Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-fscjk Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-27T21:02:51.845Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

The identification of a genetically unique piroplasma in North American river otters (Lontra canadensis)

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  11 January 2007

A. J. BIRKENHEUER ,
C. A. HARMS ,
J. NEEL ,
H. S. MARR ,
M. D. TUCKER ,
A. E. ACTON ,
A. D. TUTTLE  and
M. K. STOSKOPF
A. J. BIRKENHEUER*
Affiliation:
North Carolina State University, College of Veterinary Medicine, 4700 Hillsborough Street, Raleigh, NC 27606, USA Environmental Medicine Consortium, 4700 Hillsborough Street, Raleigh, NC 27606, USA
C. A. HARMS
Affiliation:
North Carolina State University, College of Veterinary Medicine, 4700 Hillsborough Street, Raleigh, NC 27606, USA North Carolina State University, Center for Marine Sciences and Technology, 303 College Circle, Morehead City, NC 28557, USA Environmental Medicine Consortium, 4700 Hillsborough Street, Raleigh, NC 27606, USA
J. NEEL
Affiliation:
North Carolina State University, College of Veterinary Medicine, 4700 Hillsborough Street, Raleigh, NC 27606, USA
H. S. MARR
Affiliation:
North Carolina State University, College of Veterinary Medicine, 4700 Hillsborough Street, Raleigh, NC 27606, USA
M. D. TUCKER
Affiliation:
North Carolina State University, College of Veterinary Medicine, 4700 Hillsborough Street, Raleigh, NC 27606, USA
A. E. ACTON
Affiliation:
North Carolina State University, College of Veterinary Medicine, 4700 Hillsborough Street, Raleigh, NC 27606, USA Environmental Medicine Consortium, 4700 Hillsborough Street, Raleigh, NC 27606, USA
A. D. TUTTLE
Affiliation:
North Carolina State University, Center for Marine Sciences and Technology, 303 College Circle, Morehead City, NC 28557, USA Environmental Medicine Consortium, 4700 Hillsborough Street, Raleigh, NC 27606, USA
M. K. STOSKOPF
Affiliation:
North Carolina State University, College of Veterinary Medicine, 4700 Hillsborough Street, Raleigh, NC 27606, USA North Carolina State University, Center for Marine Sciences and Technology, 303 College Circle, Morehead City, NC 28557, USA Environmental Medicine Consortium, 4700 Hillsborough Street, Raleigh, NC 27606, USA
*
*Corresponding author: North Carolina State University, College of Veterinary Medicine, Vector Borne Disease Diagnostic Laboratory, 4700 Hillsborough Street, Raleigh, NC 27606, USA. Tel: +919 513 6193. E-mail: ajbirken@ncsu.edu
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Summary

During a routine health check of a wild-caught North American river otter (Lontra canadensis) small piroplasms were noted within erythrocytes. Analyses of the 18S ribosomal ribonucleic acid (rRNA) gene sequences determined that this was a genetically unique organism most closely related to Babesia microti-like parasites found in other small carnivores. Subsequently 39 wild-trapped North American river otters from North Carolina were tested for the presence of piroplasma deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) via polymerase chain reaction and piroplasma DNA was detected in 82% (32/39) of these samples. Sequencing of partial 18S rRNA genes from selected cases determined that they were identical to the sentinel case. This report documents the existence of a genetically unique piroplasma in North American river otters and indicates that the prevalence of piroplasma in North Carolina otters is quite high. The pathogenic potential of this organism for otters or other species remains unknown.

Keywords

BabesiaNorth American river otterPCRphylogenetics
Type
Research Article
Information
Parasitology , Volume 134 , Issue 5 , May 2006 , pp. 631 - 635
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2006

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

REFERENCES

Biocca, E. and Corradetti, A. (1952). Babesia missirolii n. sp., a badger (Meles taxus) parasite. Annali dell'Istituto superiore di sanità 15, 312–314.Google Scholar
Birkenheuer, A. J., Levy, M. G. and Breitschwerdt, E. B. (2003). Development and evaluation of a seminested PCR for detection and differentiation of Babesia gibsoni (Asian genotype) and B. canis DNA in canine blood samples. Journal of Clinical Microbiology 41, 4172–4177.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Goethert, H. K. and Telford, S. R. 3rd (2003). What is Babesia microti? Parasitology 127, 301–309.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Kimber, K. R. and Kollias, G. V. 2nd (2000). Infectious and parasitic diseases and contaminant-related problems of North American river otters (Lontra canadensis): a review. Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine 31, 452–472.Google ScholarPubMed
Lebedeff, W. and Tscharnotzky, A. (1911). Ein neuer Parasit im Blute des Iltis, Microsoma mustelae. Zentralblatt für Bakteriologie, Parasitenkunde, Infektionskrankheiten und Hygiene. Zweite naturwissenschaftliche Abt.: Allgemeine, landwirtschaftliche und technische Mikrobiologie 58, 625–631.Google Scholar
Levine, N. D. (1988). The Protozoan Phylum Apicomplexa. CRC Press, Boca Raton, Fl, USA.Google Scholar
Levy, M. G. and Ristic, M. (1980). Babesia bovis: continuous cultivation in a microaerophilous stationary phase culture. Science 207, 1218–1220.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Peirce, M. A., Bray, R. S., Ashford, R. W. and Garnham, P. C. C. (1972). A piroplasm of the zorilla (Ictonyx striatus) [Babesia roubaudi-Ed.]. Bulletin de la Société de pathologie exotique et de ses filiales 65, 663–668.Google Scholar
Penzhorn, B. L. (2006). Babesiosis of wild carnivores and ungulates. Veterinary Parasitology 138, 11–21.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Tocidlowski, M. E., Spelman, L. H., Sumner, P. W. and Stoskopf, M. K. (2000). Hematology and serum biochemistry parameters of North American river otters (Lontra canadensis). Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine 31, 484–490.Google ScholarPubMed
Zahler, M., Rinder, H., Schein, E. and Gothe, R. (2000). Detection of a new pathogenic Babesia microti-like species in dogs. Veterinary Parasitology 89, 241–248.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed