Detection of Crithidia mellificae in golden jackals in Israel

Trypanosomatid parasites infect a variety of hosts including insects and vertebrates. The trypanosomatid genus Crithidia includes several species which mainly affect invertebrates such as insects. Crithidia mellificae is primarily a parasite of honey bees and has been reported to infect other flying insects, as well as wildlife mammals, bats of various species and a domestic dog in Brazil. A molecular study investigating Leishmania spp. infection that included 303 blood samples of golden jackals (Canis aureus) from Israel detected Crithidia mellificae DNA by PCR of the ITS1 locus and of the 18S rRNA gene in the blood of two (0.7%) golden jackals (Canis aureus) in northeastern Israel. Two other jackals were found infected with Leishmania infantum. DNA sequencing and a phylogenetic analysis verified the PCR results. This is the first report of C. mellificae in jackals. Other Crithidia spp. have been reported to cause disease in humans. Research and diagnostic laboratories studying leishmaniasis and trypanosomiasis should be aware that C. mellificae and other Crithidia spp. may be detected by PCR for Leishmania or Trypanosoma spp. and should be distinguished accordingly. Further research should evaluate the importance of canines and other animals in the transmission and epidemiology of Crithidia spp.