J Vet Sci.  2015 Sep;16(3):385-388. 10.4142/jvs.2015.16.3.385.

Anaplasma sp. and hemoplasma infection in leopard cats (Prionailurus bengalensis euptilurus) from Korea

• Hwang J
• Oh DH
• Lee H
• Chun MS

• KMID: 2344313
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4142/jvs.2015.16.3.385

Abstract

This study examined the occurrence of Anaplasma spp. and hemoplasma infection in leopard cats, Prionailurus bengalensis euptilurus, in Korea. Twenty-nine biological samples were tested by molecular analysis. Two (6.9%) and eight (27.6%) tested specimens were positive for Anaplasma bovis and hemoplasma infection, respectively. Based on our results, Anaplasma/Ehrlichia spp. and hemoplasma are regularly infecting leopard cat populations of Korea. Considering their endangered status, regular monitoring of infection by arthropod-borne pathogens known to cause clinical symptoms in feline hosts such as Anaplasma/Ehrlichia spp. and hemoplasma would be crucial as part of ongoing conservation efforts.

Keyword

Anaplasma bovis; arthropod-borne pathogens; endangered species; hemoplasma; leopard cats

MeSH Terms

Anaplasma/*isolation & purification
Anaplasmosis/*epidemiology/microbiology
Animals
DNA, Bacterial/genetics
*Felidae
Molecular Sequence Data
Mycoplasma/*isolation & purification
Mycoplasma Infections/epidemiology/microbiology/*veterinary
Phylogeny
Polymerase Chain Reaction/veterinary
RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics
Republic of Korea/epidemiology
Sequence Analysis, DNA/veterinary
DNA, Bacterial
RNA, Ribosomal, 16S

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1 Phylogenetic tree of the partial 16S rRNA gene sequences of Anaplasma (A.) bovis isolated from this study (bold font) and other related Anaplasma spp. sequences from the GenBank database. Sequences used for comparison were as follows: A. bovis sequences from a leopard cat (Prionailurus bengalensis euptilurus; AB983439), raccoon (Procyon lotor; GU937020), Hokkaido bear (Ursus arctos lasiotus; JN811557), domestic dog (Canis lupus familiaris; HM131218) and a red deer (Cervus elaphus; KJ659043) in Japan, as well as from a goat (Capra aegagrus hircus; HQ913646) in China and two sequences from Haemaphysalis longicornis in Korea (KC311347, EU181143). In addition, an A. platys sequence from a domestic dog (Canis lupus familiaris; EF139459) in Thailand, as well as A. phagocytophilum sequences from a Korean water deer (Hydropotes inermis argyropus; GU556625) and a domestic dog (EU409557) in Korea and A. centrale and A. marginale from cattle in Japan (AF283007, FJ226454, respectively) were included in the tree. The numbers on the tree indicate bootstrap values for the branch points.

• 

  Fig. 2 Phylogenetic tree of the partial 16S rRNA gene sequences of hemoplasmas isolated from this study (bold font) and related mycoplasmas from GenBank database. Sequences used for comparison were as follows: Candidatus M. haemominutum sequences from a domestic cat (Felis catus; EU839983) and an European wild cat (Felis silvestris silvestris; DQ825442), Candidatus M. haematoparvum from a domestic dog (Canis lupus familiaris; EF416569), Mycoplasma (M.) suis from a pig (Sus scrofa domesticus; AY492086), M. haemofelis from a domestic cat (DQ157160) and an Eurasian lynx (Lynx lynx; DQ825458), Candidatus M. turicensis from an Iriomote cat (Prionailurus bengalensis iriomotensis; AB697739) and a domestic cat (DQ464421), and M. haemomuris or M. haemomuris-like sequences from brown rats (Rattus norvegicus; AB820289, AB752303, respectively). The numbers on the tree indicate bootstrap values for the branch points.

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