Babesia odocoilei infection in a Saskatchewan elk (Cervus elaphus canadensis) herd

• Published in: Journal of veterinary diagnostic investigation Vol. 25; no. 4; p. 535
• Main Authors: Pattullo, Kimberly M, Wobeser, Gary, Lockerbie, Betty P, Burgess, Hilary J
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01.07.2013
• Subjects: Animals; Babesia - genetics; Babesia - isolation & purification; Babesiosis - parasitology; Babesiosis - veterinary; Base Sequence; Blood Cell Count - veterinary; Deer - parasitology; DNA, Protozoan - chemistry; DNA, Protozoan - genetics; Fatal Outcome; Female; Male; Molecular Sequence Data; Polymerase Chain Reaction - veterinary; RNA, Ribosomal, 18S - chemistry; RNA, Ribosomal, 18S - genetics; Saskatchewan; Sequence Analysis, DNA; Saskatchewan; Ixodes spp; Canada; elk; polymerase chain reaction; vector-borne disease; Babesia spp; wildlife
• ISSN: 1943-4936
• DOI: 10.1177/1040638713491746

An 8-year-old female elk (Cervus elaphus canadensis) cow, presented for chronic severe weight loss and unthriftiness, was diagnosed with Babesia odocoilei infection based on blood smear evaluation, polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and DNA sequence analysis. Subsequently, velvet antler from a male that died acutely on the same farm was also PCR positive for Babesia spp. Both animals originated from a game ranch of Saskatchewan-bred and -raised animals with no known history of tick exposure, but with a history of numerous sudden deaths of unknown etiology. The presence of B. odocoilei in Canada might be a result of a recent introduction that could have deleterious effects on local wild ungulates or may represent discovery of a previously unrecognized endemic disease in local wildlife.