First Report of an Intraerythrocytic Small Piroplasm in Wild Iberian Lynx (Lynx pardinus)

Luaces, Inés; Aguirre, Enara; García-Montijano, Marino; Velarde, Jorge J.; Tesouro, Miguel A.; Sánchez, Celia; Galka, Margarita; Fernández, Pilar; Sainz, Á.

doi:10.7589/0090-3558-41.4.810

Cited by 38 publications

(50 citation statements)

References 9 publications

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“…The absence of positive results in samples from Doñ ana agrees with the previous study of Luaces et al (2005), who did not detect the piroplasm in any of the 47 samples from this area. The 3 parasitized lynxes were sampled in summer.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 91%

Prevalence of infection and 18S rRNA gene sequences ofCytauxzoonspecies in Iberian lynx (Lynx pardinus) in Spain

et al. 2007

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S U M M A R YThe Iberian lynx (Lynx pardinus) is the most endangered felid in the world. Only about 160 individuals remain in 2 separate metapopulations in Southern Spain (Sierra Morena and Doñ ana). We obtained blood samples of 20 lynxes captured from 2004 to 2006, and determined the prevalence of infection and genetic diversity of Cytauxzoon spp. using 18S rRNA PCR and sequence analysis. Prevalence of infection was 15% (3 of 20). Cytauxzoon sp. was only detected in Sierra Morena. For phylogenetic analysis, we used the sequences reported in the present study and those characterized in different domestic and wild felids and ticks from North and South America, Asia and Europe. Three different Cytauxzoon sp. sequences were obtained. They were closely related to that obtained from a Spanish cat, but diverged in up to 1 . 0% with respect to the only previously reported sequence from an Iberian lynx. Conversely, the latter sequence clustered together with C. manul sequences obtained from Pallas cats (Otocolobus manul) in Mongolia. Our analysis yields a separate cluster of C. felis sequences from cats, wild felids and ticks in the United States and Brazil. These results suggest that at least 2 different Cytauxzoon spp. may be present in Iberian lynx. The apparent absence in one of the areas, together with the possibility of fatal cytauxzoonosis in lynxes makes necessary disease risks to be taken into account in management conservation strategies, such as translocations and re-introductions.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 91%

Prevalence of infection and 18S rRNA gene sequences ofCytauxzoonspecies in Iberian lynx (Lynx pardinus) in Spain

et al. 2007

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“…Cytauxzoon felis causes a generally highly fatal disease in domestic cats in the USA, with wild felids such as the bobcats ( Lynx rufus ) and pumas ( Puma concolor ) as the main reservoirs for this pathogen [35]. However, other species of Cytauxzoon infecting wild or domestic felids outside America have been described, including C. manul , molecularly characterized from a Pallas’ cat ( Otocolobus manul ) from Mongolia [36, 37], and genetically-close Cytauxzoon sp., reported in wild felids and domestic cats from Spain, France, Portugal and Italy [11, 22, 23, 25, 27, 38–41]. Information on the epidemiology and clinical manifestations of infection of domestic cats by other species distinct from C. felis is still scarce.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In Spain, Cytauxzoon sp. infects the Iberian lynx ( Lynx pardinus ) and wildcats ( F. s. silvestris ) [27, 38–40]. Due to the extremely low population size of the Iberian lynx, it has been suggested that most likely, the natural reservoir for Cytauxzoon sp.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Molecular detection of Hepatozoon spp. and Cytauxzoon sp. in domestic and stray cats from Madrid, Spain

et al. 2017

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BackgroundDifferent species of apicomplexan protozoans of the genera Hepatozoon and Cytauxzoon can infect domestic cats, but their epidemiology and clinical relevance are not fully understood. The aim of this study was to assess the molecular prevalence of Hepatozoon spp. and Cytauxzoon spp. and to identify associated risk factors and clinical and laboratory abnormalities in a population of cats from Madrid, Spain.MethodsSix hundred and forty-four client-owned and stray cats from Madrid, Spain, were included in this study. DNA samples were analyzed by two polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests to detect a partial sequence of the 18S rRNA gene of Hepatozoon spp. and Cytauxzoon spp. In order to evaluate possible associations between infection by these protozoans and epidemiological or clinical parameters, data were collected related to: the season of sample collection, age, gender, spayed/neutered status, breed, living area, lifestyle, outdoor access, contact with other animals, prey on wild animals, history of tick or flea infestation, travel history, ectoparasiticide treatment, previous blood transfusion, previous tetracycline administration in the last 60 days, Feline Leukemia virus (FeLV) and Feline Immunodeficiency virus (FIV) status, positivity to other vector-borne diseases, the presence or absence of clinical signs and hematological or biochemical alterations.ResultsDNA of Hepatozoon spp. and Cytauxzoon sp. was amplified from the blood of 10 (1.6%) and 8 (1.2%) cats, respectively. Previous treatment with tetracyclines in the last 60 days, previous administration of blood transfusion, a decrease in haematocrit and an increase in creatinine were associated with Hepatozoon spp. infection. Cytauxzoon sp. infection was more frequent in samples collected during the winter months and in cats living in rural areas. This infection was associated with a FIV-positive status. Some of the cats that were positive for Hepatozoon spp. or Cytauxzoon sp. had been exposed to other vector-borne pathogens, such as Ehrlichia canis and Bartonella henselae.ConclusionsOur results indicate that cats from Madrid, central Spain, are infected with Hepatozoon spp. and Cytauxzoon sp., although with a low prevalence. Further studies are needed to determine the virulence of these agents in Spanish cats.

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“…All three of these genera contain species of veterinary concern and Cytauxzoon spp. are increasingly reported in domestic and wild felid species worldwide (Luaces et al, 2005;Criado-Fornelio et al, 2004;Peixoto et al, 2007;Ketz-Riley et al, 2003). The Cytauxzoon spp.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Distribution and prevalence of Cytauxzoon felis in bobcats (Lynx rufus), the natural reservoir, and other wild felids in thirteen states

Shock

Murphy

Patton

et al. 2011

Veterinary Parasitology

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First Report of an Intraerythrocytic Small Piroplasm in Wild Iberian Lynx (Lynx pardinus)

Cited by 38 publications

References 9 publications

Prevalence of infection and 18S rRNA gene sequences ofCytauxzoonspecies in Iberian lynx (Lynx pardinus) in Spain

Prevalence of infection and 18S rRNA gene sequences ofCytauxzoonspecies in Iberian lynx (Lynx pardinus) in Spain

Molecular detection of Hepatozoon spp. and Cytauxzoon sp. in domestic and stray cats from Madrid, Spain

Distribution and prevalence of Cytauxzoon felis in bobcats (Lynx rufus), the natural reservoir, and other wild felids in thirteen states

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