Babesia microti-Like Parasites Detected in Eurasian Red Squirrels (Sciurus vulgaris orientis) in Hokkaido, Japan

Journal of Veterinary Medical Science

Takako KAWABUCHI²  Tomomi KATAOKA¹  Aya ZAMOTO²  Mitsuhiko ASAKAWA²  Rui NAKAJIMA²  Masayoshi TSUJI²  Chiaki ISHIHARA² 

[1] Tama Forest Science Garden, Forestry and Forest Products Research Institute;School of Veterinary Medicine, Rakuno Gakuen University

关键词: Babesia microti;    Eurasian red squirrel;    Hokkaido;    Sciurus vulgaris;    Zoonosis;   

DOI  :  10.1292/jvms.68.643

学科分类：兽医学

来源: Japanese Society of Veterinary Science

【 摘 要 】

References(13)Cited-By(6)Six Eurasian red squirrels (Sciurus vulgaris orientis), victims of road traffic found during 2002 and 2004 near the Noppro Forest Park in Ebetsu, Hokkaido, Japan, were examined for the presence of Babesia parasites. Three of the six squirrels exhibited positive signals by nested PCRs targeting both the 18S rRNA and β-tubulin genes. Three squirrels proved to be infected with a B. microti-like parasite as evidenced by sequencing the amplified DNAs and by the morphology of the intraerythrocytic parasites. Genotypically, however, the parasite appeared to be of a new type, as it was clearly distinguishable from any of the known types that have previously been reported in various wild animals. This is the first report showing molecular evidence for the presence of B. microti-like parasites in Sciuridae.

【 授权许可】

Unknown