A novel Babesia sp. associated with clinical signs of babesiosis in domestic cats in South Africa

Bosman, Anna-Mari; Penzhorn, Barend Louis; Brayton, Kelly A.; Schoeman, Tanya; Oosthuizen, Marinda C.

doi:10.1186/s13071-019-3395-x

Cited by 19 publications

(13 citation statements)

References 57 publications

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“…However, the vector for the Kobe strain remains undescribed; to date, it has never been detected in field-collected ticks. There is an odd report from a sick domestic cat in South Africa, which appeared to be coinfected with B. felis and B. microti -like parasites with 100% similarity to the Hobetsu strain [ 41 ]. This lone report remains an anomaly, as cats are not otherwise known to become infected with B. microti -like parasites, though they do harbor other small Babesia that are more closely related to B. rodhaini , B. leo , and B. felis [ 42 ].…”

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confidence: 99%

What Babesia microti Is Now

Goethert

2021

Pathogens

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Parasites from diverse hosts morphologically identified as Babesia microti have previously been shown to belong to a paraphyletic species complex. With a growing number of reports of B. microti-like parasites from across the world, this paper seeks to report on the current knowledge of the diversity of this species complex. Phylogenetic analysis of 18S rDNA sequences obtained from GenBank shows that the diversity of the B. microti species complex has markedly increased and now encompasses at least five distinct clades. This cryptic diversity calls into question much of our current knowledge of the life cycle of these parasites, as many biological studies were conducted before DNA sequencing technology was available. In many cases, it is uncertain which B. microti-like parasite was studied because parasites from different clades may occur sympatrically and even share the same host. Progress can only be made if future studies are conducted with careful attention to parasite identification and PCR primer specificity.

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confidence: 99%

What Babesia microti Is Now

Goethert

2021

Pathogens

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“…A pathogenic piroplasm from the Babesia s.s. clade was recently discovered in South Africa (44). Seven clinical cases were reported: six from the vicinity of Cape Town and one from Durban, KwaZulu-Natal.…”

Section: Babesia Species Cat Western Capementioning

confidence: 99%

“…AF244911) was described from lions (Panthera leo) in Kruger National Park, South Africa (5). Babesia leo has been incriminated in causing disease in five cats: four in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa and one in Maputo, Mozambique (44). Sequences from four of these cats were 100% identical to those of B. leo, whereas one sequence (1,520 bp) was 99% similar to B. leo (44).…”

Section: Babesia Leomentioning

confidence: 99%

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Babesia Species of Domestic Cats: Molecular Characterization Has Opened Pandora's Box

Penzhorn

Oosthuizen

2020

Front. Vet. Sci.

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This is the first comprehensive review of the literature pertaining to Babesia species reported from domestic cats. Description of the four species (Babesia felis, Babesia cati, Babesia herpailuri, and Babesia pantherae) named based on morphology and/or host specificity is documented. Feline babesiosis is of major veterinary concern only in South Africa. Reports of the rare occurrence of feline babesiosis cases in Europe (France, Germany, Poland, and Spain) and Asia (Israel, India, and Pakistan) are documented. Molecular characterization has revealed that cats can harbor a variety of Babesia species. The previous practice of referring to all piroplasms, especially small ones, seen on feline blood smears as B. felis is therefore no longer tenable. The near-full-length 18S rRNA gene sequences entered into GenBank in 2001 (accession no. AF244912) are designated as definitive for B. felis sensu stricto. All published literature relating to molecular characterization of feline Babesia species that could be traced was critically assessed. Four Babesia species are now known to be involved in causing feline babesiosis in South Africa: the closely related B. felis s.s. and Babesia leo (clade I), Babesia lengau (clade II), and Babesia species cat Western Cape (clade VI, Babesia s.s.). Clade VI also includes Babesia canis presentii and Babesia hongkongensis reported from cats in Asia. Six other Babesia species have been reported from domestic cats: the dog-associated B. canis s.s., Babesia gibsoni, and B. vogeli, as well as Babesia lohae, Babesia microti, and Babesia vulpes. Phylogenetic relationships of all named species were assessed and are presented as trees. The relatively high prevalence of B. vogeli in clinically healthy cats (16% in Brazil, 13% on St Kitts, and 8.1% in Portugal) suggests that immunocompetent cats can harbor the infection with no discernible untoward effects. Reports of occurrence of B. felis and other Babesia species in domestic cats should be accepted only if they are supported by credible molecular provenance.

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“…However, only B. felis has been molecularly characterized thereafter [ 15 ]. Based on molecular data, B. leo , B. lengau , and Babesia species cat Western Cape were also documented in South Africa [ 15 , 16 , 17 ]. In Asia, B. canis presentii and B. hongkongensis have been reported and molecularly characterized in domestic cats [ 18 , 19 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Babesia pisicii n. sp. and Babesia canis Infect European Wild Cats, Felis silvestris, in Romania

et al. 2021

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Haemoparasites of the genus Babesia infect a wide range of domestic and wild animals. Feline babesiosis is considered endemic in South Africa, while data on Babesia spp. infection in felids in Europe is scarce. Using samples from 51 wild felids, 44 Felis silvestris and 7 Lynx lynx, the study aimed to determine the presence and genetic diversity of Babesia spp. in wild felids in Romania by analyzing the 18S rDNA and two mitochondrial markers, cytochrome b (Cytb) and cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) genes. By 18S rDNA analyses, Babesia spp. DNA was detected in 20 European wild felids. All sequences showed 100% similarity to B. canis by BLAST analysis. Conversely, Cytb and COI analyses revealed the presence of two Babesia spp., B. pisicii n. sp., which we herein describe, and B. canis. The pairwise comparison of both mitochondrial genes of B. pisicii n. sp. showed a genetic distance of at least 10.3% from the most closely related species, B. rossi. Phylogenetic analyses of Cytb and COI genes revealed that B. pisicii n. sp. is related to the so-called “large” canid-associated Babesia species forming a separate subclade in a sister position to B. rossi.

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A novel Babesia sp. associated with clinical signs of babesiosis in domestic cats in South Africa

Cited by 19 publications

References 57 publications

What Babesia microti Is Now

What Babesia microti Is Now

Babesia Species of Domestic Cats: Molecular Characterization Has Opened Pandora's Box

Babesia pisicii n. sp. and Babesia canis Infect European Wild Cats, Felis silvestris, in Romania

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