We describe for the first time the detection of Coxiella-like bacteria (CLB), Theileria luwenshuni, and T. ovis endosymbionts in blood-sucking deer keds. Eight deer keds attached to a Korean water deer were identified as Lipoptena fortisetosa (Diptera: Hippoboscidae) by morphological and genetic analyses. Among the endosymbionts assessed, CLB, Theileria luwenshuni, and T. ovis were identified in L. fortisetosa by PCR and nucleotide sequencing. Based on phylogeny, CLB 16S rRNA sequences were classified into clade B, sharing 99.4% identity with CLB from Haemaphysalis longicornis in South Korea. Although the virulence of CLB to vertebrates is still controversial, several studies have reported clinical symptoms in birds due to CLB infections. The 18S rRNA sequences of T. luwenshuni and T. ovis in this study were 98.8–100% identical to those in GenBank, and all of the obtained sequences of T. ovis and T. luwenshuni in this study were 100% identical to each other, respectively. Although further studies are required to positively confirm L. fortisetosa as a biological vector of these pathogens, strong genetic relationships among sequences from this and previous studies suggest potential transmission among mammalian hosts by ticks and keds.

Blastocystis is a protozoan parasite commonly detected in the intestinal tract of humans and animals. It has been actively studied worldwide; however, information on Blastocystis is limited in Korea. Because there is an increasing concern about the contact between wildlife and domestic animals or humans, we assessed the infection status and zoonotic potential of Blastocystis in Korean water deer (KWD, Hydropotes inermis argyropus) using genotyping and phylogenetic analysis. A total of 125 fresh fecal samples were collected from KWD which were killed by vehicles on highways or roadsides in this study. Among the 125 samples, 51 (40.8%) were PCR positive. We performed nucleotide sequencing and phylogenetic analysis of 26 of the 51 PCR-positive samples. By analyzing Blastocystis 18S rRNA, two subtypes (ST4 and ST14) were identified in this study. Of the 26 samples analyzed, 25 were identified as ST14 and one as ST4. Infection of ST14 in humans has not been reported. Although only one ST4 sample was detected in this study, ST4 has zoonotic potential without showing ruminant specificity. Thus, continuous attention should be provided to the potential of transmission between wildlife and domestic animals and humans.

A 2-year-old female lop-eared rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) was presented to the veterinary clinic at a zoo with pruritus, alopecia, and crusting of the ear. Examination of skin scrapes revealed an infestation with the rabbit ear mite, Psoroptes cuniculi. Weekly subcutaneous ivermectin injection over a three-week period resulted in remission of the clinical signs and improvement of the overall conditions of the rabbit.

No abstract

Blastocystis is a genus of unicellular heterokont parasites belonging to a group of organisms known as Stramenopiles, which includes algae, diatoms, and water molds. Blastocystis includes several species that habitat in the gastrointestinal tracts of organisms as diverse as humans, farm animals, birds, rodents, reptiles, amphibians, fish, and cockroaches. It is important to public health and distributed globally, but its prevalence in dogs in Korea has not been reported to date. Here, we collected 787 canine fecal samples and assessed Blastocystis infection by age, sex, region, season, and diarrhea symptoms. We determined Blastocystis subtypes using phylogenetic analyses based on 18S rRNA gene sequences. We identified, 10 Blastocystis positive samples (1.3%). A higher proportion of infected dogs was asymptomatic; however, infection rates did not significantly differ according to region, age, sex, and season. Phylogenetic analysis showed that the Blastocystis sp. identified belonged to 4 subtypes (STs), ST1, ST5, ST10, and ST14, thus revealed the genetic diversity of Blastocystis sp. in dogs Korean. This is first report on the presence of Blastocystis sp. in dogs Korean. This study revealed a lower infection rate than expected and differed from previous studies in STs. Further studies are warranted to observe the national infection status of Blastocystis in dogs and the genetic characteristics of this genus.