Description of Babesia coryicola sp. nov. from Florida pumas (Puma concolor coryi) from southern Florida, USA

Barbara C. Shock; Håkon H. Jones; Kayla B. Garrett; Sonia M. Hernandez; Holly J. Burchfield; Katie Haman; Helen Schwantje; Sam R. Telford; Mark W. Cunningham; Michael J. Yabsley

International Journal for Parasitology: Parasites and Wildlife (Aug 2024)

Description of Babesia coryicola sp. nov. from Florida pumas (Puma concolor coryi) from southern Florida, USA

Barbara C. Shock,
Håkon H. Jones,
Kayla B. Garrett,
Sonia M. Hernandez,
Holly J. Burchfield,
Katie Haman,
Helen Schwantje,
Sam R. Telford,
Mark W. Cunningham,
Michael J. Yabsley

Affiliations

Barbara C. Shock: Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, 30602, USA; Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study, Department of Population Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, 30602, USA
Håkon H. Jones: Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study, Department of Population Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, 30602, USA
Kayla B. Garrett: Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, 30602, USA; Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study, Department of Population Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, 30602, USA
Sonia M. Hernandez: Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, 30602, USA; Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study, Department of Population Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, 30602, USA
Holly J. Burchfield: Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study, Department of Population Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, 30602, USA
Katie Haman: Wildlife Program, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, 1111 Washington Street SE, Olympia, WA, 98504, USA
Helen Schwantje: British Columbia Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations, Nanaimo, British Columbia, Canada
Sam R. Telford: Tufts University Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine, North Grafton, MA, USA
Mark W. Cunningham: Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Gainesville, FL, 32601, USA
Michael J. Yabsley: Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, 30602, USA; Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study, Department of Population Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, 30602, USA; Center for Ecology of Infectious Diseases, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, 30602, USA; Corresponding author. 589 D. W. Brooks Drive, Wildlife Health Building Athens, Georgia, 30602, USA.

Journal volume & issue: Vol. 24
p. 100963

Abstract

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Previously, a high prevalence of piroplasms has been reported from Florida pumas (Puma concolor coryi) from southern Florida. In the current study, we describe the biological characteristics of a novel Babesia species in Florida pumas. Ring-stage trophozoites were morphologically similar to trophozoites of numerous small babesids of felids including B. leo, B. felis, and Cytauxzoon felis. Parasitemias in Florida pumas were very low (<1%) and hematologic values of 25 Babesia-infected Florida pumas were within normal ranges for P. concolor. Phylogenetic analysis of near full-length 18S rRNA gene, β-tubulin, cytochrome c oxidase subunit I, cytochrome c oxidase subunit III, and cytochrome b gene sequences indicated that this Babesia species is a member of the Babesia sensu stricto clade and is related to groups of Babesia spp. from carnivores or ungulates, although the closest group varied by gene target. Internal transcribed spacer (ITS)-1 region sequences from this Babesia sp. from 19 Florida pumas were 85.7–99.5% similar to each other and ∼88% similar to B. odocoilei. Similarly, an ITS-2 sequence from one puma was 96% similar to B. bigemina and 92% similar to a Babesia sp. from a red panda (Ailurus fulgens). Infected pumas were positive for antibodies that reacted with B. odocoilei, B. canis, and B. bovis antigens with titers of 1:256, 1:128, and 1:128, respectively. No serologic reactivity was noted for Theileria equi. No molecular evidence of congenital infection was detected in 24 kittens born to 11 Babesia-infected female pumas. Pumas from other populations in the United States [Louisiana (n = 1), North Dakota (n = 5) and Texas (n = 28)], British Columbia, Canada (n = 9), and Costa Rica (n = 2) were negative for this Babesia sp. Collectively, these data provide morphologic, serologic, genetic, and natural history data for this novel Babesia sp. which we propose the name Babesia coryicola sp. nov. sp. This is the first description of a felid-associated Babesia species in North America.

Published in International Journal for Parasitology: Parasites and Wildlife

ISSN: 2213-2244 (Online)
Publisher: Elsevier
Country of publisher: Netherlands
LCC subjects: Science: Zoology
Website: http://www.journals.elsevier.com/international-journal-for-parasitology-parasites-and-wildlife/

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