Login | Request Account (DAF staff only)

Observation of a novel babesia spp. in eastern grey kangaroos (macropus giganteus) in australia

Share this record

Add to FacebookAdd to LinkedinAdd to XAdd to WechatAdd to Microsoft_teamsAdd to WhatsappAdd to Any

Export this record

View Altmetrics

Dawood, K. E., Morgan, J. A. T., Busfield, F., Srivastava, M., Fletcher, T. I., Sambono, J., Jackson, L. A., Venus, B., Philbey, A. W. and Lew-Tabor, A. E. (2013) Observation of a novel babesia spp. in eastern grey kangaroos (macropus giganteus) in australia. International Journal for Parasitology: Parasites and Wildlife, 2 (1). pp. 54-61. ISSN 22132244

Full text not currently attached. Access may be available via the Publisher's website or OpenAccess link.

Article Link: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ijppaw.2012.12.001

Abstract

The roles and epidemiological features of tick-borne protozoans are not well elicited in wildlife. Babesia spp. are documented in many domestic animals, including cattle, horses, pigs, dogs and cats. Three cases affecting eastern grey kangaroos are described. The kangaroos exhibited neurological signs, depression and marked anaemia, and microscopic examination of blood smears revealed intraerythrocytic piroplasms. One to seven intraerythrocytic spherical, oval, pyriform and irregularly-shaped parasites consistent with Babesia spp. were seen in the blood smears and the percentage of infected erythrocytes was estimated to be approximately 7% in each case. Data suggest that the tick vector for this kangaroo Babesia sp. is a Haemaphysalis species. For Case 2, ultrastructural examination of the erythrocytes of the renal capillaries showed parasites resembling Babesia spp. and 18 of 33 erythrocytes were infected. DNA sequencing of the amplified 18S rDNA confirmed that the observed intraerythrocytic piroplasms belong to the genus Babesia. The phylogenetic position of this new kangaroo Babesia sp. (de novo Babesia macropus), as a sister species to the new Australian woylie Babesia sp., suggests a close affinity to the described Afro-Eurasian species Babesia orientalis and Babesia occultans suggesting perhaps a common ancestor for the Babesia in kangaroos. © 2012 Australian Society for Parasitology.

Item Type:Article
Business groups:Animal Science
Additional Information: Correspondence Address: Dawood, K.E.; School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, Charles Sturt University, Wagga Wagga, NSW 2678, Australia; email: kaiser.dawood@gmail.com
Keywords:Apicomplexan Babesia Haematology Kangaroo
Subjects:Animal culture
Science > Zoology > Chordates. Vertebrates > Mammals > Marsupialia. Marsupials > Diprotodontia (Kangaroos, koalas, possums, wombats, bilbies etc)
Veterinary medicine > Veterinary parasitology
Live Archive:03 Jul 2014 02:08
Last Modified:13 Sep 2022 06:05

Repository Staff Only: item control page