The identification of a genetically unique piroplasma in North American river otters (Lontra canadensis)

During a routine health check of a wild-caught North American river otter (Lontra canadensis) small piroplasms were noted within erythrocytes. Analyses of the 18S ribosomal ribonucleic acid (rRNA) gene sequences determined that this was a genetically unique organism most closely related to Babesia m...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Parasitology 2007-05, Vol.134 (5), p.631-635
Main Authors: BIRKENHEUER, A. J., HARMS, C. A., NEEL, J., MARR, H. S., TUCKER, M. D., ACTON, A. E., TUTTLE, A. D., STOSKOPF, M. K.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animals
Aquatic mammals
Babesia
Babesia - genetics
Babesia - isolation & purification
Base Sequence
Biological and medical sciences
Carnivores
Deoxyribonucleic acid
DNA
Freshwater
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
General aspects
General aspects and techniques. Study of several systematic groups. Models
Invertebrates
Lontra
Mammalia
Molecular Sequence Data
North America
North American river otter
Otters - parasitology
Parasites
PCR
phylogenetics
Phylogeny
Piroplasmia
Rivers
RNA, Protozoan - genetics
RNA, Ribosomal, 18S - genetics
Vertebrates: general zoology, morphology, phylogeny, systematics, cytogenetics, geographical distribution
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Summary:During a routine health check of a wild-caught North American river otter (Lontra canadensis) small piroplasms were noted within erythrocytes. Analyses of the 18S ribosomal ribonucleic acid (rRNA) gene sequences determined that this was a genetically unique organism most closely related to Babesia microti-like parasites found in other small carnivores. Subsequently 39 wild-trapped North American river otters from North Carolina were tested for the presence of piroplasma deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) via polymerase chain reaction and piroplasma DNA was detected in 82% (32/39) of these samples. Sequencing of partial 18S rRNA genes from selected cases determined that they were identical to the sentinel case. This report documents the existence of a genetically unique piroplasma in North American river otters and indicates that the prevalence of piroplasma in North Carolina otters is quite high. The pathogenic potential of this organism for otters or other species remains unknown.
ISSN:0031-1820
1469-8161
DOI:10.1017/S0031182006002095