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

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  11 January 2007

A. J. BIRKENHEUER ,
C. A. HARMS ,
J. NEEL ,
H. S. MARR ,
M. D. TUCKER ,
A. E. ACTON ,
A. D. TUTTLE  and
M. K. STOSKOPF
A. J. BIRKENHEUER*
Affiliation:
North Carolina State University, College of Veterinary Medicine, 4700 Hillsborough Street, Raleigh, NC 27606, USA Environmental Medicine Consortium, 4700 Hillsborough Street, Raleigh, NC 27606, USA
C. A. HARMS
Affiliation:
North Carolina State University, College of Veterinary Medicine, 4700 Hillsborough Street, Raleigh, NC 27606, USA North Carolina State University, Center for Marine Sciences and Technology, 303 College Circle, Morehead City, NC 28557, USA Environmental Medicine Consortium, 4700 Hillsborough Street, Raleigh, NC 27606, USA
J. NEEL
Affiliation:
North Carolina State University, College of Veterinary Medicine, 4700 Hillsborough Street, Raleigh, NC 27606, USA
H. S. MARR
Affiliation:
North Carolina State University, College of Veterinary Medicine, 4700 Hillsborough Street, Raleigh, NC 27606, USA
M. D. TUCKER
Affiliation:
North Carolina State University, College of Veterinary Medicine, 4700 Hillsborough Street, Raleigh, NC 27606, USA
A. E. ACTON
Affiliation:
North Carolina State University, College of Veterinary Medicine, 4700 Hillsborough Street, Raleigh, NC 27606, USA Environmental Medicine Consortium, 4700 Hillsborough Street, Raleigh, NC 27606, USA
A. D. TUTTLE
Affiliation:
North Carolina State University, Center for Marine Sciences and Technology, 303 College Circle, Morehead City, NC 28557, USA Environmental Medicine Consortium, 4700 Hillsborough Street, Raleigh, NC 27606, USA
M. K. STOSKOPF
Affiliation:
North Carolina State University, College of Veterinary Medicine, 4700 Hillsborough Street, Raleigh, NC 27606, USA North Carolina State University, Center for Marine Sciences and Technology, 303 College Circle, Morehead City, NC 28557, USA Environmental Medicine Consortium, 4700 Hillsborough Street, Raleigh, NC 27606, USA
*
*Corresponding author: North Carolina State University, College of Veterinary Medicine, Vector Borne Disease Diagnostic Laboratory, 4700 Hillsborough Street, Raleigh, NC 27606, USA. Tel: +919 513 6193. E-mail: ajbirken@ncsu.edu
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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.

Keywords

BabesiaNorth American river otterPCRphylogenetics
Type
Research Article
Information
Parasitology , Volume 134 , Issue 5 , May 2006 , pp. 631 - 635
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2006

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References

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