Epidemiological Survey of Tick-Borne Protozoal Infection in Iriomote Cats and Tsushima Leopard Cats in Japan

Morihiro TATENO; Takuma NISHIO; Tomohide MATSUO; Masato SAKUMA; Nozomi NAKANISHI; Masako IZAWA; Yumiko ASARI; Maki OKAMURA; Takako SHIMOKAWA MIYAMA; Asuka SETOGUCHI; Yasuyuki ENDO

doi:10.1292/jvms.13-0015

This article has now been updated. Please use the final version.

Epidemiological Survey of Tick-Borne Protozoal Infection in Iriomote Cats and Tsushima Leopard Cats in Japan

Morihiro TATENO, Takuma NISHIO, Tomohide MATSUO, Masato SAKUMA, Nozomi NAKANISHI, Masako IZAWA, Yumiko ASARI, Maki OKAMURA, Takako SHIMOKAWA MIYAMA, Asuka SETOGUCHI, Yasuyuki ENDO

Author information

Morihiro TATENO
Laboratory of Small Animal Internal Medicine, Joint Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kagoshima University
Takuma NISHIO
Laboratory of Small Animal Internal Medicine, Joint Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kagoshima University
Tomohide MATSUO
Laboratory of Parasitology, Joint Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kagoshima University
Masato SAKUMA
Laboratory of Small Animal Internal Medicine, Joint Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kagoshima University
Nozomi NAKANISHI
Laboratory of Ecology and Systematics, Faculty of Science, University of the Ryukyus
Masako IZAWA
Laboratory of Ecology and Systematics, Faculty of Science, University of the Ryukyus
Yumiko ASARI
Iriomote Wildlife Conservation Center, Ministry of the Environment, Japan
Maki OKAMURA
Iriomote Wildlife Conservation Center, Ministry of the Environment, Japan
Takako SHIMOKAWA MIYAMA
Veterinary Teaching Hospital, Kagoshima University
Asuka SETOGUCHI
Laboratory of Small Animal Internal Medicine, Joint Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kagoshima University
Yasuyuki ENDO
Laboratory of Small Animal Internal Medicine, Joint Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kagoshima University

Keywords: Babesia, Hepatozoon, Iriomote cat, Theileria, Tsushima leopard cat

JOURNAL FREE ACCESS Advance online publication

Article ID: 13-0015

DOI https://doi.org/10.1292/jvms.13-0015

The final version of this article is now available: Vol. 75 (2013), No. 7

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Abstract

This epidemiological survey was conducted to determine the prevalence of Hepatozoon, Babesia and Theileria infection in the Iriomote cat (IC) and the Tsushima leopard cat (TLC). Blood samples from 43 ICs and 14 TLCs were collected between November 2002 and January 2012. Polymerase chain reaction and DNA sequencing analyses detected a Hepatozoon felis infection prevalence of 72.0% (31/43 cats) and 100% (14/14 cats) in ICs and TLCs, respectively. The degree of Hepatozoon parasitemia observed on blood smears ranged from 0.1 to 4.7%. However, no cases had obvious clinical signs of hepatozoonosis. Neither Babesia- nor Theileria-infected wildcats were detected in this study.

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