First Report of a Novel Hepatozoon sp. in Giant Pandas (Ailuropoda melanoleuca)

Abstract

Hullalso provided valuable assistance with this project, for which the authors are very grateful. This project was generously funded by donations from David M. Rubenstein and family, and Judy and John W. McCarter, Jr. Generous support was also provided by the Morris Animal Foundation through our training partnership.

Morphological and molecular data of Hepatozoon ursi in two brown bears (Ursus arctos) in Turkey

“…Infections with species of Hepatozoon are usually subclinical in most mammalian hosts; only canid and felid species are of veterinary importance (Pawar et al 2011, Modrý et al 2017, Yu et al 2019. High prevalence and low virulence of infection with species of Hepatozoon in bears were reported in some studies (Uni et al 2003, Kubo et al 2008, Ikawa et al 2011, Pawar et al 2011.…”

“…In addition, an unidentified species of Hepatozoon in the Hokkaido brown bears (Ursus arctos yesoensis Lydekker) (Kubo et al 2010) and a novel Hepatozoon sp. in giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca David) in USA (Yu et al 2019) were reported. By contrast, species of Hepatozoon were not found in American black bears (Ursus americanus Pallas) in the United States (Crum et al 1978) and in European brown bears (Ursus arctos Linnaeus) in Sweden (Mörner et al 2005).…”

Review on parasites of wild and captive giant pandas (Ailuropoda melanoleuca): Diversity, disease and conservation impact

“… Intestinal tract Chengdu, Sichuan 2019 Deng et al (2019) Hepatozoon sp. Blood USA, UK, and China 2019 Yu et al (2019) Tick Ixodex granulatus Body surface Gansu Wenxian 1984 Li et al (2013) Ixodex acutitarsus Body surface Sichuan Tianquan; Sichuan Wenchuan; Gansu Wenxian 1984 Li et al (2013) Ixodex ovatux Body surface Sichuan Tianquan; Sichuan Wenchuan; Sichuan Baoxing; Gansu Wenxian 1987 Ma (1987) Haemaphysalis flava Body surface Sichuan Wenchuan; Sichuan Pingwu; Sichuan Beichun; Gansu Wenxian 1984 Li et al (2013) Haemaphysalis aponommoides Body surface Sichuan Pingwu 1985 Li et al (2013) Haemaphysalis hystricis Body surface Sichuan Tianquan 1985 Li et al (2013) Haemaphysalis longicornis Body surface Sichuan Pingwu 1985 Li et al (2013) Haemaphysalis kitaotai Body surface Sichuan Pingwu; Sichuan Beichun 1987 ...…”

“… Oocyst PCR Deng et al (2019) Hepatozoon sp. Oocyst Microscopy and PCR Yu et al (2019) Tick Imago Microscopy and PCR Qiu (1987) ; Yu et al (1998) ; Cheng et al (2013) ; Chorioptes panda Imago Microscopy Ye (1986) ; Wang et al (2001) General protocols of microscopic diagnosis: The feces, vomit, intestinal contents (for necropsy), blood or tissue samples, or surface skin samples of giant pandas were obtained, and then subjected to the direct, smear, or stain observation under the microscopy. The parasites were preliminarily identifed based on the morphology, size, coloration, refraction of the eggs/oocysts/cysts/larva, or adult of the parasites, as well as the biological characteristics of the parasitic host.…”

“… Chengdu, Sichuan Giant Panda Breeding center 12.3% (10/81) PCR Deng et al (2019) Hepatozoon sp. USA, UK, and China Wild-caught and Captive 73.9% (17/23) PCR Yu et al (2019) Ectozoan infestations Tick Sichuan Wild (rescued or dead) 100% (11/11) Microscopy Qiu (1987) Tick Sichuan Wild (injured) 2.0% (1/50) Microscopy Ye (1989) Tick Qinling mountains Wild (Necropsy) 100% (4/4) Microscopy and PCR Cheng et al (2013) Haemaphysalis ailuropodae Qinling mountains Wild (Necropsy) 50.0% (1/2) Microscopy Yu et al (1998) Chorioptes panda Sichuan Chengdu Zoo (captive) 66.7% (6/9) Microscopy Ye (1986) Chorioptes panda Sichuan Chengdu Zoo (captive) 100% (7/7) Microscopy Wang et al (2001) Subtotal ...…”