Black-backed jackals (Canis mesomelas) from semi-arid rangelands in South Africa harbour Hepatozoon canis and a Theileria species but apparently not Babesia rossi

dc.contributor.authorViljoen, S.
dc.contributor.authorO'Riain, M.J.
dc.contributor.authorPenzhorn, Barend Louis
dc.contributor.authorDrouilly, M.
dc.contributor.authorVorster, Ilse
dc.contributor.authorBishop, J.M.
dc.date.accessioned2022-02-17T06:04:14Z
dc.date.issued2021-04
dc.description.abstractDespite the importance of disease as a wildlife management challenge in South Africa, baseline data on the epidemiology of pathogens occurring in free-ranging species has received little attention to date. Black-backed jackals (Canis mesomelas) are a wide-ranging, abundant carnivore with substantial economic importance due to their role in livestock depredation. They are known reservoirs hosts of Babesia rossi, a virulent pathogen in domestic dogs in sub-Saharan Africa. We investigated the prevalence and diversity of tick-borne pathogens (TPBs) including Babesia, Theileria, Hepatozoon, Ehrlichia and Anaplasma species, together with host-attached tick diversity, in a black-backed jackal population from the semi-arid Central Karoo, a small-livestock farming region in South Africa. Using reverse line blot hybridisation, we screened 43 blood samples and sequenced the 18S rRNA gene from positive samples to confirm and characterise pathogen identity using a phylogenetic framework. Hepatozoon canis, a ubiquitous pathogen of domestic and wild canids globally, was observed in 47% of jackals, while a Theileria sp. most similar to T. ovis, a piroplasm found in small livestock, was observed in 5% of jackals. No Babesia, Ehrlichia or Anaplasma species were identified, although a Sarcocystis sp. sequence was isolated from one jackal. Host-attached ticks (n = 20) comprised three species, Amblyomma marmoreum, Haemaphysalis elliptica/zumpti and Ixodes rubicundus, commonly known ticks in the region. In summary, prevalence of TBPs in black-backed jackals from this semi-arid rangeland region was lower than in jackal populations in more mesic regions. These jackals were apparently not infected with B. rossi. While this study is one of the first investigations into the epidemiology of TBPs infecting jackals and adds to the sparse literature, further studies which span landscape uses, climate conditions and seasonality are encouraged.en_ZA
dc.description.departmentCentre for Veterinary Wildlife Studiesen_ZA
dc.description.departmentVeterinary Tropical Diseasesen_ZA
dc.description.embargo2022-03-31
dc.description.librarianhj2022en_ZA
dc.description.sponsorshipInstitute for Communities and Wildlife in Africa, University of Cape Town; Foundational Biodiversity Information Programme, National Research Foundation of South Africa; University of Cape Town Science Faculty Grant and National Research Foundation of South Africa; National Research Foundation Freestanding Masters bursary and Wilderness Wildlife Trust bursary.en_ZA
dc.description.urihttps://www.elsevier.com/locate/vprsren_ZA
dc.identifier.citationViljoen, S., O'Riain, M.J., Penzhorn, B.L. et al. 2021, 'Black-backed jackals (Canis mesomelas) from semi-arid rangelands in South Africa harbour Hepatozoon canis and a Theileria species but apparently not Babesia rossi', Veterinary Parasitology: Regional Studies and Reports, vol. 24, art. 100559, pp. 1-7.en_ZA
dc.identifier.issn2405-9390 (online)
dc.identifier.other10.1016/j.vprsr.2021.100559
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/2263/84008
dc.language.isoenen_ZA
dc.publisherElsevieren_ZA
dc.rights© 2021 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. Notice : this is the author’s version of a work that was accepted for publication in Veterinary Parasitology: Regional Studies and Reports. Changes resulting from the publishing process, such as peer review, editing, corrections, structural formatting, and other quality control mechanisms may not be reflected in this document. A definitive version was subsequently published in Veterinary Parasitology: Regional Studies and Reports, vol. 24, art. 100559, pp. 1-7, 2021. doi : 10.1016/j.vprsr.2021.100559.en_ZA
dc.subjectBlack-backed jackal (Canis mesomelas)en_ZA
dc.subjectBabesia rossien_ZA
dc.subjectCanis mesomelasen_ZA
dc.subjectHepatozoon canisen_ZA
dc.subjectReverse line blot hybridisationen_ZA
dc.subjectSequencingen_ZA
dc.subjectSouth Africa (SA)en_ZA
dc.subjectTheileria ovisen_ZA
dc.subjectTick-borne pathogen (TBP)en_ZA
dc.subject.otherVeterinary science articles SDG-15en_ZA
dc.subject.otherSDG-15: Life on land
dc.titleBlack-backed jackals (Canis mesomelas) from semi-arid rangelands in South Africa harbour Hepatozoon canis and a Theileria species but apparently not Babesia rossien_ZA
dc.typePostprint Articleen_ZA

Files

Original bundle

Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
Loading...
Thumbnail Image
Name:
Viljoen_BlackBacked_2021.pdf
Size:
378.58 KB
Format:
Adobe Portable Document Format
Description:
Postprint Article

License bundle

Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
Loading...
Thumbnail Image
Name:
license.txt
Size:
1.75 KB
Format:
Item-specific license agreed upon to submission
Description: