Molecular detection of Hepatozoon canis in dogs and ticks in Shaanxi province, China. (October 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Guo, Wen-Ping; Xie, Guang-Cheng; Xue, Zhong-Qiang; Yu, Jiao-Jiao; Jian, Rui; Du, Luan-Ying; Li, Ya-Ning
• Is Part Of: Comparative immunology, microbiology and infectious diseases. Volume 72(2020)
• Publication Date: 2020-10
• Subjects: Hepatozoon canis -- 18S rRNA -- Dogs -- Molecular detection -- Phylogenetic analysis -- Haemaphysalis longicornis; Communicable diseases in animals -- Periodicals; Veterinary immunology -- Periodicals; Veterinary microbiology -- Periodicals; Immunology -- Periodicals; Microbiology -- Periodicals; Communicable diseases -- Periodicals; Communicable Diseases -- immunology -- Periodicals; Communicable Diseases -- veterinary -- Periodicals; Allergy and Immunology -- Periodicals; Microbiology -- Periodicals; Veterinary Medicine -- Periodicals; Immunologie -- Périodiques; Microbiologie -- Périodiques; Maladies infectieuses -- Périodiques; Communicable diseases; Immunology; Microbiology; Electronic journals; Periodicals; 636.08969
• DOI: 10.1016/j.cimid.2020.101514
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0147-9571

Abstract

Highlights: Hepatozoon canis was identified in sick dogs and ticks in Hanzhong, China. Nearly complete18S rRNA gene sequences were obtained from both dogs and ticks. All these sequences herein showed a high genetic similarity with each other. Abstract: Hepatozoon canis, transmitted by Rhipicephalus sanguineus, is a tick-borne pathogen and causes canine hepatozoonosis. Until now, only limited previous studies were conducted on the molecular detection and characterization of Hepatozoon sp. in dogs in China. Blood samples were collected from 93 sick dogs that were clinically diagnosed as babesiosis but tested negative for Babesia, and 103 apparently healthy dogs, as well as their infesting ticks in Xi'an and Hanzhong cities, Shaanxi province of China. PCR amplifying partial 18S rRNA gene was used to detect the DNA of Hepatozoon sp. Genetic and phylogenetic analysis were performed to determine the Hepatozoon species. Our results demonstrated that H. canis was identified from the sick dogs and the infested ticks in Hanzhong, with no significant differences of prevalence between both genders and ages. No positive blood or tick samples were found in Xi'an. Moreover, all the 18S rRNA gene sequences recovered from both dogs and the infested ticks showed a high genetic similarity with each other, and also presented a close relationship with other known sequences in and outside China. In conclusion, H. canis was identified in babesiosis-suspected dogs and ticks infesting them in Shaanxi, China, although the association between clinical signs and H. canis need further study.