AUTHOR=Penzhorn Barend L. , Oosthuizen Marinda C. 

TITLE=Babesia Species of Domestic Cats: Molecular Characterization Has Opened Pandora's Box

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Veterinary Science

VOLUME=Volume 7 - 2020

YEAR=2020

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/veterinary-science/articles/10.3389/fvets.2020.00134

DOI=10.3389/fvets.2020.00134

ISSN=2297-1769

ABSTRACT=<p>This is the first comprehensive review of the literature pertaining to <italic>Babesia</italic> species reported from domestic cats. Description of the four species (<italic>Babesia felis, Babesia cati, Babesia herpailuri</italic>, and <italic>Babesia pantherae</italic>) named based on morphology and/or host specificity is documented. Feline babesiosis is of major veterinary concern only in South Africa. Reports of the rare occurrence of feline babesiosis cases in Europe (France, Germany, Poland, and Spain) and Asia (Israel, India, and Pakistan) are documented. Molecular characterization has revealed that cats can harbor a variety of <italic>Babesia</italic> species. The previous practice of referring to all piroplasms, especially small ones, seen on feline blood smears as <italic>B. felis</italic> is therefore no longer tenable. The near-full-length 18S rRNA gene sequences entered into GenBank in 2001 (accession no. <ext-link ext-link-type="DDBJ/EMBL/GenBank" xlink:href="AF244912" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">AF244912</ext-link>) are designated as definitive for <italic>B. felis</italic> sensu stricto. All published literature relating to molecular characterization of feline <italic>Babesia</italic> species that could be traced was critically assessed. Four <italic>Babesia</italic> species are now known to be involved in causing feline babesiosis in South Africa: the closely related <italic>B. felis</italic> s.s. and <italic>Babesia leo</italic> (clade I), <italic>Babesia lengau</italic> (clade II), and <italic>Babesia</italic> species cat Western Cape (clade VI, <italic>Babesia</italic> s.s.). Clade VI also includes <italic>Babesia canis presentii</italic> and <italic>Babesia hongkongensis</italic> reported from cats in Asia. Six other <italic>Babesia</italic> species have been reported from domestic cats: the dog-associated <italic>B. canis</italic> s.s., <italic>Babesia gibsoni</italic>, and <italic>B. vogeli</italic>, as well as <italic>Babesia lohae, Babesia microti</italic>, and <italic>Babesia vulpes</italic>. Phylogenetic relationships of all named species were assessed and are presented as trees. The relatively high prevalence of <italic>B. vogeli</italic> in clinically healthy cats (16% in Brazil, 13% on St Kitts, and 8.1% in Portugal) suggests that immunocompetent cats can harbor the infection with no discernible untoward effects. Reports of occurrence of <italic>B. felis</italic> and other <italic>Babesia</italic> species in domestic cats should be accepted only if they are supported by credible molecular provenance.</p>