A first case of Hepatozoon infection in a wild Amami rabbit (Pentalagus furnessi) in Tokunoshima Island, Japan

Researchers have documented the first confirmed Hepatozoon infection in an endangered Amami rabbit (Pentalagus furnessi) from Tokunoshima Island, Japan. The discovery, made through necropsy and histopathological examination, revealed meronts—asexual reproductive stages—in the rabbit's lung, heart, and skeletal muscle tissues, with no associated inflammatory response. Transmission electron microscopy confirmed these intracellular structures at various developmental stages. Molecular and phylogenetic analyses identified the protozoan as Hepatozoon sp., closely related to Hepatozoon felis. The presence of asexual stages suggests that Amami rabbits may serve as intermediate hosts rather than paratenic hosts in the parasite's life cycle. This finding underscores the need for further study into the ecology, transmission dynamics, and conservation implications of protozoan infections in endangered wildlife.

Saito, T., Noguchi, H., Tokiwa, T., Yoshimura, H., Suzuki, R., Torimoto, R., Shiraishi, T., Matsumoto, K., Haritani, M., & Yamamoto, M. (2026). A first case of Hepatozoon infection in a wild Amami rabbit (Pentalagus furnessi) in Tokunoshima Island, Japan. International Journal for Parasitology: Parasites and Wildlife, 29, 101209. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijppaw.2026.101209