Is the free-ranging jaguar (Panthera onca) a reservoir for Cytauxzoon felisin Brazil?

This study investigated the occurrence of Cytauxzoon felisand Babesiaspp. in free-ranging jaguars (Panthera onca), domestic dogs (Canis lupus familiaris) and domestic cats (Felis catus) from the Cerrado, Amazon and Pantanal biomes of Brazil. Blood samples were collected from 30 jaguars, 129 dogs and 22 cats for detection of the 18S rRNA genes of piroplasmids. All of the jaguars from the Pantanal (n=22) and Cerrado (n=4) and three of four jaguars from the Amazon were positive for C. felis, but no dogs or cats were positive for the agent. All of the jaguars and domestic cats were negative for Babesiaspp., while dogs from the Cerrado (7.9%; 5/63) and Amazon (10.6%; 5/47) biomes tested positive for the hemoparasite. Cytauxzoonnucleotide sequences detected were closely related to C. felis; and Babesianucleotide sequences showed 100% of identity with Babesia vogeli. Although the pathogenicity of Cytauxzoonspp. genotypes that circulate in Brazil is still unknown, free-ranging jaguars probably play an important role in the maintenance of C. felisin nature. In addition, even though there is no evidence of the circulation of Babesiaspp. between jaguars and dogs, the presence of this hemoparasite should be monitored in jaguar populations.