title: Molecular survey of arthropod-borne pathogens in ticks obtained from Japanese wildcats.
abstract: The Iriomote cat (IC), Prionailurus bengalensis iriomotensis, and the Tsushima leopard cat (TLC), Prionailurus bengalensis euptilurus, are endangered subspecies of leopard cats in Japan. In addition to habitat destruction and road kills, infectious diseases may threaten their populations, and infection with arthropod-borne pathogens has been reported in both subspecies. Infestations with ectoparasites, especially ticks, have frequently been observed in ICs and TLCs. In the present study, ticks collected from captured ICs and TLCs between November 2011 and January 2012 were morphologically identified and the prevalence of the pathogens Bartonella sp., Babesia sp., Ehrlichia sp., Anaplasma sp., Hepatozoon sp., and hemoplasmas in the ticks was molecularly evaluated. The ticks Haemaphysalis longicornis, H. hystricis, and Amblyomma testudinarium were obtained from ICs, and H. megaspinosa, Ixodes tanuki, H. campanulata, and A. testudinarium were collected from TLCs. The pathogens Hepatozoon felis, Babesia sp., and Anaplasma bovis were detected in ticks obtained from ICs, while H. felis. Babesia sp., Ehrlichia sp., E. muris, 'Candidatus Mycoplasma haemominutum', and Bartonella henselae were found in ticks from TLCs. To protect and conserve these endangered animals, continuous monitoring and additional surveys will be necessary to understand the role of ticks as disease vectors in Japanese wildcats.
authors: Laboratory of Small Animal Internal Medicine, Joint Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kagoshima University, 1-21-24 Korimoto, Kagoshima 890-0065, Japan.
authors: Morihiro
authors: M
authors: Tateno
authors: Laboratory of Small Animal Internal Medicine, Joint Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kagoshima University, 1-21-24 Korimoto, Kagoshima 890-0065, Japan.
authors: Ayano
authors: A
authors: Sunahara
authors: Laboratory of Ecology and Systematics, Faculty of Science, University of the Ryukyus, 1 Senbaru, Nishihara, Okinawa 903-0213, Japan.
authors: Nozomi
authors: N
authors: Nakanishi
authors: Laboratory of Ecology and Systematics, Faculty of Science, University of the Ryukyus, 1 Senbaru, Nishihara, Okinawa 903-0213, Japan.
authors: Masako
authors: M
authors: Izawa
authors: Laboratory of Parasitology, Joint Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kagoshima University, 1-21-24 Korimoto, Kagoshima 890-0065, Japan.
authors: Tomohide
authors: T
authors: Matsuo
authors: Laboratory of Small Animal Internal Medicine, Joint Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kagoshima University, 1-21-24 Korimoto, Kagoshima 890-0065, Japan.
authors: Asuka
authors: A
authors: Setoguchi
authors: Laboratory of Small Animal Internal Medicine, Joint Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kagoshima University, 1-21-24 Korimoto, Kagoshima 890-0065, Japan. Electronic address: k5155981@kadai.jp.
authors: Yasuyuki
authors: Y
authors: Endo
mesh_terms: D000709:Anaplasma / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D000818:Animals; D001179:Arthropod Vectors / Q000145:classification / Q000382:microbiology / Q000469:parasitology; D001403:Babesia / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D001473:Bartonella / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D001483:Base Sequence; D004536:Ehrlichia / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D016783:Eucoccidiida / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D045989:Felidae / Q000469:parasitology*; D005260:Female; D007564:Japan / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010802:Phylogeny; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D013045:Species Specificity; D013984:Tick Infestations / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D013987:Ticks / Q000145:classification / Q000382:microbiology / Q000469:parasitology
keywords: Arthropod-borne disease; Iriomote cat; Leopard cat; Tick; Tsushima leopard cat