The first report of giant pandas (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) infected with a novel Hepatozoon species is presented. An intraleukocytic parasite was detected via routine blood smear from a zoo-housed giant panda at the National Zoological Park. Ribosomal DNA sequences indicated a previously undescribed Hepatozoon species. Phylogenetic and distance analyses of the sequences placed it within its own branch, clustered with Old World species with carnivore (primarily ursid and mustelid) hosts. Retrospective and opportunistic testing of other individuals produced additional positive detections (17/23, 73.9%), demonstrating 100% prevalence (14/14) across five institutions. All animals were asymptomatic at time of sampling, and health implications for giant pandas remain unknown.

中文翻译：

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新型Hepatozoon sp。在大熊猫（大熊猫）。

首次报道了被新型Hepatozoon物种感染的大熊猫（Ailuropoda melanoleuca）。通过从国家动物园的一个动物园饲养的大熊猫中进行常规血液涂片检查，发现了白细胞内寄生虫。核糖体DNA序列表明先前未描述的Hepatozoon种类。序列的系统发育和距离分析将其置于其自己的分支中，该分支与带有食肉动物（主要是熊鼬和鼬）的旧世界物种聚集在一起。对其他个体的回顾性和机会性检测产生了其他阳性检测结果（17 / 23，73.9％），表明五个机构的患病率均为100％（14/14）。采样时所有动物均无症状，对大熊猫的健康影响仍未知。