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Tateno, M.; Sunahara, A.; Nakanishi, N.; Izawa, M.; Matsuo, T.; Setoguchi, A.; Endo, Y.
Molecular survey of arthropod-borne pathogens in ticks obtained from Japanese wildcats
2015  Ticks and Tick-borne Diseases (6): 281-289

The Iriomote cat (IC), _Prionailurus bengalensis iriomotensis_, and the Tsushima leopard cat (TLC), Prionailurus bengalensis euptilurus, are endangered subspecies of leopard cats in Japan. In addition to habitat destruction and road kills, infectious diseases may threaten their populations, and infection with arthropod-borne pathogens has been reported in both subspecies. Infestations with ectoparasites, especially ticks, have frequently been observed in ICs and TLCs. In the present study, ticks collected from captured ICs and TLCs between November 2011 and January 2012 were morphologically identified and the prevalence of the pathogens _Bartonella_ sp., _Babesia_ sp., _Ehrlichia_ sp., _Anaplasma_ sp., _Hepatozoon_ sp., and hemoplasmas in the ticks was molecularly evaluated. The ticks H_aemaphysalis longicornis_, _H. hystricis_, and _Amblyomma testudinarium _were obtained from ICs, and _H. megaspinosa, Ixodes tanuki_, _H. campanulata_, and _A. testudinarium _were collected from TLCs. The pathogens Hepatozoon felis, Babesia sp., and Anaplasma bovis were detected in ticks obtained from ICs, while _H. felis. Babesia _sp., _Ehrlichia_ sp.,_ E. muris_, '_Candidatus Mycoplasma haemominutum_', and _Bartonella henselae_ were found in ticks from TLCs. To protect and conserve these endangered animals, continuous monitoring and additional surveys will be necessary to understand the role of ticks as disease vectors in Japanese wildcats.

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