Detection of a Babesia Species in a Bobcat from Georgia

We describe the first detection of a Babesia sp. in a Lynx rufus (Bobcat). The Bobcat was from Georgia and was coinfected with Cytauxzoon felis and a Sarcocystis sp. The Babesia species was closely related to Babesio sp. Coco, a parasite previously only detected in Canis familiaris (Domestic Dog). The only other Babesia sp. in North America that infects felids is a novel Babesia species in Puma con color coryi (Florida Puma). The low prevalence of this Babesia (<1%) in Bobcats suggests that they are not the normal host or reservoir and this may have been an incidental infection.