title: Molecular epidemiologic survey of Bartonella, Ehrlichia, and Anaplasma infections in Japanese Iriomote and Tsushima leopard cats.
abstract: The Iriomote cat (IC; Prionailurus iriomotensis) and the Tsushima leopard cat (TLC; Prionailurus bengalensis euptilura) are endangered wild felids in Japan. As a part of ongoing conservation activities, we conducted a molecular, epidemiologic survey of Bartonella, Ehrlichia, and Anaplasma infections in wild IC and TLC populations. Blood samples (47 from 33 individual IC; 22 from 13 TLC) were collected between August 2002 and January 2011. Using PCR analysis, we confirmed the presence of Bartonella henselae in ICs and Bartonella clarridgeiae in TLCs, with prevalences of 6% and 8%, respectively. Using PCR and basic local alignment search tool analyses, we identified Ehrlichia canis in both cats and Anaplasma bovis in TLCs. The prevalence of E. canis was 12% in ICs and 8% in TLCs, and the prevalence of A. bovis was 15% in TLCs. This is the first report, to our knowledge, of B. henselae, B. clarridgeiae, E. canis, and A. bovis infections in these two endangered species. Continuous monitoring of these pathogens is needed for their conservation.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Small Animal Internal Medicine, Joint Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kagoshima University, 1-21-24 Korimoto, Kagoshima, Kagoshima 890-0065, Japan.
authors.forename: Morihiro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tateno
authors.forename: Takuma
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nishio
authors.forename: Masato
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sakuma
authors.forename: Nozomi
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Nakanishi
authors.forename: Masako
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Izawa
authors.forename: Yumiko
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Asari
authors.forename: Maki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Okamura
authors.forename: Soichi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Maruyama
authors.forename: Takako Shimokawa
authors.initials: TS
authors.lastname: Miyama
authors.forename: Asuka
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Setoguchi
authors.forename: Yasuyuki
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Endo
mesh_terms: D000709:Anaplasma / Q000145:classification / Q000302:isolation & purification; D000712:Anaplasmosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D000818:Animals; D001473:Bartonella / Q000145:classification / Q000302:isolation & purification; D001474:Bartonella Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary; D004197:Disease Reservoirs / Q000662:veterinary; D004536:Ehrlichia / Q000145:classification / Q000302:isolation & purification; D016873:Ehrlichiosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary; D056727:Endangered Species; D045989:Felidae; D007564:Japan / Q000453:epidemiology; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010802:Phylogeny; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000662:veterinary; D015995:Prevalence; D018571:Sentinel Surveillance / Q000662:veterinary*
keywords: Anaplasma; Bartonella; Ehrlichia; Iriomote cat; Tsushima leopard cat