First detection and molecular identification of Babesia sp . from the giant panda, Ailuropoda melanoleuca , in China
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Parasites & Vectors Open Access
RESEARCH
First detection and molecular identification of Babesia sp. from the giant panda, Ailuropoda melanoleuca, in China Chanjuan Yue1†, Zeshuai Deng1†, Dunwu Qi1, Yunli Li1, Wenlei Bi1, Rui Ma1, Guangyou Yang2, Xue Luo2, Rong Hou1* and Songrui Liu1*
Abstract Background: Parasitic infections are among the important causes of death of giant pandas (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) that hamper their survival in the wild. There are about 35 species of parasites which have been identified in giant pandas, but no information is currently available regarding the infection of Babesia in giant pandas. Babesia spp. are common intraerythrocytic parasite in wildlife, transmitted by ixodid ticks, which cause babesiosis. Clinical signs of babesiosis include fever, hemolysis, anemia, jaundice and death. Methods: A species of Babesia was detected in the blood of a giant panda based on morphology and PCR amplification of the 18S rRNA gene. The phylogenetic relationship of Babesia sp. infecting giant panda was assessed by gene sequence alignment and phylogenetic analysis. Results: Our analysis revealed that the Babesia isolate detected was most similar to an unidentified species of Babesia identified in black bears (Ursus thibetanus japonicus) from Japan (Babesia sp. Iwate, AB586027.1) with a 99.56% sequence similarity, followed by Babesia sp. EBB (AB566229.1, 99.50%) and Babesia sp. Akita (AB566229.1, 99.07%). Conclusions: To our knowledge, this is the first report of Babesia detected in the giant panda. The results indicate that this Babesia sp. may be a novel species, currently named Babesia sp. strain EBP01. Keywords: Babesia, Giant panda, ailuropoda melanoleuca, Phylogenetic tree, 18S rRNA gene
Background Babesia spp. are intraerythrocytic apicomplexan protozoan parasites known to infect wild and domestic animals and humans [1]. With a near global distribution, over 120 species of Babesia have been identified, most of which are transmitted by ixodid ticks [2]. These protozoan parasites are not strictly host-specific and this *Correspondence: [email protected]; [email protected] † Chanjuan Yue and Zeshuai Deng contributed equally to this work 1 Sichuan Key Laboratory of Conservation Biology for Endangered Wildlife, Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, Sichuan Academy of Giant Panda, 1375 Panda Road, Chenghua District 610081, Sichuan, China Full list of author information is available at the end of the article
has contributed to the growing list of new species, with several Babesia species having been found to infect both animals and humans. Most cases of human babesiosis are caused by B. microti, B. divergens, B. venatorum and B. duncani and several unnamed species [3]. Geographically, Babesia spp. are widely distributed on all continents except Antarctica, especially in tropical and subtropical temperate zones. The clinical presentation of a Babesia infection is termed ‘babesiosis,’ with signs consistent with parasite entry into and destruction of erythrocytes. Typical clinical signs
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