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Lopez-Rebollar, L.M.; Penzhorn, B.L.; de Waal, D.T.; Lewis, B.D.
A possible new piroplasm in lions from the Republic of South Africa
1999 Journal of Wildlife Diseases (35): 82-85
A small piroplasm was detected in blood smears from lions (_Panthera leo_) in the Kruger National Park (KNP; Republic of South Africa) during 1991/1992. The parasite was identified provisionally as _Babesia felis_, but sera from these lions tested negative to _B. felis_ antigen in the indirect immunofluorescent antibody test (IFAT). Blood from an infected lion was subsequently subinoculated into a domestic cat and two leopards in an attempt to identify the parasite. A lion also was infected with _B. felis_ (from a cat). Serum samples collected from these animals were tested against _B. felis_, the KNP small piroplasm, and _Cytauxzoon felis_ antigen in the IFAT. The serological results indicate that the KNP small piroplasm isolated from the lion is probably a distinct species from _B. felis_ and _C. felis_.
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