Molecular detection of Hepatozoon spp. in Brazilian and exotic wild carnivores.
Hepatozoon spp. are apicomplexan parasites that infect a wide variety of animals. The infection occurs through the ingestion of a hematophagous arthropod definitive host. Herein, we assessed the presence of Hepatozoon spp. in 165 captive wild felids and 100 captive wild canids using molecular techniques. We found that 6 felids (4 little spotted cats, 1 jaguarondi, and 1 puma) and 5 canids (2 bush dogs, 1 fox, 1 crab-eating fox, and 1 maned wolf) were positive for Hepatozoon spp. Hepatozoon spp. may be a potential pathogen and an opportunistic parasite in immunocompromised animals or if occurring in concomitant infections. Because most Brazilian wild felids and canids are endangered, knowing whether Hepatozoon infection represents a threat for these animals is crucial.
André
M R
MR
Universidade Estadual Paulista, UNESP, Jaboticabal, SP, Brazil.
Adania
C H
CH
Teixeira
R H F
RH
Vargas
G H
GH
Falcade
M
M
Sousa
L
L
Salles
A R
AR
Allegretti
S M
SM
Felippe
P A N
PA
Machado
R Z
RZ
D000818:Animals; D000836:Animals, Zoo; D016782:Apicomplexa / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D046028:Canidae; D045989:Felidae; D011529:Protozoan Infections, Animal / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology*