Molecular characterization of Hepatozoon sp. in cats from São Luís Island, Maranhão, Northeastern Brazil

Abstract

Few molecular studies have been done concerning the molecular characterization of Hepatozoon species among domestic and wild felids. The present work aimed to characterize molecularly the presence of Hepatozoon sp. DNA in cat blood samples from São Luís Island, Maranhão state, Northeastern Brazil. EDTA-whole blood samples were collected from 200 domestic cats with outdoor and wood areas access from São Luís, Maranhão, Brazil. Each sample of extracted DNA was used as a template in PCR reactions aiming to amplify a partial sequence of 18S rRNA of Hepatozoon spp. We also performed sequence alignment to establish the identity of the parasite species infecting these animals using DNA sequences based on 18S rRNA. From 200 sampled cats, Hepatozoon DNA was only found in one animal (0.5%). The found Hepatozoon DNA showed 97% of identity with Hemobartonella felis isolates 1 and 2 from Spain. When analyzing the phylogenetic tree, the found Hepatozoon DNA was in the same clade than H. felis isolates. Our findings suggest that more than one species of Hepatozoon could infect felids in Brazil.

Brazilian canine hepatozoonosis

“…This infection has also been detected in domestic cats: in São Paulo (PEREZ et al, 2004), with molecular characterization demonstrating high similarity with H. canis (RUBINI et al, 2006); and in Maranhão, with Hepatozoon DNA showing more similarity with H. felis (DE BORTOLI et al, 2011). Massard (1979) conducted the first epidemiological study targeting H. canis infection in Brazil.…”

Molecular detection of feline arthropod-borne pathogens in cats in Cuiabá, state of Mato Grosso, central-western region of Brazil

“…On the other hand, Hepatozoon sp. phylogenetically related to H. canis (RUBINI et al, 2006) and H. felis (DE BORTOLI et al, 2011) has been detected, although infrequently, in cats in the states of São Paulo and Maranhão, respectively.…”

“…has been documented in cats in Brazil, few reports on occurrences of tick-borne apicomplexans have been produced (DE BORTOLI et al, 2011). Hepatozoon sp.…”

Tick-borne agents in domesticated and stray cats from the city of Campo Grande, state of Mato Grosso do Sul, midwestern Brazil

“…were reported in wild felids maintained in captivity in zoos in the cities of Jundiaí, Ilha Solteira (state of São Paulo) and Cuiabá (state of Mato Grosso) (André et al, 2010b), Hepatozoon spp. closely related to Hepatozoon canis (Rubini et al, 2006) and Hepatozoon felis (De Bortoli et al, 2011) have been detected in domestic cats in the states of São Paulo and Maranhão (northeastern Brazil), respectively. Although Cytauxzoon sp.…”