Genetic Diversity of Hepatozoonspp. in Coyotes from the South-Central United States

• Published in: The Journal of parasitology Vol. 99; no. 2; pp. 375 - 378
• Main Authors: Starkey, Lindsay A, Panciera, Roger J, Paras, Kelsey, Allen, Kelly E, Reiskind, Michael H, Reichard, Mason V, Johnson, Eileen M, Little, Susan E
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: American Society of Parasitologists 01.04.2013
• Subjects: Hepatozoon; Hepatozoon americanum; Hepatozoon canis; RESEARCH NOTES
• ISSN: 0022-3395; 1937-2345
• DOI: 10.1645/GE-3104.1

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.