RESUMEN
A previous study in Paulicéia Municipality, south-eastern Brazil, reported 9.7% of the Amblyomma triste ticks to be infected by Rickettsia parkeri, a bacterial pathogen that causes spotted fever in humans. These A. triste ticks were shown to be associated with marsh areas, where the marsh deer Blastocerus dichotomus is a primary host for this tick species. During 2008-2009, blood serum samples were collected from 140 horses, 41 dogs, 5 opossums (Didelphis albiventris) and 26 humans in farms from Pauliceia Municipality. Ticks were collected from these animals, from vegetation and from additional wildlife in these farms. Overall, 25% (35/140) of the horses, 7.3% (3/41) of the dogs, 3.8% (1/26) of the humans and 100% (5/5) of the opossums were seroreactive (titre ≥64) to spotted fever group (SFG) Rickettsia spp. Multivariate statistical analysis indicated that horses that were allowed to forage in the marsh were 4.8 times more likely to be seroreactive to spotted fever group (SFG) Rickettsia spp than horses that did not forage in the marsh. In addition, horses that had been living in the farm for more than 8.5 years were 2.8 times more likely to be seroreactive to SFG Rickettsia spp than horses that were living for ≤8.5 years. Ticks collected from domestic animals or from vegetation included Amblyomma cajennense, Amblyomma coelebs, Amblyomma dubitatum, Dermacentor nitens and Rhipicephalus microplus. By PCR analyses, only one pool of A. coelebs ticks from the vegetation was shown to be infected by rickettsiae, for which DNA sequencing revealed to be Rickettsia amblyommii. Ticks (not tested by PCR) collected from wildlife encompassed A. cajennense and Amblyomma rotundatum on lizards (Tupinambis sp), and A. cajennense and A. triste on the bird Laterallus viridis. Our results indicate that the marsh area of Paulicéia offers risks of infection by SFG rickettsiae.
Asunto(s)
Infecciones por Rickettsia/microbiología , Infecciones por Rickettsia/transmisión , Rickettsia/aislamiento & purificación , Enfermedades por Picaduras de Garrapatas/microbiología , Agricultura , Animales , Antígenos Bacterianos , Vectores Arácnidos/microbiología , Brasil/epidemiología , Perros/microbiología , Femenino , Caballos/microbiología , Humanos , Masculino , Análisis Multivariante , Zarigüeyas/microbiología , Reacción en Cadena de la Polimerasa , Rickettsia/genética , Infecciones por Rickettsia/sangre , Infecciones por Rickettsia/epidemiología , Factores de Riesgo , Enfermedades por Picaduras de Garrapatas/sangre , Enfermedades por Picaduras de Garrapatas/epidemiología , Garrapatas/microbiologíaRESUMEN
Considering the zoonotic potential of tick-borne disease (TBD) agents and the fact that dogs may act as sentinels for human infection, the aim of the present study was to determine the seroprevalence of TBD agents and risk factors for exposure in two different canine populations from Parana State, Southern Brazil. A total of 138 dog serum samples from urban (UA) (n=68) and rural (RA) (n=70) areas were tested with commercial ELISA rapid test for Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Ehrlichia canis and Borrelia burgdorferi antibodies and indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFAT) for Babesia vogeli. An overall of 92∕138 (66.7%) dogs, being 62∕68 (91.2%) from UA and 30∕70 (42.9%) from RA, were seropositive for at least one TBD agent. From the total number of dogs, sixty-two were positive for E. canis (44.9%), 19 (13.8%) for A. phagocytophilum, and 64 (46.4%) for B. vogeli. Anti-B. burgdorferi antibodies were not detected. Dogs from UA showed a higher percentage of tick infestation (p = 0.0135) and were highly associated with seropositivity to E. canis (p = 0.000005), A. phagocytophilum (p = 0.0001), and B. vogeli (p = 0.0012). In summary, the findings indicate that dogs from urban areas present higher potential risk exposure to TBD pathogens than those from rural areas.
Asunto(s)
Enfermedades de los Perros/epidemiología , Enfermedades de los Perros/microbiología , Enfermedades por Picaduras de Garrapatas/veterinaria , Animales , Anticuerpos Antibacterianos/sangre , Brasil/epidemiología , Enfermedades de los Perros/sangre , Perros , Salud Rural , Estudios Seroepidemiológicos , Enfermedades por Picaduras de Garrapatas/sangre , Enfermedades por Picaduras de Garrapatas/epidemiología , Garrapatas , Salud UrbanaRESUMEN
Considering the zoonotic potential of tick-borne disease (TBD) agents and the fact that dogs may act as sentinels for human infection, the aim of the present study was to determine the seroprevalence of TBD agents and risk factors for exposure in two different canine populations from Parana State, Southern Brazil. A total of 138 dog serum samples from urban (UA) (n=68) and rural (RA) (n=70) areas were tested with commercial ELISA rapid test forAnaplasma phagocytophilum, Ehrlichia canisand Borrelia burgdorferi antibodies and indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFAT) for Babesia vogeli. An overall of 92∕138 (66.7%) dogs, being 62∕68 (91.2%) from UA and 30∕70 (42.9%) from RA, were seropositive for at least one TBD agent. From the total number of dogs, sixty-two were positive for E. canis (44.9%), 19 (13.8%) for A. phagocytophilum, and 64 (46.4%) for B. vogeli. Anti-B. burgdorferi antibodies were not detected. Dogs from UA showed a higher percentage of tick infestation (p = 0.0135) and were highly associated with seropositivity to E. canis (p = 0.000005), A. phagocytophilum (p = 0.0001), and B. vogeli (p = 0.0012). In summary, the findings indicate that dogs from urban areas present higher potential risk exposure to TBD pathogens than those from rural areas.
Considerando o potencial zoonótico das doenças transmitidas por carrapatos (DTCs) e que os cães podem atuar como sentinelas para infecções em humanos, os objetivos deste estudo foram determinar a soroprevalência de agentes das DTCs e fatores de risco para a exposição em duas diferentes populações caninas do Estado do Paraná, região Sul do Brasil. Um total de 138 amostras de soro de cães de área urbana (AU) (n = 68) e rural (AR) (n = 70) foram testadas utilizando um teste de ELISA comercial rápido para detecção de anticorpos contra Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Ehrlichia canis e Borrelia burgdorferi e imunofluorescência indireta (IFI) para Babesia vogeli. Um total de 92∕138 (66,7%) cães, sendo 62∕68 (91,2%) da AU e 30∕70 (42,9%) da AR, foram soropositivos para pelo menos um agente. Do número total de amostras, sessenta e duas (44,9%) foram positivas para E. canis, 19 (13,8%) para A. phagocytophilum e 64 (46,4%) para B. canis vogeli. Anticorpos anti-B. burgdorferi não foram detectados. Os cães da AU apresentaram o maior percentual de infestação por carrapatos (p = 0,0135) e foram altamente associados com a positividade para E. canis (p = 0,000005), A. phagocytophilum (p = 0,0001) e B. vogeli (p = 0,0012). Em resumo, nossos achados indicam que cães de áreas urbanas têm um maior risco potencial de exposição a agentes patogênicos das DTCs comparados aos das áreas rurais.
Asunto(s)
Animales , Perros , Enfermedades de los Perros/epidemiología , Enfermedades de los Perros/microbiología , Enfermedades por Picaduras de Garrapatas/veterinaria , Anticuerpos Antibacterianos/sangre , Brasil/epidemiología , Enfermedades de los Perros/sangre , Salud Rural , Estudios Seroepidemiológicos , Enfermedades por Picaduras de Garrapatas/sangre , Enfermedades por Picaduras de Garrapatas/epidemiología , Garrapatas , Salud UrbanaRESUMEN
The present study aims to detect and characterize by molecular techniques, the presence of tick-borne pathogens in wild captive carnivore blood samples from Brazil. Blood was collected from 76 Brazilian felids, 23 exotic felids, 3 European wolves (Canis lupus), and 97 Brazilian canids maintained in captivity in zoos located in São Paulo and Mato Grosso states, Brazil. DNA of each sample was used in PCR reactions for Ehrlichia, Anaplasma, and Rickettsia identification. The blood from 10/100 (10%) of canids (1 European wolf, 3 bush dogs, and 6 crab-eating foxes) and from 21/99 (21%) felids (4 pumas, 6 little spotted cats, 4 ocelots, 3 jaguarundis, 1 tiger, and 3 lions) contained fragments of 16S rRNA gene of Ehrlichia spp. Fragments of Anaplasma spp. groESL and 16S rRNA genes were detected in the blood of 1/100 (1%) canids (1 bush dog) and in 4/99 (3%) felids (4 little spotted cats), respectively. Rickettsia species infections were not identified. The present work showed that new strains of Ehrlichia and Anaplasma spp. circulate among wild carnivores in Brazil.
Asunto(s)
Animales Salvajes , Animales de Zoológico , Canidae , Felidae , Enfermedades por Picaduras de Garrapatas/veterinaria , Animales , Bacterias/clasificación , Bacterias/genética , Bacterias/aislamiento & purificación , Brasil/epidemiología , Filogenia , Enfermedades por Picaduras de Garrapatas/sangre , Enfermedades por Picaduras de Garrapatas/epidemiología , Enfermedades por Picaduras de Garrapatas/microbiologíaRESUMEN
Blood samples and ticks were collected from 48 cattle and 74 horses from seven sites in the Peten region of Guatemala. Data on body condition, mucous membrane capillary refill time and tick infestation levels were recorded for each animal in the study. Horses had significantly higher levels of tick infestation than cattle, as well as poorer body condition scores. Seroprevalence of Babesia spp. was 95.8% for B. bovis in cattle, 89.6% for B. bigemina in cattle, and 92.7% for B. equi in horses. Seroprevalence of Anaplasma marginale in cattle was 87.5%, similar to reports in animals from other regions of Central America. This is the first time that A. phagocytophilum has been reported in animals from this region, with overall PCR-prevalence of 27.6% in cattle and horses, and seroprevalence of 28.4% (52% in cattle and 13% in horses). An agent was identified with serological cross-reactivity and close genetic relatedness to Ehrlichia ruminantium, but further testing confirmed that the agent in Guatemalan cows was not the agent of heartwater. Ticks were identified to species with the predominant species identified on cattle as Boophilus microplus and Amblyomma cajennense, while Anocentor nitens and A. cajennense were most commonly found on horses. Prevalence of infection, tick infestation levels, host factors and environmental data were analyzed for association; A. nitens was significantly associated with A. phagocytophilum prevalence by village.