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Facelli-Fernández MC, Furlan EO, Barolin J, Vaschalde PJ, Facelli-Fernández F, Arzamendia V, Monje LD. Molecular detection of Hepatozoon species (Apicomplexa: Hepatozoidae) infecting snakes in the Northeastern region of Argentina. Parasitol Res 2024; 123:219. [PMID: 38780821 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-024-08242-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2024] [Accepted: 05/15/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024]
Abstract
The genus Hepatozoon Miller (1908) contains a wide range of obligate parasitic organisms with complex life cycles involving vertebrates and hematophagous invertebrates. Despite over 300 species being described, only a small percentage has been characterized in snakes using morphological and molecular techniques. The prevalence of these parasites in snakes is significant, highlighting the need for molecular descriptions in such elusive hosts. Thus, the objective of this study was to determine molecularly the presence of Hepatozoon species in snakes from the Northeastern region of Argentina. Thirty-two specimens of eight snake species (Bothrops alternatus, Dryophylax hypoconia, Erythrolamprus jaegeri coralliventris, Erythrolamprus poecilogyrus, Erythrolamprus semiaureus, Philodryas olfersii latirostris, Pseudablabes (ex Philodryas) patagoniensis and Palusophis (ex Mastigodryas) bifossatus were collected and examined. PCR analysis of the 18S rRNA locus detected four samples (12% prevalence) positive for the presence of Hepatozoon DNA. Phylogenetic analysis positioned the 18S rRNA Hepatozoon sequences obtained in three different clades, one with Hepatozoon musa, another with sequences of Hepatozoon cuestensis, while the third was placed as a sister taxon to a clade including Hepatozoon cevapii and Hepatozoon massardi. This study presents the first documentation of Hepatozoon infecting snakes in Argentina, thereby expanding their distribution within southern South America. Additionally, B. alternatus and Pa. bifossatus are reported as new hosts of Hepatozoon.
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Affiliation(s)
- María Celeste Facelli-Fernández
- Laboratorio de Ecología de Enfermedades, Instituto de Ciencias Veterinarias del Litoral (ICIVET-Litoral), Universidad Nacional del Litoral (UNL)/Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Esperanza, Santa Fe, Argentina
| | - Exequiel Oscar Furlan
- Laboratorio de Ecología de Enfermedades, Instituto de Ciencias Veterinarias del Litoral (ICIVET-Litoral), Universidad Nacional del Litoral (UNL)/Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Esperanza, Santa Fe, Argentina
| | - Johann Barolin
- Laboratorio de Ecología de Enfermedades, Instituto de Ciencias Veterinarias del Litoral (ICIVET-Litoral), Universidad Nacional del Litoral (UNL)/Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Esperanza, Santa Fe, Argentina
| | - Paula Josefina Vaschalde
- Laboratorio de Ecología de Enfermedades, Instituto de Ciencias Veterinarias del Litoral (ICIVET-Litoral), Universidad Nacional del Litoral (UNL)/Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Esperanza, Santa Fe, Argentina
| | - Florencia Facelli-Fernández
- Laboratorio de Ecología de Enfermedades, Instituto de Ciencias Veterinarias del Litoral (ICIVET-Litoral), Universidad Nacional del Litoral (UNL)/Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Esperanza, Santa Fe, Argentina
- Laboratorio de Biodiversidad y Conservación de Tetrápodos, Instituto Nacional de Limnología (INALI), Universidad Nacional del Litoral (UNL)/Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Santa Fe, Argentina
| | - Vanesa Arzamendia
- Laboratorio de Biodiversidad y Conservación de Tetrápodos, Instituto Nacional de Limnología (INALI), Universidad Nacional del Litoral (UNL)/Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Santa Fe, Argentina
| | - Lucas Daniel Monje
- Laboratorio de Ecología de Enfermedades, Instituto de Ciencias Veterinarias del Litoral (ICIVET-Litoral), Universidad Nacional del Litoral (UNL)/Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Esperanza, Santa Fe, Argentina.
- Facultad de Bioquímica y Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Nacional del Litoral (UNL), Santa Fe, Argentina.
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Baker E, Jensen A, Miller D, Garrett KB, Cleveland CA, Brown J, Van Why K, Gerhold R. Hepatozoon spp. infection in wild canids in the eastern United States. Parasit Vectors 2023; 16:372. [PMID: 37858216 PMCID: PMC10588249 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-023-05968-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2023] [Accepted: 09/11/2023] [Indexed: 10/21/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Hepatozoon spp. are apicomplexan parasites known to cause musculoskeletal disease in a variety of animals. Two species are known to infect wild and domestic canids in the US: Hepatozoon canis and H. americanum. METHODS In this study, blood, heart, and/or spleen samples were collected from 278 wild canids (180 coyotes, 93 red foxes, and 5 gray foxes) in the eastern US and tested via PCR for Hepatozoon. Histology slides of heart and skeletal muscle were assessed for Hepatozoon cysts and associated inflammation when fresh tissue was available (n = 96). RESULTS Hepatozoon spp. were found in 24.2% (59/278) of individuals, with Hepatozoon canis in 14.0% (34/278) and H. americanum in 10.7% (26/278). One coyote was positive for both H. canis and H. americanum. Foxes were more likely to be positive for H. canis than coyotes (23% and 7% respectively, P = 0.0008), while only coyotes were positive for H. americanum. Of the eight sampled states, H. canis was present in six (Louisiana, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia) while H. americanum was found in two southern states (South Carolina and Louisiana). Infection status was positively correlated with myositis and myocarditis, and heart or muscle cysts were found in 83% (5/6) of H. americanum-positive coyotes. CONCLUSION This survey showed a moderate prevalence of H. canis and H. americanum in states where the parasite was previously unrecorded including South Carolina and Pennsylvania.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eliza Baker
- Department of Biomedical and Diagnostic Sciences, University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine, Knoxville, TN, USA
| | - Alex Jensen
- Department of Forestry and Environmental Conservation, Clemson University Clemson, Clemson, SC, USA
| | - Debra Miller
- Department of Biomedical and Diagnostic Sciences, University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine, Knoxville, TN, USA
- Center for Wildlife Health, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, USA
- One Health Initiative, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, USA
| | - Kayla Buck Garrett
- Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
- Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
| | | | - Justin Brown
- Department of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences, College of Agricultural Sciences, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA
| | - Kyle Van Why
- United States Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Harrisburg, PA, USA
| | - Richard Gerhold
- Department of Biomedical and Diagnostic Sciences, University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine, Knoxville, TN, USA.
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Clinical, diagnostic and epidemiological implications of Hepatozoon spp., Babesia spp. and Leishmania infantum infection in cats and dogs in a Mediterranean periurban setting. Parasitol Res 2023; 122:35-47. [PMID: 36334151 PMCID: PMC9816188 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-022-07705-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2021] [Accepted: 10/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Hepatozoon spp., Babesia spp. and Leishmania infantum are common parasites of dogs in Mediterranean countries and are less frequent in cats, particularly Babesia spp. and L. infantum. Moreover, there is limited information on coinfections between these parasites and on L. infantum's distribution in blood, skin and lymphoid tissue in cats. We used PCR and DNA sequencing to investigate the prevalence of these parasites and the aetiology of Hepatozoon spp. and Babesia spp., in blood, skin, spleen and lymph node samples from up to 212 stray cats and 82 abandoned dogs in southeast Spain. All except 2 dogs were healthy; instead, 112 cats had clinical signs. The estimated PCR prevalences (95% confidence interval) were 25% (19-31%) Hepatozoon felis in cats, 13% (6-21%) Hepatozoon canis in dogs, 1% (0-4%) Babesia vogeli in dogs, 0% Babesia spp. in cats and 21% (15-26%) and 44% (33-55%) L. infantum in cats and dogs, respectively, and infections were not associated with each other. Leishmania infantum prevalence in lymphoid tissue was significantly higher in dogs than in cats (p < 0.001), and dogs had higher parasite loads than cats (p = 0.012). Moreover, L. infantum prevalence was significantly higher in the skin and lymphoid tissue compared to blood in infected, asymptomatic animals but it was similar in cats with clinical signs, which also had higher parasite loads compared to infected, asymptomatic cats (p < 0.05). The study highlights significant differences between sympatric dogs and cats with respect to the parasite infections investigated, as well as the need to examine both lymphoid tissue and skin samples to maximise the sensitivity of L. infantum infection diagnosis.
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Hepatozoon parasites (Apicomplexa: Hepatozoidae) in fish Hoplias aimara (Characiformes, Erythrinidae) from the Eastern Amazon, Brazil. Parasitol Res 2022; 121:1041-1046. [PMID: 35165785 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-022-07462-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2021] [Accepted: 02/06/2022] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
This study reports the occurrence of parasites belonging to the Hepatozoon genus in fish Hoplias aimara from the Eastern Amazon. Fish (n = 54) were sampled from the Falsino River, located in the Amapá National Forest (FLONA), in the state of Amapá, northern Brazil. Fresh liver preparations were examined in the field between a slide and a coverslip under a light microscope. Cysts containing Hepatozoon cystozoites were observed in the liver of 5 (9%) out of 54 H. aimara individuals. The cysts were ovoid (mean dimensions 10.28 × 9.8 μm), presenting up to four elongated cystozoites (mean dimensions 11.04 × 1.68 μm), containing 1 to 4 residual bodies of different sizes. A single liver sample containing cysts was submitted to DNA extraction and PCR analyses based on a fragment of the 18S rRNA gene. The sequencing revealed a 465 bp fragment exhibiting 99% query coverage, 0.0 E-value, and 98.7% identity with Hepatozoon caimani (MF322538 and MF322539), detected in caimans (Caiman yacare) from Brazil. This is the first report of the occurrence of cysts containing Hepatozoon cystozoites in free-living fishes.
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Alabí AS, Monti G, Otth C, Sepulveda-García P, Perles L, Machado RZ, André MR, Bittencourt P, Müller A. Genetic diversity of Hepatozoon spp. in rodents from Chile. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2021; 30:e012721. [PMID: 34755807 DOI: 10.1590/s1984-29612021082] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2021] [Accepted: 09/20/2021] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
This study aimed to investigate the genetic diversity of Hepatozoon spp. in rodents from Valdivia, Chile. A total of 74 rodents (synanthropic n=38; wild n=36) were trapped in Valdivia. We performed conventional PCR assays for Apicomplexa organisms targeting two overlapping 18S rDNA gene fragments (600 bp and 900 bp) followed by sequencing of selected amplicons. Hepatozoon spp. occurrence was 82.43% (61/74). Twelve sequences obtained from the 600 bp and ten from the 900 bp 18S rDNA fragments were identified as Hepatozoon sp. Six sequences obtained from 18S rDNA-based overlapping PCR protocols were used for concatenated (1,400 bp) phylogenetic, haplotype and distance analyses. Hepatozoon spp. 18S rDNA concatenated sequences from the present study were detected in Oligoryzomys longicaudatus, Rattus norvegicus, Mus musculus, and Abrothrix longipilis grouped with Hepatozoon species earlier described in rodents and reptiles from Chile and Brazil. Nucleotide polymorphism of the six 18S rDNA sequences (1,400 bp) from this study, and other Chilean sequences from rodents and rodent's ticks, showed high diversity with a total of nine Chilean haplotypes. Three haplotypes from Valdivia were identified for the first time in this study, suggesting the circulation of novel haplotypes in rodents from southern Chile.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amir Salvador Alabí
- Instituto de Ciencias Clínicas Veterinarias, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad Austral de Chile, Valdivia, Chile
| | - Gustavo Monti
- Insituto de Medicina Preventiva Veterinaria, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad Austral de Chile, Valdivia, Chile
| | - Carola Otth
- Instituto de Microbiologia Clínica, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Austral de Chile, Valdivia, Chile
| | - Paulina Sepulveda-García
- Instituto de Ciencias Clínicas Veterinarias, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad Austral de Chile, Valdivia, Chile
| | - Livia Perles
- Departamento de Patologia, Reprodução e Saúde Única, Faculdade de Ciências Agrárias e Veterinarias - FCAV, Universidade Estadual Paulista - UNESP, Jaboticabal, SP, Brasil
| | - Rosangela Zacarias Machado
- Departamento de Patologia, Reprodução e Saúde Única, Faculdade de Ciências Agrárias e Veterinarias - FCAV, Universidade Estadual Paulista - UNESP, Jaboticabal, SP, Brasil
| | - Marcos Rogério André
- Departamento de Patologia, Reprodução e Saúde Única, Faculdade de Ciências Agrárias e Veterinarias - FCAV, Universidade Estadual Paulista - UNESP, Jaboticabal, SP, Brasil
| | - Pedro Bittencourt
- One Health Center for Zoonoses and Tropical Veterinary Medicine, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine, Basseterre, Saint Kitts and Nevis, West Indies
| | - Ananda Müller
- Instituto de Ciencias Clínicas Veterinarias, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad Austral de Chile, Valdivia, Chile.,One Health Center for Zoonoses and Tropical Veterinary Medicine, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine, Basseterre, Saint Kitts and Nevis, West Indies
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Perles L, Ikeda P, Francisco GDV, Torres JM, de Oliveira CE, Lourenço EC, Herrera HM, Machado RZ, André MR. Molecular detection of Hepatozoon spp. in non-hematophagous bats in Brazil. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2020; 11:101401. [PMID: 32014465 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2020.101401] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2019] [Revised: 01/21/2020] [Accepted: 01/27/2020] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Even though Hepatozoon spp. has been molecularly detected in several wild animals in Brazil, there is no report on the occurrence of Hepatozoon spp. DNA in bats in Brazil. This study aimed at detecting Hepatozoon, in addition to ectoparasites, in non-hematophagous bats sampled in central-western Brazil using blood smears, hematoxylin-eosin (HE)-staining liver/spleen preparations and molecular and phylogenetic techniques. A total of 135 spleen, 127 liver, and 133 blood samples were collected from 135 non-hematophagous bats from 12 different species in two different sites in Campo Grande, Mato Grosso do Sul state, in the Brazilian Cerrado region. Spleen and blood DNA samples were submitted to two conventional PCR protocols for Hepatozoon spp. based on 18S rRNA. No Hepatozoon spp. gamonts or meronts were observed in blood smears and HE-stained-liver preparations, respectively. While none of the spleen samples was positive for Hepatozoon spp. in the PCR assays, 5 (3 %) blood samples contained 18S rRNA Hepatozoon DNA, including 2/37 (5 %) Artibeus lituratus, 2/32 (6 %) A. planirostris, and 1/23 (4 %) Platyrrhinus lineatus. Out of 5 bats positive for Hepatozoon spp., 3 were parasitized by either Macronyssidae/Spinturnicidae mites or Streblidae flies. BLAST analysis showed that the sequences detected in bats had >99 % identity with Hepatozoon sequences detected in amphibians and reptiles from Brazil, including Hepatozoon caimani detected in Caiman crocodilus. The phylogenetic inferences estimated by the Maximum Likelihood and Bayesian methods clustered the Hepatozoon sequences detected in Brazilian bats with those detected in reptiles and amphibians.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lívia Perles
- Laboratório de Imunoparasitologia, Departamento de Patologia Veterinária, Universidade Estadual "Júlio de Mesquita Filho", Jaboticabal, Brazil
| | - Priscila Ikeda
- Laboratório de Imunoparasitologia, Departamento de Patologia Veterinária, Universidade Estadual "Júlio de Mesquita Filho", Jaboticabal, Brazil
| | - Gabriela de Vasconcellos Francisco
- Laboratório de Imunoparasitologia, Departamento de Patologia Veterinária, Universidade Estadual "Júlio de Mesquita Filho", Jaboticabal, Brazil
| | - Jaire Marinho Torres
- Laboratório de Imunoparasitologia, Departamento de Patologia Veterinária, Universidade Estadual "Júlio de Mesquita Filho", Jaboticabal, Brazil; Laboratório de Ciências Ambientais e Sustentabilidade Agropecuária, Universidade Católica Dom Bosco, Campo Grande, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil; Laboratório de Ecologia de Mamíferos, Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Carina Elisei de Oliveira
- Laboratório de Ciências Ambientais e Sustentabilidade Agropecuária, Universidade Católica Dom Bosco, Campo Grande, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil
| | | | - Heitor Miraglia Herrera
- Laboratório de Ciências Ambientais e Sustentabilidade Agropecuária, Universidade Católica Dom Bosco, Campo Grande, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil
| | - Rosangela Zacarias Machado
- Laboratório de Imunoparasitologia, Departamento de Patologia Veterinária, Universidade Estadual "Júlio de Mesquita Filho", Jaboticabal, Brazil; Laboratório de Ciências Ambientais e Sustentabilidade Agropecuária, Universidade Católica Dom Bosco, Campo Grande, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil; Laboratório de Ecologia de Mamíferos, Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Marcos Rogério André
- Laboratório de Imunoparasitologia, Departamento de Patologia Veterinária, Universidade Estadual "Júlio de Mesquita Filho", Jaboticabal, Brazil.
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Battisti E, Zanet S, Khalili S, Trisciuoglio A, Hertel B, Ferroglio E. Molecular Survey on Vector-Borne Pathogens in Alpine Wild Carnivorans. Front Vet Sci 2020; 7:1. [PMID: 32039255 PMCID: PMC6989405 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2020.00001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2019] [Accepted: 01/02/2020] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
In Europe, free-ranging wildlife has been linked to the emergence of several vector-borne diseases such as rodents for Borrelia burgdorferi s.l. In particular, wild carnivorans are one of the most important sources of emerging zoonotic pathogens worldwide, although little information is available regarding the epidemiology of vector-borne parasites in these animals. Thus, the aim of this paper was to investigate the prevalence of Babesia spp., Anaplasma spp., Ehrlichia spp., Hepatozoon spp. and Leishmania infantum in alpine wild canids and mustelids from Italy. For this study, spleen samples of 157 foxes (Vulpes vulpes), 45 badgers (Meles meles), and 33 wolves (Canis lupus) collected between 2009 and 2017 in Northwest Italy were examined by using conventional PCR. Logistic regression was used to identify possible risk factors for pathogen infections. DNA of any of the tested pathogens was found in more than 90% of the analyzed animals. In particular, Babesia spp. showed significantly higher prevalence in foxes (89.7%) and badgers (89.6%) than in wolves, while the latter were considerably more infected with Hepatozoon canis (75.8%) than foxes (5.1%). None of the badger tested positive for Hepatozoon spp., although they showed high prevalence of Leishmania infantum (53.3%). Sequencing results revealed the presence, among others, of Babesia vulpes, Babesia sp. isolate badger type A and B, and Anaplasma phagocytophilum. Moreover, previously unreported pathogen/host associations were observed, such as Babesia capreoli in wolves and badgers. The prevalence of vector-borne pathogens observed in the present study is one of the highest reported so far, suggesting the importance of free-ranging carnivorans in the epidemiology and maintenance of the sylvatic cycle of the pathogens. Moreover, several of these pathogens are of particular importance regarding human (A. phagocytophilum, L. infantum) and pet health (L. infantum, B. vulpes).
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Affiliation(s)
- Elena Battisti
- Department of Veterinary Science, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | - Stefania Zanet
- Department of Veterinary Science, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | - Sara Khalili
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
| | - Anna Trisciuoglio
- Department of Agricultural, Forest and Food Science, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | - Beatrice Hertel
- Department of Veterinary Science, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | - Ezio Ferroglio
- Department of Veterinary Science, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
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Genetic diversity of Hepatozoon spp. in rodents from Brazil. Sci Rep 2019; 9:10122. [PMID: 31300712 PMCID: PMC6626033 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-46662-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2019] [Accepted: 07/03/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Hepatozoon spp. are Apicomplexan protozoa that parasitize a wide diversity of vertebrate hosts. In Brazil, few studies have reported the occurrence of Hepatozoon spp. in rodent species. Additionally, an evaluation of the population structure and distribution of Hepatozoon species over several Brazilian biomes has not yet been performed. The present work aimed to investigate the genetic diversity of Hepatozoon spp. in rodents from 31 genera sampled in five Brazilian biomes. Samples were submitted to PCR assays for Hepatozoon spp. targeting two regions of the 18S rRNA gene. Infection by Hepatozoon spp. was detected in 195 (42.2%) rodents comprising 24 genera. Phylogenetic analyses of 18S rRNA sequences grouped all sequences in the clade of Hepatozoon spp. previously detected in rodents and reptiles, apart from those detected in domestic/wild carnivores. These data raise two non-exclusive hypotheses: (i) rodents play an important role as intermediate or paratenic hosts for Hepatozoon infections in reptiles; and (ii) rodents do not seem to participate in the epidemiology of Hepatozoon infections of domestic/wild canids and felids in Brazil. TCS analyses performed with available 18S rRNA Hepatozoon sequences detected in rodents from Brazil showed the occurrence of six haplotypes, which were distributed in two large groups: one from rodents inhabiting the coastal region of Brazil and Mato Grosso state, and another from rodents from the central region of the country. A wide survey of the South American territory will help to elucidate the evolutionary history of Hepatozoon spp. parasitizing Rodentia in the American continent.
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Hepatozoon milleri sp. nov. (Adeleorina: Hepatozoidae) in Akodon montensis (Rodentia: Cricetidae: Sigmodontinae) from southeastern Brazil. Parasitology 2018; 146:662-669. [PMID: 30486906 DOI: 10.1017/s0031182018001956] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
Members of the genus Hepatozoon (Miller, 1908) are blood parasites found in a wide range of host species, including wild rodents; however, information about the life cycle, distribution and Hepatozoon species diversity infecting these mammals are lacking. We studied the parasite stages and DNA sequences of Hepatozoon sp. of 11 naturally infected Akodon montensis. Thin blood smears, tissue samples and whole blood were obtained for morphology, morphometry and molecular analyses. Seven of the 11 rodents had gamonts on the blood smears. Biological and morphological features of the parasite such as tissue tropism, gamonts and meronts size and morphology, as well as the DNA sequence comparison and phylogenetic analysis, indicated that the Hepatozoon sp. detected in this study is distinct from those species previously reported in small rodents. Herein, we propose a new species, named Hepatozoon milleri sp. nov. This is the first description of a new Hepatozoon species from wild small rodents in Brazil, based on morphological and molecular characteristics.
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Hepatozoon spp. infections in wild rodents in an area of endemic canine hepatozoonosis in southeastern Brazil. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2016; 7:859-864. [PMID: 27091081 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2016.04.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2016] [Revised: 04/06/2016] [Accepted: 04/07/2016] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Hepatozoon canis is a tick-borne parasite that occurs worldwide. In rural areas of Brazil, H. canis vectors remain unknown, which has led to speculation about alternative routes of transmission. Small rodents can play a role in the transmission (via predation) of Hepatozoon americanum, which led us to question whether predation might be an alternative mode of transmission for H. canis. Thus, this study investigated whether Hepatozoon spp. are present in wild small rodents in forest fragments that surround rural areas in Botucatu County, São Paulo, Brazil, where canine hepatozoonosis is endemic. The study included blood samples from 158 dogs, which were screened by microscopy and molecular analysis. Blood samples and tissues from 67 rodents were obtained for histopathology and molecular detection. The prevalence of H. canis was high (66.45%) in dogs from rural areas of Botucatu, São Paulo, Brazil. The molecular analysis showed that wild rodent species in Brazil were infected with Hepatozoon spp. other than H. canis. Therefore, although the hypothesis that sylvatic rodents act as reservoirs for H. canis was not supported, the presence of monozoic cysts in the rodents suggests that, in addition to intermediate hosts, wild small rodents in Brazil might act as paratenic hosts of Hepatozoon spp. because they harbor infective stages for intermediate host predators.
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Paddock CD, Goddard J. The Evolving Medical and Veterinary Importance of the Gulf Coast tick (Acari: Ixodidae). JOURNAL OF MEDICAL ENTOMOLOGY 2015; 52:230-52. [PMID: 26336308 DOI: 10.1093/jme/tju022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 104] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2014] [Accepted: 12/02/2014] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
Amblyomma maculatum Koch (the Gulf Coast tick) is a three-host, ixodid tick that is distributed throughout much of the southeastern and south-central United States, as well as several countries throughout Central and South America. A considerable amount of scientific literature followed the original description of A. maculatum in 1844; nonetheless, the Gulf Coast tick was not recognized as a vector of any known pathogen of animals or humans for >150 years. It is now identified as the principal vector of Hepatozoon americanum, the agent responsible for American canine hepatozoonosis, and Rickettsia parkeri, the cause of an emerging, eschar-associated spotted fever group rickettsiosis identified throughout much of the Western Hemisphere. Coincident with these discoveries has been recognition that the geographical distribution of A. maculatum in the United States is far more extensive than described 70 yr ago, supporting the idea that range and abundance of certain tick species, particularly those with diverse host preferences, are not fixed in time or space, and may change over relatively short intervals. Renewed interest in the Gulf Coast tick reinforces the notion that the perceived importance of a particular tick species to human or animal health can be relatively fluid, and may shift dramatically with changes in the distribution and abundance of the arthropod, its vertebrate hosts, or the microbial agents that transit among these organisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher D Paddock
- Rickettsial Zoonoses Branch, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Building 17, Room 3224, 1600 Clifton Road, Atlanta, GA 30333.
| | - Jerome Goddard
- Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, Entomology, and Plant Pathology, Mississippi State University, Box 9775, 100 Old Hwy 12 (Clay Lyle Building), Starkville, MS 39762
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Molecular assessment of Hepatozoon (Apicomplexa: Adeleorina) infections in wild canids and rodents from north Africa, with implications for transmission dynamics across taxonomic groups. J Wildl Dis 2014; 50:837-48. [PMID: 25050803 DOI: 10.7589/2013-10-280] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Parasites play a major role in ecosystems, and understanding of host-parasite interactions is important for predicting parasite transmission dynamics and epidemiology. However, there is still a lack of knowledge about the distribution, diversity, and impact of parasites in wildlife, especially from remote areas. Hepatozoon is a genus of apicomplexan parasites that is transmitted by ingestion of infected arthropod vectors. However, alternative modes of transmission have been identified such as trophic transmission. Using the 18S rRNA gene as a marker, we provide an assessment of Hepatozoon prevalence in six wild canid and two rodent species collected between 2003 and 2012 from remote areas in North Africa. By combining this with other predator-prey systems in a phylogenetic framework, we investigate Hepatozoon transmission dynamics in distinct host taxa. Prevalence was high overall among host species (African jerboa Jaculus jaculus [17/47, 36%], greater Egyptian jerboa Jaculus orientalis [5/7, 71%], side-striped jackal Canis adustus [1/2, 50%], golden jackal Canis aureus [6/32, 18%], pale fox Vulpes pallida [14/28, 50%], Rüppell's fox Vulpes rueppellii [6/11, 55%], red fox Vulpes vulpes [8/16, 50%], and fennec fox Vulpes zerda [7/11, 42%]). Phylogenetic analysis showed further evidence of occasional transmission of Hepatozoon lineages from prey to canid predators, which seems to occur less frequently than in other predator-prey systems such as between snakes and lizards. Due to the complex nature of the Hepatozoon lifecycle (heteroxenous and vector-borne), future studies on these wild host species need to clarify the dynamics of alternative modes of Hepatozoon transmission and identify reservoir and definitive hosts in natural populations. We also detected putative Babesia spp. (Apicomplexa: Piroplasmida) infections in two canid species from this region, V. pallida (1/28) and V. zerda (1/11).
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Demoner LDC, Rubini AS, Paduan KDS, Metzger B, de Paula Antunes JMA, Martins TF, Mathias MIC, O'Dwyer LH. Investigation of tick vectors of Hepatozoon canis in Brazil. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2013; 4:542-6. [PMID: 24209494 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2013.07.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2013] [Revised: 07/04/2013] [Accepted: 07/29/2013] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Hepatozoon canis is a common apicomplexan parasite of dogs. In Brazil, in addition to Rhipicephalus sanguineus, Amblyomma ovale, Amblyomma cajennense, and Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus have been suggested to act as vectors. The present study aimed to evaluate, under controlled conditions, the acquisition of H. canis by A. ovale, R. sanguineus, and A. cajennense after feeding on naturally infected dogs. Cytological and histophatological examinations were performed to recover oocysts and other sporogonic stages of the protozoan from the experimentally infected nymphs and adults. None of the R. sanguineus (n=30) or A. cajennense nymphs (n=15) that were dissected after feeding on H. canis naturally infected dogs became infected by the hemoparasite. Likewise, none of the R. sanguineus (n=165) and A. cajennense (n=114) adult ticks that were fed as nymphs on dogs demonstrated infection. Additionally, A. cajennense adult ticks were incapable of acquiring the infection, since no parasite was found in 62 adults that fed on H. canis-infected dogs. With regard to A. ovale ticks, 2 different infestations were carried out. Firstly, a dog with naturally occurring hepatozoonosis was infested with A. ovale adults originating from Rondônia, Brazil. Ticks fed to full engorgement. A total of 31 adults was collected from the dog and dissected on the third day after natural detachment. Oocysts were detected in 13 (42%) of the ticks. The second experimental infestation was carried out using adult ticks originating from São Paulo, Brazil. Surprisingly, of the 103 dissected ticks, only one (1%) contained oocysts in the hemocoel. No other sporogonic stage was found. Results indicate that different strains of A. ovale ticks may exist in Brazil with different susceptibilities to pathogens. Furthermore, it is possible that R. sanguineus and A. cajennense have little or no importance in the transmission of H. canis in rural areas of Brazil.
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Affiliation(s)
- Larissa de Castro Demoner
- Departamento de Parasitologia do Instituto de Biociências, Universidade Estadual Júlio de Mesquita Filho, Distrito de Rubião Júnior s/n, CEP 18618-970, Botucatu, São Paulo, Brazil
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Starkey LA, Panciera RJ, Paras K, Allen KE, Reiskind MH, Reichard MV, Johnson EM, Little SE. Genetic Diversity ofHepatozoonspp. in Coyotes from the South-Central United States. J Parasitol 2013; 99:375-8. [DOI: 10.1645/ge-3104.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
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Hornok S, Tánczos B, Fernández de Mera IG, de la Fuente J, Hofmann-Lehmann R, Farkas R. High prevalence of Hepatozoon-infection among shepherd dogs in a region considered to be free of Rhipicephalus sanguineus. Vet Parasitol 2013; 196:189-93. [PMID: 23499483 DOI: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2013.02.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2013] [Revised: 02/07/2013] [Accepted: 02/12/2013] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Blood samples and ticks were collected from 100 shepherd dogs, 12 hunting dogs and 14 stray dogs in southern Hungary, in order to screen them for the presence of Hepatozoon spp. by PCR. Out of 126 blood samples, 33 were positive (26%). Significantly more shepherd dogs (31%) were infected, than hunting (8%) and stray dogs (7%). Three genotypes of Hepatozoon canis were identified by sequencing, differing from each other in up to six nucleotides in the amplified portion of their 18S rRNA gene. In Dermacentor marginatus larvae/nymphs and Dermacentor reticulatus nymphs, H. canis was present only if they had been collected from PCR-positive dogs, and the genotypes were identical in the ticks and their hosts. However, two Haemaphysalis concinna nymphs removed from a PCR-negative dog were found positive for H. canis, and the genotype detected in specimens of this tick species differed from that in the blood of their respective hosts. These results indicate that canine hepatozoonosis may be highly prevalent in regions where Rhipicephalus sanguineus is considered to be non-endemic. In addition, H. canis was identified for the first time in Hungary, as well as in D. marginatus, D. reticulatus and Ha. concinna ticks. Canine hepatozoonosis was significantly more prevalent west of the Danube river (where higher densities of red fox and golden jackal populations occur), suggesting a role of wild carnivores in its epidemiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sándor Hornok
- Department of Parasitology and Zoology, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Szent István University, István u. 2., 1078 Budapest, Hungary.
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Allen KE, Johnson EM, Little SE. Hepatozoon spp Infections in the United States. Vet Clin North Am Small Anim Pract 2011; 41:1221-38. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cvsm.2011.08.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
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Abstract
Two species of Hepatozoon are currently known to infect dogs and cause distinct diseases. Hepatozoon canis prevalent in Africa, Asia, southern Europe, South America and recently shown to be present also in the USA causes infection mainly of hemolymphoid organs, whereas Hepatozoon americanum prevalent in the southeastern USA causes myositis and severe lameness. H. americanum is transmitted by ingestion of the Gulf Coast tick Amblyomma maculatum and also by predation on infected prey. H. canis is transmitted by Rhipicephalus sanguineus, in South America also by Amblyomma ovale, and has also been shown to be transmitted transplacentally. Hepatozoonosis of domestic cats has been described mostly from the same areas where canine infection is present and the exact identity of the species which infect cats, their pathogenicity and vectors have not been elucidated. The diagnosis of hepatozoonosis is made by observation of gamonts in blood smears, histopathology, PCR or serology. The main treatment for H. canis is with imidocarb dipropionate whereas H. americanum infection is treated with an initial combination of trimethoprim-sulfadiazine, pyrimethamine and clindamycin followed by maintenance with decoquinate. Treatment for both diseases has not been reported to facilitate complete parasite elimination and new effective drugs are needed for the management of these infections. Prevention of hepatozoonosis should be based on avoidance of oral ingestion of infected tick vectors and infected prey.
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Allen KE, Yabsley MJ, Johnson EM, Reichard MV, Panciera RJ, Ewing SA, Little SE. Novel Hepatozoon in vertebrates from the southern United States. J Parasitol 2011; 97:648-53. [PMID: 21506825 DOI: 10.1645/ge-2672.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Novel Hepatozoon spp. sequences collected from previously unrecognized vertebrate hosts in North America were compared with documented Hepatozoon 18S rRNA sequences in an effort to examine phylogenetic relationships between the different Hepatozoon organisms found cycling in nature. An approximately 500-base pair fragment of 18S rDNA common to Hepatozoon spp. and some other apicomplexans was amplified and sequenced from the tissues or blood of 16 vertebrate host species from the southern United States, including 1 opossum (Didelphis virginiana), 2 bobcats (Lynx rufus), 1 domestic cat (Felis catus), 3 coyotes (Canis latrans), 1 gray fox (Urocyon cinereoargenteus), 4 raccoons (Procyon lotor), 1 pet boa constrictor (Boa constrictor imperator), 1 swamp rabbit (Sylvilagus aquaticus), 1 cottontail rabbit (Sylvilagus floridanus), 4 woodrats (Neotoma fuscipes and Neotoma micropus), 3 white-footed mice (Peromyscus leucopus), 8 cotton rats (Sigmodon hispidus), 1 cotton mouse (Peromyscus gossypinus), 1 eastern grey squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis), and 1 woodchuck (Marmota monax). Phylogenetic analyses and comparison with sequences in the existing database revealed distinct groups of Hepatozoon spp., with clusters formed by sequences obtained from scavengers and carnivores (opossum, raccoons, canids, and felids) and those obtained from rodents. Surprisingly, Hepatozoon spp. sequences from wild rabbits were most closely related to sequences obtained from carnivores (97.2% identical), and the sequence from the boa constrictor was most closely related to the rodent cluster (97.4% identical). These data are consistent with recent work identifying prey-predator transmission cycles in Hepatozoon spp. and suggest this pattern may be more common than previously recognized.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kelly E Allen
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, Center for Veterinary Health Sciences, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, Oklahoma 74074, USA
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Lappin MR. Update on the diagnosis and management of Hepatozoon spp infections in dogs in the United States. Top Companion Anim Med 2010; 25:142-4. [PMID: 20937496 DOI: 10.1053/j.tcam.2010.07.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2010] [Accepted: 07/27/2010] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Michael R Lappin
- Colorado State University, Clinical Sciences, 300 West Drake Rd, Fort Collins, CO 80524, USA.
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Potter TM, Macintire DK. Hepatozoon americanum: an emerging disease in the south-central/southeastern United States. J Vet Emerg Crit Care (San Antonio) 2010; 20:70-6. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1476-4431.2009.00508.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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Johnson E, Panciera R, Allen K, Sheets M, Beal J, Ewing S, Little S. Alternate Pathway of Infection withHepatozoon americanumand the Epidemiologic Importance of Predation. J Vet Intern Med 2009; 23:1315-8. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1939-1676.2009.0375.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
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Experimental transmission of Hepatozoon americanum to New Zealand White rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) and infectivity of cystozoites for a dog. Vet Parasitol 2009; 164:162-6. [DOI: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2009.05.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2009] [Revised: 05/19/2009] [Accepted: 05/27/2009] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
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Breshears MA, Kocan KM, Johnson EM, Panciera RJ. Light and transmission electron microscopic characteristics of a novel Hepatozoon spp. in naturally infected cotton rats (Sigmodon hispidus). Parasitol Res 2009; 105:1327-32. [DOI: 10.1007/s00436-009-1562-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2009] [Accepted: 07/01/2009] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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Little SE, Allen KE, Johnson EM, Panciera RJ, Reichard MV, Ewing SA. New developments in canine hepatozoonosis in North America: a review. Parasit Vectors 2009; 2 Suppl 1:S5. [PMID: 19426444 PMCID: PMC2679397 DOI: 10.1186/1756-3305-2-s1-s5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Canine hepatozoonosis is caused by Hepatozoon canis and Hepatozoon americanum, apicomplexan parasites transmitted to dogs by ingestion of infectious stages. Although the two agents are phylogenetically related, specific aspects, including characteristics of clinical disease and the natural history of the parasites themselves, differ between the two species. Until recently, H. canis infections had not been clearly documented in North America, and autochthonous infection with H. americanum has yet to be reported outside of the southern United States. However, recent reports demonstrate H. canis is present in areas of North America where its vector tick, Rhipicephalus sanguineus, has long been endemic, and that the range of H. americanum is likely expanding along with that of its vector tick, Amblyomma maculatum; co-infections with the two organisms have also been identified. Significant intraspecific variation has been reported in the 18S rRNA gene sequence of both Hepatozoon spp.-infecting dogs, suggesting that each species may represent a complex of related genogroups rather than well-defined species. Transmission of H. americanum to dogs via ingestion of cystozoites in muscle of infected vertebrates was recently demonstrated, supporting the concept of predation as a means of natural transmission. Although several exciting advances have occurred in recent years, much remains to be learned about patterns of infection and the nature of clinical disease caused by the agents of canine hepatozoonosis in North America.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susan E Little
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, Center for Veterinary Health Sciences, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK, USA.
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