Molecular Epidemiologic Survey of Bartonella, Ehrlichia, and Anaplasma Infections in Japanese Iriomote and Tsushima Leopard Cats

Abstract

ABSTRACT:The Iriomote cat (IC; Prionailurus iriomotensis) and the Tsushima leopard cat (TLC; Prionailurus bengalensis euptilura) are endangered wild felids in Japan. As a part of ongoing conservation activities, we conducted a molecular, epidemiologic survey of Bartonella, Ehrlichia, and Anaplasma infections in wild IC and TLC populations. Blood samples (47 from 33 individual IC; 22 from 13 TLC) were collected between August 2002 and January 2011. Using PCR analysis, we confirmed the presence of Bartonella henselae in ICs and Bartonella clarridgeiae in TLCs, with prevalences of 6% and 8%, respectively. Using PCR and basic local alignment search tool analyses, we identified Ehrlichia canis in both cats and Anaplasma bovis in TLCs. The prevalence of E. canis was 12% in ICs and 8% in TLCs, and the prevalence of A. bovis was 15% in TLCs. This is the first report, to our knowledge, of B. henselae, B. clarridgeiae, E. canis, and A. bovis infections in these two endangered species. Continuous monitoring of these pathogens is needed for their conservation.

Molecular survey of arthropod-borne pathogens in ticks obtained from Japanese wildcats

“…4). In our previous study, we detected E. canis in blood samples from both ICs and TLCs, but E. muris has not been previously detected in both subspecies of wildcat (Tateno et al, 2013b). Although the prevalence of Ehrlichia in Japanese wildcats was updated in this study, E. muris infection was not detected (Tables 2 and 3).…”

“…We performed molecular screening for Hemoplasma, Bartonella, Ehrlichia, and Anaplasma on blood samples from the current study to determine the prevalence of these pathogens in the samples collected during the November 2011 through January 2012 study period. The methods used for pathogen detection were identical to those previously described (Hirata et al, 2012;Tateno et al, 2013b). However, the sampling period for the study by Tateno et al (2013a) included that of the present study and both of studies shared blood samples collected during overlapping sampling periods.…”

“…Hirata et al (2012) and Tateno et al (2013b) only analyzed blood samples that were collected before January 2011 and all of these samples were different from the ones that were collected and used in the present study. We performed molecular screening for Hemoplasma, Bartonella, Ehrlichia, and Anaplasma on blood samples from the current study to determine the prevalence of these pathogens in the samples collected during the November 2011 through January 2012 study period.…”

SEROLOGICAL EVIDENCE OF EXPOSURE TO Ehrlichia canis IN CATS

“…has been described in wild and domestic felids in various regions of the world, through hematoscopy, serology, and molecular techniques, feline ehrlichiosis being caused especially by E. canis (7)(8)(9)(10)(11)(12)(13)(14)(15)(16) . However, most surveys regarding E. canis occur in dogs and the reports about its occurrence in cats still remain scarce (4) .…”

Divergence of the TRP36 protein (gp36) in Ehrlichia canis strains found in Brazil

“…For instance infections of felines by E. canis have been reported in Japan (Tateno et al, 2013), Portugal (Maia et al, 2014) and Spain (Aguirre et al, 2004). Since there is a major antibody epitope in the TR region, this finding suggests that TRP36 is under a higher level of selective pressure, which is likely associated with the host's immune response.…”