Molecular identification of Colpodella sp. of South China tiger Panthera tigris amoyensis (Hilzheimer) in the Meihua Mountains, Fujian, China

[...]it provides a basis for urgently determining and monitoring the repertoire of ticks-borne piroplasmid pathogens, with the ultimate aim of strategic control. The Fujian Meihua Mountains are a well-preserved original forest area abounding in vegetation which includes coniferous and broad-leaved mixed forest, coniferous broad-leaved bamboo mixed forest, and shrub forest. [...]there are abundant biological resources in this area. [...]it also attempts to better understand the extent of zoonotic transmission of pathogens in this region since humans in this region are in frequent contact with wild animals. [...]the possibility of zoonotic transmission of tick-borne pathogens from the tigers to humans in this region cannot be ruled out. [...]epidemiological investigation of ticks-borne piroplasms is very important in this area.