title: Molecular identification and characterization of canine Hepatozoon species from Brazil.
abstract: Canine Hepatozoon species from Brazil was molecular identified and characterized for the first time. From 31 dogs, 7 were positive for blood smear examination and 21 positive for PCR. Partial sequences of the 18S rRNA gene from eight naturally infected dogs were analyzed. Sequences revealed that Brazilian Hepatozoon is closely related with the Japanese Hepatozoon, that has 99% nucleotide identity with Hepatozoon canis from Israel, and different from Hepatozoon americanum. These results indicate that the canine Hepatozoon species from Brazil is H. canis.
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Biociências, Departamento de Parasitologia, Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP), 18618-000, Botucatu, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Adriano Stefani
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Rubini
authors.forename: Karina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: dos Santos Paduan
authors.forename: Gustavo Góes
authors.initials: GG
authors.lastname: Cavalcante
authors.forename: Paulo Eduardo Martins
authors.initials: PE
authors.lastname: Ribolla
authors.forename: Lucia Helena
authors.initials: LH
authors.lastname: O'Dwyer
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001938:Brazil; D003044:Coccidia / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D003048:Coccidiosis / Q000469:parasitology / Q000662:veterinary*; D016054:DNA, Protozoan / Q000032:analysis; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000469:parasitology*; D004285:Dogs; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000662:veterinary*; D016053:RNA, Protozoan / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D012337:RNA, Ribosomal, 18S / Q000032:analysis; D017423:Sequence Analysis, RNA
chemical_list: D016054:DNA, Protozoan; D016053:RNA, Protozoan; D012337:RNA, Ribosomal, 18S