Genetic diversity of Hepatozoon spp. in coyotes from the south-central United States

J Parasitol. 2013 Apr;99(2):375-8. doi: 10.1645/GE-3104.1. Epub 2012 Aug 27.

Abstract

To better define the strains and species of Hepatozoon that infect coyotes in the south-central United States, whole blood and muscle samples were collected from 44 coyotes from 6 locations in Oklahoma and Texas. Samples were evaluated by a nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using primers amplifying a variable region of the apicomplexan 18S rRNA gene as well as histopathology (muscle only) for presence of tissue cysts. Hepatozoon spp. infections were identified in 79.5% (35/44) of coyotes tested including 27 of 44 (61.4%) whole blood samples and 17 of 44 (38.6%) muscle samples tested by PCR and 23 of 44 (52.3%) muscle samples evaluated by histological examination. Analysis revealed 19 distinct sequences comprising 3 major clusters of Hepatozoon spp., i.e., 1 most closely related to Hepatozoon americanum, another most closely related to Hepatozoon canis , and the third an intermediate between the 2 groups. The diversity of Hepatozoon spp. in wild canids appears greater than previously recognized and warrants further investigation.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Coccidiosis / parasitology
  • Coccidiosis / veterinary*
  • Coyotes / parasitology*
  • DNA, Protozoan / chemistry
  • DNA, Protozoan / isolation & purification
  • DNA, Ribosomal / chemistry
  • Eucoccidiida / classification
  • Eucoccidiida / genetics*
  • Female
  • Genetic Variation*
  • Male
  • Muscles / parasitology
  • Oklahoma
  • Phylogeny
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction / veterinary
  • RNA, Ribosomal, 18S / genetics
  • Sequence Analysis, DNA / veterinary
  • Texas

Substances

  • DNA, Protozoan
  • DNA, Ribosomal
  • RNA, Ribosomal, 18S