Short Communication

Screening for Hepatozoon parasites in gerbils and potential predators in South Africa

D. James Harris, Ana Pereira, Ali Halajian, Wilmien J. Luus-Powell, Katlego D. Kunutu
Journal of the South African Veterinary Association | Vol 88 | a1339 | DOI: https://doi.org/10.4102/jsava.v88i0.1339 | © 2017 D. James Harris, Ana Pereira, Ali Halajian, Wilmien J. Luus-Powell, Katlego D. Kunutu | This work is licensed under Other
Submitted: 09 September 2015 | Published: 08 February 2017

About the author(s)

D. James Harris, Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, Universidade do Porto, Portugal
Ana Pereira, Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, Universidade do Porto, Portugal
Ali Halajian, Department of Biodiversity, University of Limpopo, South Africa
Wilmien J. Luus-Powell, Department of Biodiversity, University of Limpopo
Katlego D. Kunutu, Department of Biodiversity, University of Limpopo, South Africa

Abstract

Samples of gerbils and their potential predators were screened for the presence of Hepatozoon parasites (Apicomplexa: Adeleorina) using both microscopic examination and sequencing of partial 18S rRNA sequences. Positive samples were compared to published sequences in a phylogenetic framework. The results indicate that genets can be infected with Hepatozoon felis. A Cape fox was infected with Hepatozoon canis, whereas the sequence from an infected rodent fell within a group of parasites primarily recovered from other rodents and snakes.


Keywords

Gerbil; Hepatozoon; Hepatozoon felis; Hepatozoon canis; Gerbilliscus leucogaster; 18s rRNA

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