those from domestic cats and other wild felids. In our study, we identified two species of hemoplasma in Iriomote cats. The number and location of the hemoplasma-positive cats appeared to be limited; however, continuous surveillance of hemoplasma infection in Iriomote cats is necessary.
Assuntos
Espécies em Perigo de Extinção , Felidae/microbiologia , Infecções por Mycoplasma/epidemiologia , Infecções por Mycoplasma/veterinária , Mycoplasma/genética , Filogenia , Animais , Sequência de Bases , Análise por Conglomerados , Biologia Computacional , Primers do DNA/genética , Feminino , Japão/epidemiologia , Masculino , Dados de Sequência Molecular , Infecções por Mycoplasma/sangue , Reação em Cadeia da Polimerase/veterinária , Prevalência , Análise de Sequência de DNA/veterinária , Especificidade da EspécieRESUMO
We herein present clinical findings of an Iriomote cat with Hepatozoon felis parasitemia. A male Iriomote cat was captured for ecological analyses three times from January 2010 to January 2011. Although this cat did not show any hematological abnormalities at the time of the first capture, H. felis parasitemia and increased serum creatine kinase levels were detected at the second and third captures. H. felis infection was confirmed by polymerase chain reaction, and amplified 18S ribosomal RNA gene fragments were 100% identical to those of H. felis in leopard cats in Korea. Although the virulence of H. felis in this cat was suggested to be low, this is the first report of an H. felis-infected Iriomote cat with parasitemia.