IUCN / SSC Cat Specialist Group - Digital Cat Library
   

 

View printer friendly
Panait, L.C.; Mihalca, A.D.; Modry, D.; Jur nkov , J.; Ionica, A.M.; Deak, G.; Gherman, C.M.; Heddergott, M.; Hodzic, A.; Veronesi, F.; Reichard, M.; Zieman, E.A.; Nielsen, C.K.; Jim‚nez-Ruiz, F.A.; Hrazdilov , K.
Three new species of _Cytauxzoon _in European wild felids
2021  Veterinary Parasitology (290): 109344

Protists of the genus _Cytauxzoon_ infect a wide variety of wild and domestic felids worldwide. While the American _Cytauxzoon felis_ has been well described, data on the European isolates of _Cytauxzoon_ are still scant. The aim of the current study was to determine the genetic diversity of European _Cytauxzoon_ spp. in wild felids across Europe by analyzing one nuclear and two mitochondrial genes, along with representative complete mitochondrial genomes. Overall, 106 biological samples from wild felids (92 from _Felis silvestris_ and 14 from _Lynx lynx_) from Germany, Romania, Czech Republic, and Luxembourg were collected and screened for the presence of _Cytauxzoon_ spp. using nested PCR protocols, targeting the highly conserved 18S rDNA, mitochondrial cytochrome b (CytB) and cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) genes. Furthermore, 18 previously confirmed wild felid biological samples from Europe, and comparative material from USA positive for _C. felis_, were included in the study. In 18S rDNA sequences analyses, _Cytauxzoon_ spp. from felids formed two separate clades of New World and Old World isolates, with a low inner diversity of the European clade. In contrast to 18S rDNA, the phylogenetic analyses of CytB and COI genes affirmatively revealed three highly supported clades, resulting in three defined genotypes. Similar intra- and interspecific variability of CytB and COI genes was observed in the case of different _Babesia_ spp. Considering geography, host species and analyses of three genes, we conclude that the three detected genotypes of _Cytauxzoon_ in European wild felids represent three new species, which we herein describe.

PDF files are only accessible to Friends of the Cat Group. Joining Friends of the Cat Group gives you unlimited access and downloads in the Cat SG Library for one year, and allows you to receive our newsletter Cat News (2 regular issues per year plus special issues). More information how to join here

 

(c) IUCN/SSC Cat Specialist Group ( IUCN - The World Conservation Union)