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Abstract
Partial sequences of the 18S rRNA gene (625 bp) from a Hepatozoon detected in two
canine hepatozoonosis cases, one clinical and one subclinical, in Japan were analyzed.
Both sequences were identical to each other and they were closely related to the Hepatozoon
canis strain found in Israel with 99% (617/625) nucleotide identity. Both Hepatozoon
americanum and Hepatozoon catasbianae were distantly related to the Japanese Hepatozoon
with 94% (586/625) and 91% (566/625) identities, respectively. In a phylogenetic tree,
the Japanese Hepatozoon was most closely related to H. canis from Israel but was significantly
different than H. americanum and H. catasbianae. These results suggest that the Hepatozoon
detected in the Japanese dogs might be a strain variant of H. canis, but is apparently
a different species than H. americanum.