Babesia lengau sp. nov., a Novel Babesia Species in Cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus, Schreber, 1775) Populations in South Africa

SUMMARYBartonellae are blood- and vector-borne Gram-negative bacteria, recognized as emerging pathogens. Whole-blood samples were collected from 58 free-ranging lions (Panthera leo) in South Africa and 17 cheetahs (Acinonyx jubatus) from Namibia. Blood samples were also collected from 11 cheetahs (more than once for some of them) at the San Diego Wildlife Safari Park. Bacteria were isolated from the blood of three (5%) lions, one (6%) Namibian cheetah and eight (73%) cheetahs from California. The lionBartonellaisolates were identified asB. henselae(two isolates) andB. koehleraesubsp.koehlerae. The Namibian cheetah strain was close but distinct from isolates from North American wild felids and clustered betweenB. henselaeandB. koehlerae. It should be considered as a new subspecies ofB. koehlerae. All the Californian semi-captive cheetah isolates were different fromB. henselaeorB. koehleraesubsp.koehleraeand from the Namibian cheetah isolate. They were also distinct from the strains isolated from Californian mountain lions (Felis concolor) and clustered with strains ofB. koehleraesubsp.bothieriisolated from free-ranging bobcats (Lynx rufus) in California. Therefore, it is likely that these captive cheetahs became infected by an indigenous strain for which bobcats are the natural reservoir.

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Intrinsic factors, adrenal gland morphology, and disease burden in captive cheetahs (Acinonyx jubatus) in South Africa

Zoo Biology ◽

10.1002/zoo.21341 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 36 (1) ◽

pp. 40-49 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Nina Gillis-Germitsch ◽

Pamela-Rose Vybiral ◽

Daryl Codron ◽

Marcus Clauss ◽

Antoinette Kotze ◽

...

Keyword(s):

South Africa ◽

Adrenal Gland ◽

Disease Burden ◽

Acinonyx Jubatus ◽

Intrinsic Factors

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Large-scale distribution patterns of carnivores in northern South Africa: implications for conservation and monitoring

Oryx ◽

10.1017/s0030605311000123 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 45 (4) ◽

pp. 579-586 ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

Michelle Thorn ◽

Matthew Green ◽

Mark Keith ◽

Kelly Marnewick ◽

Philip W. Bateman ◽

...

Keyword(s):

South Africa ◽

Large Scale ◽

Extinction Risk ◽

Spatial Scales ◽

Rapid Assessment ◽

Distribution Patterns ◽

Distribution Data ◽

Acinonyx Jubatus ◽

Baseline Information ◽

Local Range

AbstractAccurate assessment of carnivore population status is frequently hindered by insufficient distribution data. For northern South Africa we address this deficit by mapping new records from landscape-scale sign surveys, questionnaire interviews, problem animal records and camera trapping. The black-backed jackal Canis mesomelas and caracal Caracal caracal remain common and widespread. Ranges of the serval Leptailurus serval and brown hyaena Hyaena brunnea were much larger than previous estimates, reducing the risk of simultaneous extirpation across all occupied locations. The proportion of range area occupied was larger for several species, notably the leopard Panthera pardus, cheetah Acinonyx jubatus and serval. We conclude that the serval continues to recover from historical threats and is expanding into new areas. A larger brown hyaena range and less fragmented pattern of occurrence probably confers greater resilience to threats than was suggested by previous data. Reduced extinction risk arising from the increased area occupied by the cheetah and leopard is tempered by probable local range contraction. Our maps provide baseline information for monitoring the distribution of these six species, which is essential in managing ecological issues that have a spatial component such as responses to changing land use. Our results also demonstrate the utility of detection/non-detection surveys in rapid assessment of carnivore populations at large spatial scales.

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Suspected lead poisoning in two captive cheetahs (Acinonyx jubatus jubatus) in South Africa, in 2008 and 2013

Journal of the South African Veterinary Association ◽

10.4102/jsava.v86i1.1286 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 86 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Michelle A. North ◽

Emily P. Lane ◽

Kelly Marnewick ◽

Peter Caldwell ◽

Glen Carlisle ◽

...

Keyword(s):

South Africa ◽

Case Report ◽

Lead Poisoning ◽

Common Knowledge ◽

Clinical Signs ◽

Acute Onset ◽

Large Carnivores ◽

Acinonyx Jubatus ◽

Game Birds ◽

Lead Levels

Whilst lead poisoning in raptors, scavenging birds and waterfowl is well studied and common knowledge, there is surprisingly little literature detailing the risk to mammalian scavengers and captive carnivores fed hunted meat. This case report describes the death of two captive cheetahs (Acinonyx jubatus jubatus) following acute onset of nervous symptoms. Clinical signs included hyper-excitability, seizures, arched back, tail held abnormally high and hyper-salivation. Necropsy findings included bullets or a bullet in their stomachs. Kidney and liver lead levels from one cheetah (15.6 ppm and 17 ppm respectively) were consistent with a diagnosis of lead poisoning; liver from the second cheetah was not available for testing. Both animals were routinely fed hunted antelope or game birds. This is the first report of oral lead poisoning in captive large carnivores, although these are unlikely to be the first cases. Without awareness of the risks of feeding hunted game, lead exposure will continue to be an underdiagnosed reality in the rehabilitation of endangered carnivores.

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Home Ranges of Cheetahs (Acinonyx jubatus) Outside Protected Areas in South Africa

African Journal of Wildlife Research ◽

10.3957/056.045.0223 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 45 (2) ◽

pp. 223-232 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Kelly Marnewick ◽

Michael J. Somers

Keyword(s):

South Africa ◽

Protected Areas ◽

Home Ranges ◽

Acinonyx Jubatus

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Piroplasms in brown hyaenas (Parahyaena brunnea) and spotted hyaenas (Crocuta crocuta) in Namibia and South Africa are closely related to Babesia lengau

Parasitology Research ◽

10.1007/s00436-016-5334-5 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 116 (2) ◽

pp. 685-692 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Richard E.J. Burroughs ◽

Barend L. Penzhorn ◽

Ingrid Wiesel ◽

Nancy Barker ◽

Ilse Vorster ◽

...

Keyword(s):

South Africa ◽

Crocuta Crocuta ◽

Babesia Lengau

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Minimum prey and area requirements of the Vulnerable cheetah Acinonyx jubatus: implications for reintroduction and management of the species in South Africa

Oryx ◽

10.1017/s003060531000150x ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 45 (4) ◽

pp. 587-599 ◽

Cited By ~ 29

Author(s):

P. Lindsey ◽

C.J. Tambling ◽

R. Brummer ◽

H. Davies-Mostert ◽

M. Hayward ◽

...

Keyword(s):

South Africa ◽

Carrying Capacity ◽

Crocuta Crocuta ◽

Large Area ◽

Lycaon Pictus ◽

Acinonyx Jubatus ◽

Stochastic Events ◽

Wild Dogs ◽

Free Ranging ◽

Careful Management

AbstractIn South Africa there are efforts to manage reintroduced subpopulations of the Vulnerable cheetah Acinonyx jubatus in small reserves (10–1,000 km2) as a managed metapopulation. We estimated areas required to support cheetahs given varying prey densities, prey profiles and presence/absence of competing predators. A recent population and habitat viability assessment indicated that 20 subpopulations of 10 cheetahs or 10 subpopulations of 15 cheetahs are required to retain 90% of the heterozygosity of free-ranging cheetahs and to overcome stochastic events in the absence or presence of lions Panthera leo, respectively. We estimate that 203 ± SE 42 km2 (range 48–466 km2) is required to support 10 cheetahs in the absence of lions, whereas 703 ± SE 311 km2 (166–2,806 km2) is required to support 15 cheetahs given equal numbers of lions, and 2,424 ± SE 890 km2 (727–3,739 km2) given equal numbers of leopards Panthera pardus, spotted hyaenas Crocuta crocuta, wild dogs Lycaon pictus and lions. Existing subpopulations of cheetahs generally occur at densities higher than our mean predicted densities but usually within the range of predicted densities. The large area requirements of cheetahs have implications for the development of the managed metapopulation. Sourcing reintroduction sites of the sizes required to support recommended subpopulation sizes will be difficult. Consequently, innovative measures to increase the carrying capacity of reserves for cheetahs and/or to enlarge reserves will be required. Managers may be forced to stock cheetahs close to or beyond the carrying capacity of their reserves. Consequently, careful management of reintroduced subpopulations will be required to prevent declines in prey populations.

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Genetic diversity of vector-borne pathogens in spotted and brown hyenas from Namibia and Tanzania relates to ecological conditions rather than host taxonomy

Parasites & Vectors ◽

10.1186/s13071-021-04835-x ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 14 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Jürgen Krücken ◽

Gábor Á. Czirják ◽

Sabrina Ramünke ◽

Maria Serocki ◽

Sonja K. Heinrich ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Genetic Diversity ◽

Phylogenetic Analysis ◽

Phylogenetic Analyses ◽

Sub Saharan Africa ◽

Anthropogenic Factors ◽

High Genetic Diversity ◽

Acinonyx Jubatus ◽

Ecological Conditions ◽

Vector Borne ◽

Babesia Lengau

Abstract Background Improved knowledge on vector-borne pathogens in wildlife will help determine their effect on host species at the population and individual level and whether these are affected by anthropogenic factors such as global climate change and landscape changes. Here, samples from brown hyenas (Parahyaena brunnea) from Namibia (BHNA) and spotted hyenas (Crocuta crocuta) from Namibia (SHNA) and Tanzania (SHTZ) were screened for vector-borne pathogens to assess the frequency and genetic diversity of pathogens and the effect of ecological conditions and host taxonomy on this diversity. Methods Tissue samples from BHNA (n = 17), SHNA (n = 19) and SHTZ (n = 25) were analysed by PCRs targeting Anaplasmataceae, Rickettsia spp., piroplasms, specifically Babesia lengau-like piroplasms, Hepatozoidae and filarioids. After sequencing, maximum-likelihood phylogenetic analyses were conducted. Results The relative frequency of Anaplasmataceae was significantly higher in BHNA (82.4%) and SHNA (100.0%) than in SHTZ (32.0%). Only Anaplasma phagocytophilum/platys-like and Anaplasma bovis-like sequences were detected. Rickettsia raoultii was found in one BHNA and three SHTZ. This is the first report of R. raoultii from sub-Saharan Africa. Babesia lengau-like piroplasms were found in 70.6% of BHNA, 88.9% of SHNA and 32.0% of SHTZ, showing higher sequence diversity than B. lengau from South African cheetahs (Acinonyx jubatus). In one SHTZ, a Babesia vogeli-like sequence was identified. Hepatozoon felis-like parasites were identified in 64.7% of BHNA, 36.8% of SHNA and 44.0% of SHTZ. Phylogenetic analysis placed the sequences outside the major H. felis cluster originating from wild and domestic felids. Filarioids were detected in 47.1% of BHNA, 47.4% of SHNA and 36.0% of SHTZ. Phylogenetic analysis revealed high genetic diversity and suggested the presence of several undescribed species. Co-infections were frequently detected in SHNA and BHNA (BHNA median 3 pathogens, range 1–4; SHNA median 3 pathogens, range 2–4) and significantly rarer in SHTZ (median 1, range 0–4, 9 individuals uninfected). Conclusions The frequencies of all pathogens groups were high, and except for Rickettsia, multiple species and genotypes were identified for each pathogen group. Ecological conditions explained pathogen identity and diversity better than host taxonomy. Graphic Abstract

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Tracking data from nine free-roaming Cheetahs (Acinonyx jubatus) collared in the Thabazimbi area, Limpopo Province, South Africa

Biodiversity Data Journal ◽

10.3897/bdj.5.e11323 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 5 ◽

pp. e11323

Author(s):

Kelly Marnewick ◽

Samantha Page-Nicholson ◽

Lizanne Roxburgh ◽

Michael Somers

Keyword(s):

South Africa ◽

Limpopo Province ◽

Tracking Data ◽

Acinonyx Jubatus

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