some interesting articles

[ladycolorado]

* From: "CaliforniaLyme" <CaliforniaLyme@xxxxxx>
* Date: 13 Jan 2007 07:28:42 -0800

1: Parasitology. 2007 Jan 11;:1-5 [Epub ahead of print]The
identification of a genetically unique piroplasma in North American
river otters (Lontra canadensis).
Birkenheuer AJ, Harms CA, Neel J, Marr HS, Tucker MD, Acton AE, Tuttle
AD, Stoskopf MK.
North Carolina State University, College of Veterinary Medicine, 4700
Hillsborough Street, Raleigh, NC 27606, USAEnvironmental Medicine
Consortium, 4700 Hillsborough Street, Raleigh, NC 27606, USA.

During a routine health check of a wild-caught North American river
otter (Lontra canadensis) small piroplasms were noted within
erythrocytes. Analyses of the 18S ribosomal ribonucleic acid (rRNA)
gene sequences determined that this was a genetically unique organism
most closely related to Babesia microti-like parasites found in other
small carnivores. Subsequently 39 wild-trapped North American river
otters from North Carolina were tested for the presence of piroplasma
deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) via polymerase chain reaction and
piroplasma DNA was detected in 82% (32/39) of these samples. Sequencing
of partial 18S rRNA genes from selected cases determined that they were
identical to the sentinel case. This report documents the existence of
a genetically unique piroplasma in North American river otters and
indicates that the prevalence of piroplasma in North Carolina otters is
quite high. The pathogenic potential of this organism for otters or
other species remains unknown.

PMID: 17214914 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

[ladycolorado]

small canine piroplasms from California: Babesia conradae

* From: "CaliforniaLyme" <CaliforniaLyme@xxxxxx>
* Date: 13 Jan 2007 07:33:36 -0800

1: Vet Parasitol. 2006 May 31;138(1-2):112-7. Epub 2006 Mar 7. Links
A review of the small canine piroplasms from California: Babesia
conradae in the literature.
Kjemtrup AM, Conrad PA.
California Department of Health Services, Vector-Borne Disease Section,
1616 Capital Avenue, MS 7307, Sacramento, CA 95899-7413, USA.
akjemtru@xxxxxxxxxx

Small piroplasms as a cause of canine babesiosis in southern California
were first documented in 1990. Initially these piroplasms were
considered to be Babesia gibsoni, the only small Babesia parasite known
to infect dogs at that time. In the following decade, the use of
molecular analysis made it clear that small canine Babesia in fact are
comprised of at least three distinct species, and the isolates from
dogs in southern California were not B. gibsoni. Molecular, antigenic,
and morphological characteristics of the southern California species of
canine piroplasm supported naming it as a distinct species, Babesia
conradae. The renaming of this species prompted this literature review
of small canine piroplasms in California in order to clarify clinical,
diagnostic, epidemiological, and molecular characteristics of B.
conradae in comparison to other small canine piroplasms. Clinical
symptoms of B. conradae are similar to those of B. gibsoni; however, B.
conradae infections may be more pathogenic, resulting in higher
parasitaemia and more pronounced anaemia when compared with B.
gibsoni-infected dogs. The immunofluorescent antibody test is the most
commonly used test to diagnose B. conradae. It is important to specify
which small Babesia species to test for since there is little
serological cross reactivity between the small canine Babesia antigens
or cross-detection in the newer molecular tests. Molecular
characterization of B. conradae, based principally on the 18S small
subunit rRNA gene, and recently the second internal transcribed spacer
region, demonstrate that B. conradae is most closely related to
piroplasms recovered from humans and animals in the western United
States.

PMID: 16522352 [PubMed - in process]

.