Molecular Characterization of Hepatozoon spp. infection in Endangered Indian wild felids and Canids
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Date
2011
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Abstract
Hepatozoon species are parasites that infect a wide variety of domestic and wild animals.
The objective of this study was to perform the molecular detection and characterization of
Hepatozoon spp. in Asiatic lion, Indian tiger, Indian leopard, Indian wild dog, Indian domestic
dog and cat based on partial 18S rRNA gene sequences from Hepatozoon spp. in the
naturally infected animals. Hepatozoon spp. could be detected in blood samples of 5 out of
9 Asiatic lions, 2 out of 5 Indian tigers, 2 out of 4 Indian leopards and 2 out of 2 Indian wild
dogs and, 2 out of 4 domestic cats and 2 out of 3 domestic dog samples by PCR. Sequencing
of PCR amplicon and BLAST analysis of partial 18S rRNA gene sequences indicated that the
Hepatozoon spp. in Asiatic lion, Bengal tiger, Indian leopard and domestic cat was Hepatozoon
felis (98–99% similarity) and in the Indian wild and domestic dog the phylogenetic
neighbour was Hepatozoon canis (97–100% similarity). Presence of H. felis and H. canis in
both domestic and wild animals suggested that they are not host specific and the same
parasite causes infection in domestic and wild felids and canids in India and from different
parts of the world. To our knowledge, this is the first report on detection and molecular
characterization of H. felis infection in Asiatic lions, Indian tigers, Indian leopards and H.
canis in Indian wild dog. Hepatozoon spp. may be a potential pathogen and an opportunistic
parasite in immuno-compromised animals and could thus represent a threat to endangered
Indian wild felids and canids.
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Keywords
Veterinary Science, Veterinary Gynaecology and Obstetrics