Detection of Hepatozoon canis in Stray Dogs and Cats in Bangkok, Thailand

• DOI: 10.1196/annals.1373.071
• Publication Date: 2006-11-30T00:48:38Z
• Authors: SATHAPORN JITTAPA...; OPART RUNGPHISUTT...; SOICHI MARUYAMA; JOHN J. SCHAEFER; ROGER W. STICH
• Keywords: Hepatozoon; Epizootiology

Abstract: A rapidly increasing stray animal population in Bangkok has caused concern regarding transmission of vector‐borne and zoonotic diseases. The purpose this study was to determine if animals are a potential reservoir Hepatozoon , genus tick‐borne parasites that received little attention Thailand. Blood samples were collected from companion near monasteries 42 metropolitan districts. Both dogs cats sampled 26 districts, alone 4 districts 12 Samples total 308 300 cats. Light microscopy an 18 S rRNA gene‐based PCR assay used test these for evidence infection. Gamonts observed blood smears 2.6% 0.7% by microscopy. detected buffy coats 11.4% 32.3% tested. prevalence infection the same between male female or cats, PCR‐positive found 36.6% 36.8% surveyed, respectively. There association percentages where both host species sampled. Sequences representative amplicons closest those reported H. canis . These results represent first molecular confirmation is indigenous unexpectedly high among indicates their role epizootiology hepatozoonosis should be investigated.