Hostname: page-component-7c8c6479df-r7xzm Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-03-29T07:04:59.177Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Molecular evidence of prevalent dual piroplasma infections in North American raccoons (Procyon lotor)

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  04 September 2007

A. J. BIRKENHEUER*
Affiliation:
North Carolina State University, College of Veterinary Medicine, Vector Borne Disease Diagnostic Laboratory, 4700 Hillsborough Street, Raleigh, NC 27606, USA
H. S. MARR
Affiliation:
North Carolina State University, College of Veterinary Medicine, Vector Borne Disease Diagnostic Laboratory, 4700 Hillsborough Street, Raleigh, NC 27606, USA
N. HLADIO
Affiliation:
North Carolina State University, College of Veterinary Medicine, Vector Borne Disease Diagnostic Laboratory, 4700 Hillsborough Street, Raleigh, NC 27606, USA
A. E. ACTON
Affiliation:
North Carolina State University, College of Veterinary Medicine, Vector Borne Disease Diagnostic Laboratory, 4700 Hillsborough Street, Raleigh, NC 27606, USA
*
*Corresponding author. Tel: +919 513 8288. E-mail: ajbirken@ncsu.edu

Summary

Based on 18S rRNA sequence analyses 2 distinct genotypes of piroplasms have been described in raccoons. One genotype resides in the Babesia sensu stricto clade and the other in the Babesia microti-like clade. Since these organisms appear morphologically indistinguishable, it is unclear which strain is responsible for the majority of the infections in raccoons. In order to overcome these limitations we performed a molecular survey of raccoons using polymerase chain reaction assays specific for each genotype. We tested blood samples from 41 wild raccoons trapped in eastern North Carolina using PCR assays and found that 95% (39/41) had detectable piroplasm DNA. Ninety percent (37/41) of the samples contained Babesia sensu stricto DNA and 83% (34/41) samples contained Babesia microti-like DNA. DNA from both genotypes was present in 76% (31/41) samples suggesting a very high rate of co-infections. The presence of dual piroplasma infections in carnivores appears to be an uncommon finding. This study highlights the need for molecular assays for the accurate identification of piroplasma. Further studies are indicated to investigate the ability of these parasites to infect domestic animals as well as their zoonotic potential.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2007

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

REFERENCES

Allsopp, M. T. and Allsopp, B. A. (2006). Molecular sequence evidence for the reclassification of some Babesia species. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences 1081, 509517.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Anderson, J. F., Magnarelli, L. A., Donner, C. S., Spielman, A. and Piesman, J. (1979). Canine Babesia new to North America. Science 204, 14311432.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Anderson, J. F., Magnarelli, L. A. and Sulzer, A. J. (1981). Raccoon babesiosis in Connecticut, USA: Babesia lotori sp. n. Journal of Parasitology 67, 417425.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Birkenheuer, A. J., Correa, M. T., Levy, M. G. and Breitschwerdt, E. B. (2005). Geographic distribution of babesiosis among dogs in the United States and association with dog bites: 150 cases (2000–2003. Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 227, 942947.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Birkenheuer, A. J., Levy, M. G. and Breitschwerdt, E. B. (2003). Development and evaluation of a seminested PCR for detection and differentiation of Babesia gibsoni (Asian genotype) and B. canis DNA in canine blood samples. Journal of Clinical Microbiology 41, 41724177.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Birkenheuer, A. J., Whittington, J., Neel, J., Large, E., Barger, A., Levy, M. G. and Breitschwerdt, E. B. (2006). Molecular characterization of a Babesia species identified in a North American raccoon. Journal of Wildlife Diseases 42, 375380.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bosman, A. M., Venter, E. H. and Penzhorn, B. L. (2007). Occurrence of Babesia felis and Babesia leo in various wild felid species and domestic cats in Southern Africa, based on reverse line blot analysis. Veterinary Parasitology 144, 3338.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Frerichs, W. M. and Holbrook, A. A. (1970). Babesia spp. and Haemobartonella sp. in wild mammals trapped at the Agricultural Research Center, Beltsville, Maryland. Journal of Parasitology 56, 130.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Fukumoto, S., Suzuki, H., Igarashi, I. and Xuan, X. (2005). Fatal experimental transplacental Babesia gibsoni infections in dogs. International Journal for Parasitology 35, 10311035.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Goethert, H. K. and Telford, S. R. 3rd (2003). What is Babesia microti? Parasitology 127, 301309.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Inokuma, H., Okuda, M., Yoshizaki, Y., Hiraoka, H., Miyama, T., Itamoto, K., Une, S., Nakaichi, M. and Taura, Y. (2005). Clinical observations of Babesia gibsoni infection with low parasitaemia confirmed by PCR in dogs. Veterinary Record 156, 116118.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Kawabuchi, T., Tsuji, M., Sado, A., Matoba, Y., Asakawa, M. and Ishihara, C. (2005). Babesia microti-like parasites detected in feral raccoons (Procyon lotor) captured in Hokkaido, Japan. Journal of Veterinary Medical Science 67, 825827.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Kjemtrup, A. M., Wainwright, K., Miller, M., Penzhorn, B. L. and Carreno, R. A. (2006). Babesia conradae, sp. Nov., a small canine Babesia identified in California. Veterinary Parasitology 138, 103111.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Long, J. L. (2003). Introduced Mammals of the World. CABI Publishing, Wallingford, UK.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Penzhorn, B. L. (2006). Babesiosis of wild carnivores and ungulates. Veterinary Parasitology 138, 1121.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Ristic, M., Lewis, G. E. Jr. and Kreier, J. P. (1977). Babesia in man and wild and laboratory-adapted mammals. In Parasitic Protozoa, Vol. IV. Babesia, Theileria, Myxosporida, Microsporida, Bartonellaceae, Anaplasmataceae, Ehrlichia, and Pneumocystis (ed. Kreier, J. P.), pp. 5376. Academic Press Inc., New York and London.Google Scholar
Telford, S. R. Jr. and Forrester, D. J. (1991). Hemoparasites of raccoons (Procyon lotor) in Florida. Journal of Wildlife Diseases 27, 486490.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Wenyon, C. M. and Scott, H. H. (1926). Untitled manuscript. Transactions of the Royal Society Tropical Medicine and Hygiene 20, 6.Google Scholar
Yabsley, M. J., Murphy, S. M. and Cunningham, M. W. (2006). Molecular detection and characterization of Cytauxzoon felis and a Babesia species in cougars from Florida. Journal of Wildlife Diseases 42, 366374.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Zahler, M., Rinder, H., Schein, E. and Gothe, R. (2000). Detection of a new pathogenic Babesia microti-like species in dogs. Veterinary Pathology 89, 241248.Google ScholarPubMed