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Hodzic, A.; Alic, A.; Prasovic, S.; Otranto, D.; Baneth, G.; Duscher, G.G.
_Hepatozoon silvestris_ sp. nov.: morphological and molecular characterization of a new species of _Hepatozoon_ from the European wild cat
2017  Parasitology (144 ): 650-661

Based on morphological and genetic characteristics, we describe a new species of _Hepatozoon _in the European wild cat (_Felis silvestris silvestris_), herein named _Hepatozoon silvestris _sp. nov. The study also provides the first data on the occurrence of _H. felis_in this wild felid. _Hepatozoon _meronts were observed in multiple cross-sections of different organs of four (44%) cats. Additionally, extracellular forms, resembling mature gamonts of _Hepatozoon_, were found in the spleen and myocardium of two cats. Furthermore, tissues of six animals (67%) were positive by PCR. _Hepatozoon felis _was identified infecting one cat (11%), whereas the 18S rRNA sequences of the remaining five cats (56%) were identical, but distinct from the sequences of _H. felis_. Phylogenetic analyses revealed that those sequences form a highly supported clade distant from other _Hepatozoon _spp. Future studies should include domestic cats from the areas where the wild cats positive for _H. silvestris _sp. nov. were found, in order to investigate their potential role to serve as intermediate hosts of this newly described species. Identification of its definitive host(s) and experimental transmission studies are required for elucidating the full life cycle of this parasite and the possible alternative routes of its transmission.

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