title: Molecular detection of tick-borne pathogens in captive wild felids, Zimbabwe.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The populations of wild felids in Africa, of especially lions (Panthera leo) and cheetahs (Acinonyx jubatus), are declining and the species are classified as vulnerable to extinction by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. As infections with tick-borne pathogens (TBP) can become more of a problem in wild felids, there are relatively few studies on TBP in wild felids in Africa and on how these infections might influence population numbers.
  
  
  METHODS
  To gain further knowledge on TBP in captive wild felids in Southern Africa, we collected whole blood from captive lions, Southern African wildcats, cheetahs and servals in Zimbabwe for PCRs against the 18S rRNA gene of the piroplasmids (Babesia, Theileria, Cytauxzoon) and Hepatozoon spp., and the 16S rRNA gene of Ehrlichia and Anaplasma spp.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Overall, 78% of the lions (67/86) and all the Southern African wildcats (6/6), cheetahs (4/4) and servals (2/2) had evidence of infection with at least one organism. The organisms most commonly detected in the lions were B. leo (59%; 51/86), B. vogeli (12%; 10/86) and H. felis (11%; 9/86) while all the Southern African wildcats and servals were positive for B. vogeli and all the cheetahs were positive for B. leo. Mixed infections were found in 22% (15/67) of the PCR positive lions, most commonly B. leo and H. felis (27%; 4/15), and in 1 (50%) of the servals (B. vogeli and A. phagocytophilum). Two lions were infected with three TBP, mainly B. leo, H. canis and T. parva, and B. leo, A. phagocytophilum and T. sinensis. Mixed infections with B. vogeli and A. phagocytophilum were seen in a serval and a Southern African wildcat. Other TBP were detected at a low prevalence (≤2%) in lions, mainly H. canis, T. sinensis, T. parva, C. manul, E. canis, and E. canis-like and B. odocoilei-like organisms.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Infections with tick-borne agents are common in captive wild felids in Zimbabwe.
authors.affiliation: Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine, Basseterre, St. Kitts and Nevis. pkelly@rossvet.edu.kn.
authors.forename: Patrick
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kelly
authors.affiliation: AWARE Trust, Harare, Zimbabwe. lisa@awaretrust.org.
authors.forename: Lisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Marabini
authors.affiliation: AWARE Trust, Harare, Zimbabwe. keith@awaretrust.org.
authors.forename: Keith
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Dutlow
authors.affiliation: Jiangsu Co-innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Yangzhou University College of Animal Science and Technology, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, 225009, China. zhangjilei0103@163.com.
authors.forename: Jilei
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Midwestern University, Glendale, AZ, USA. adloftis@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Amanda
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Loftis
authors.affiliation: Jiangsu Co-innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Yangzhou University College of Animal Science and Technology, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, 225009, China. wangcm@yzu.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Chengming
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D045989:Felidae; D011529:Protozoan Infections, Animal / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology*; D017282:Tick-Borne Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000469:parasitology / Q000662:veterinary*; D015030:Zimbabwe / Q000453:epidemiology