Molecular screening indicates high prevalence and mixed infections of Hepatozoon parasites in wild felines from South Africa

Abstract

Genetic diversity within partial 18S rRNA sequences from Hepatozoon protozoan parasites from wild felines in South Africa was assessed and compared with data from domestic cats to assess patterns of host specificity. Lions, leopards, servals, a caracal and an African wildcat were all positive for parasites of the Hepatozoon felis-complex. However, haplotypes were not species-specific, and potential mixed infections were widespread. Additional genetic markers are needed to untangle the extremely complex situation of these parasites in both domestic cats and wild felines in South Africa.

Distribution and prevalence of ticks and tick-borne pathogens of wild animals in South Africa: A systematic review

“…Studies included in this review used either morphological or molecular assays for the identification of ticks and the diagnosis of tick-borne pathogens, except for a few studies ( n = 4) that employed both techniques. Data from four studies ( Golezardy & Horak, 2007 ; Halajian et al., 2016 ; Penzhorn et al., 2017 ; Harris et al., 2020 ) involving multiple provinces were clearly separated into their different respective provinces where samples were collected. Most of the included studies ( n = 26) described single host species, whereas others involved multiple host species, ranging from 2 to 26.…”

“… Morphological Halajian et al. (2016) Limpopo African wildcat ( Felis silvestris lybica ); caracal ( Caracal caracal ) 22 Hepatozoon felis ( n = 11; 50.0%) ND Molecular Harris et al. (2020) Mpumalanga Leopard ( Panthera pardus ); lion ( Panthera leo ); serval ( Leptailurus serval ) ND Mpumalanga African wild dog ( Lycaon pictus ) 54 Hepatozoon canis sp.…”

“…in the blood smears obtained from wild dogs in the Kruger National Park. However, the prevalence of H. felis was also shown to be high in caracals, lions, cheetahs, servals and leopards ( Harris et al., 2020 ; Viljoen et al., 2020 ), thus indicating that Hepatozoon spp. are abundant in hosts of carnivore families presumably due to their feeding behavior that coincides with the transmission route of Hepatozoon spp.…”