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Kelly, P.; Marabini, L.; Dutlow, K.; Zhang, J.; Loftis, A.; Wang, C.
Molecular detection of tick-borne pathogens in captive wild felids, Zimbabwe
2014  Parasites & Vectors (7): 514-519

The populations of wild felids in Africa, of especially lions (_Panthera leo_) and cheetahs (_Acinonyx jubatus_), are declining and the species are classified as vulnerable to extinction by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. As infections with tick-borne pathogens (TBP) can become more of a problem in wild felids, there are relatively few studies on TBP in wild felids in Africa and on how these infections might influence population numbers. To gain further knowledge on TBP in captive wild felids in Southern Africa, we collected whole blood from captive lions, Southern African wildcats, cheetahs and servals in Zimbabwe for PCRs against the 18S rRNA gene of the piroplasmids (_Babesia_, _Theileria_, _Cytauxzoon_) and _Hepatozoon_ spp., and the 16S rRNA gene of _Ehrlichia_ and _Anaplasma_ spp. Overall, 78% of the lions (67/86) and all the Southern African wildcats (6/6), cheetahs (4/4) and servals (2/2) had evidence of infection with at least one organism. The organisms most commonly detected in the lions were _B. leo_ (59%; 51/86), _B. vogeli_ (12%; 10/86) and H. felis (11%; 9/86) while all the Southern African wildcats and servals were positive for B. vogeli and all the cheetahs were positive for _B. leo_. Mixed infections were found in 22% (15/67) of the PCR positive lions, most commonly _B. leo_ and _H. felis_ (27%; 4/15), and in 1 (50%) of the servals (_B. vogeli_ and _A. phagocytophilum_). Two lions were infected with three TBP, mainly _B. leo_, _H. canis_ and _T. parva_, and _B. leo_, _A. phagocytophilum_ and _T. sinensis_. Mixed infections with _B. vogeli_ and _A. phagocytophilum_ were seen in a serval and a Southern African wildcat. Other TBP were detected at a low prevalence (=2%) in lions, mainly _H. canis_, _T. sinensis_, _T. parva_, _C. manul_, _E. canis_, and _E. canis-_like and _B. odocoilei_-like organisms. Infections with tick-borne agents are common in captive wild felids in Zimbabwe.

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