Molecular identification of Colpodella sp. of South China tiger Panthera tigris amoyensis (Hilzheimer) in the Meihua Mountains, Fujian, China

Abstract

A three-year-old male South China tiger died in the tiger enclosure of the China Tiger Park in the Meihua Mountains on December 2018 after being bitten by a tick. This tiger presented clinical symptoms like whole-body severe jaundice, hepatosplenomegaly, kidney, and lymph node hemorrhages. The Colpodella sp.-specific 18S rRNA gene was detected using nested PCR. Interestingly, the DNA isolated from the blood of the tiger was found to be 100% similar to that of the tick by NCBI BLAST analysis. However, the DNA fragments isolated from the tiger's blood were 90.1% similar to the Colpodella sp. strain human erythrocyte parasite (HEP, MH208621) and 90.4% similar to the Colpodella sp. strain Heilongjiang (HLJ, KT364261). To investigate the species of ticks and ticks-carried Colpodella parasites in this region, the species of ticks obtained from the grasses outside the tiger enclosure and the species of Colpodella carried by ticks were identified. The DNA from ticks as well as that from the tick-borne Colpodella sp. were amplified from each tick using PCR followed by amplicon sequencing. In total 402 adult ticks samples were collected, among which 22 were positive for Colpodella sp. (5.5%), and the species were further determined by morphology, DNA sequencing and phylogenetic analyses. Interestingly, one Colpodella sp. was found to have 94.2% sequence similarities to the Colpodella sp. strain HEP (MH208621). This strain was previously reported to infect a woman in Yunnan, China. In addition, three Colpodella sp. showed 87-91% sequence similarities to the Colpodella sp. strain HLJ (KT364261), which was previously reported to infect human in Heilongjiang, China. This study disclosed the possibility of zoonotic transmission of Colpodella sp. by ticks in China. Finally, it provides a basis for urgently determining and monitoring the repertoire of ticks-borne piroplasmid pathogens, with the ultimate aim of strategic control.

Molecular epidemiological investigation of piroplasms carried by pet cats and dogs in an animal hospital in Guiyang, China

“…Colpodella sp. was also detected in horses from Jingxi and Napo, Guangxi ( Xu et al, 2022 ; Zhou et al, 2022 ), as well as being recently detected in the blood of Amur tigers ( Chiu et al, 2022 ). Cui (2013) also amplified Colpodella sp.…”

Sam-Yellowe’s Trichrome Staining Identifies Life Cycle Stages of Opportunistic Free-Living Colpodellids

“…In the last decade, human and animal infections by novel strains of Colpodella species have been reported and increased reports of the detection of Colpodella sp. in ticks, flies and pet dogs and cats have been made [11,19,[30][31][32]. Furthermore, Colpodella sp.…”

“…in ticks and the association of tick bites in animal and human infection suggests the potential for zoonotic infections with ticks transmitting Colpodella sp. from animals to humans [11,19]. In the reported human and animal cases, molecular techniques using PCR and DNA sequencing identified sequences homologous to strains and species of Colpodella sp.…”

“…strain HEP and 90.4 % sequence identity to Colpodella sp. strain HLJ [19]. Ticks within the tiger enclosure and grass around the enclosure also contained Colpodella species [19].…”

“…strain HLJ [19]. Ticks within the tiger enclosure and grass around the enclosure also contained Colpodella species [19]. Oligonucleotide primers targeting Cryptosporidium species identified Colpodella species from fecal samples of zoo felines in North East China [20].…”