Infectivity of Hepatozoon americanum cystozoites for a dog.

ABSTRACT

Hepatozoon americanum cystozoites from experimentally infected, laboratory-raised rodents were fed to a Hepatozoon-free dog. Gamonts were detected by examination of blood smear 42 and 56 days post-exposure. PCR analysis of blood was positive for the 18S rRNA Hepatozoon gene on days gamonts were demonstrated. Meronts were detected histologically in a skeletal muscle biopsy 90 days after ingestion of cystozoites. Sequencing confirmed that the parasite in the dog was H. americanum. Xenodiagnosis was conducted by replete feeding of Ambylomma maculatum larvae on the dog; 40 days after detachment, sporulated oocysts were recovered from recently molted nymphs.