Ehrlichia sp. infection in carthorses of low-income owners, Southern Brazil.
Abstract: Although well established in dogs, Ehrlichia sp. infection has been scarcely reported in horses. The aim was to perform a comprehensive serological and molecular survey for the detection of Ehrlichia spp. in carthorses from Southern Brazil. Blood samples from 190 carthorses from Paraná State were sampled. Horses were also tested for Borrelia burgdorferi and Anaplasma phagocytophilum. Anti-Ehrlichia sp. antibodies were detected by a commercial rapid ELISA, and immunofluorescence antibody assays (IFA) with E. chaffeensis and E. canis as crude antigens. The molecular and phylogenetic analysis of Ehrlichia sp. was based on 16S rRNA and dsb genes. A total of 52 (27.4%), 4 (2.1%), and 3 (1.6%) horses were positive for Ehrlichia spp., Anaplasma spp. and Borrelia burgdorferi, respectively, by the commercial rapid ELISA. Thirty-eight (20.0%) and 37 (19.5%) horses showed anti-E. chaffeensis and anti-E. canis antibodies by IFA, respectively. One blood sample that also showed anti-E. chaffeensis antibodies was PCR positive for the 16S rRNA and dsb genes of Ehrlichia spp., showing an identity of>98.0% to the uncultured Ehrlichia sp. previously detected in Brazilian jaguars (Panthera onca). Anti-Ehrlichia sp. antibodies and Ehrlichia DNA were detected in carthorses from Southern Brazil, which may post public health concerns due to intimate contact with low-income owners. This is the first report of a natural infection of this bacteria in horses from South America. Clinical signs and the tick vector remain unknown.
Copyright © 2016. Published by Elsevier Ltd.
Publication Date: 2016-07-12 PubMed ID: 27638113DOI: 10.1016/j.cimid.2016.07.002Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
- Antibodies
- Blood Analysis
- Diagnosis
- Disease Diagnosis
- Disease Prevalence
- Epidemiology
- Equine Diseases
- Equine Health
- Horses
- Immunofluorescence Assay
- Infectious Disease
- Molecular biology
- Polymerase Chain Reaction
- Public Health
- Serological Surveys
- Seroprevalence
- Tick-Borne Diseases
- Veterinary Medicine
- Veterinary Research
- Veterinary Science
- Zoonotic Diseases
Summary
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This research article examines the presence and prevalence of the bacterial genus Ehrlichia in carthorses in Southern Brazil. The findings suggest this infection is common in these animals, and could carry potential health risks for their low-income owners.
Research Objective
The objective of this study was to detect the presence of Ehrlichia infections in carthorses in the Paraná State of Southern Brazil. Though these infections are commonly known to affect dogs, there has been negligible reporting on cases in horses. The researchers aimed to perform an extensive serological and molecular survey for the detection of Ehrlichia species in carthorses in the region.
Study Design and Methods
- Blood samples were collected from 190 carthorses.
- The horses were tested for the presence of Ehrlichia species, as well as Borrelia burgdorferi and Anaplasma phagocytophilum, using a commercial rapid ELISA (Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay).
- Detection of anti-Ehrlichia antibodies was enabled by executing Immunofluorescence Antibody Assays (IFAs) with E. chaffeensis and E. canis – species of Ehrlichia – as raw antigens.
- Molecular and phylogenetic analysis for Ehrlichia was based on the 16S rRNA (ribosomal RNA) and dsb (disulfide bond) genes.
Key Findings
- A significant proportion (27.4%) of the tested horses were positive for Ehrlichia species, while the proportions positive for Anaplasma spp. and Borrelia burgdorferi were significantly lower (2.1% and 1.6% respectively).
- 20.0% and 19.5% of horses displayed anti-E. chaffeensis and anti-E. canis antibodies, respectively.
- Out of the total, one blood sample was PCR (polymerase chain reaction) positive for Ehrlichia spp., showing a similarity of over 98.0% to the previously detected Ehrlichia species in Brazilian jaguars.
Implications and Conclusion
- The findings reveal the presence of Ehrlichia species in carthorses in Southern Brazil. As these horses often have intimate contact with their low-income owners, this could pose public health concerns.
- This study marks the first recorded instance of a natural Ehrlichia infection in South American horses, highlighting the potential for the spread of these bacterial infections in new environments.
- Details like clinical signs and the nature of the tick vector remain to be figured out in future research.
Cite This Article
APA
Vieira TS, Vieira RF, Krawczak FS, Soares HS, Guimarães AM, Barros-Filho IR, Marcondes M, Labruna MB, Biondo AW, Vidotto O.
(2016).
Ehrlichia sp. infection in carthorses of low-income owners, Southern Brazil.
Comp Immunol Microbiol Infect Dis, 48, 1-5.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cimid.2016.07.002 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Universidade Estadual de Londrina, Londrina, PR, 86051-990, Brazil; Department of Veterinary Medicine, Universidade Federal do Paraná, Curitiba, PR, 80035-050, Brazil.
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Universidade Federal do Paraná, Curitiba, PR, 80035-050, Brazil.
- Department of Preventive Veterinary and Animal Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, 05508-270, Brazil.
- Department of Preventive Veterinary and Animal Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, 05508-270, Brazil.
- Department of Preventive Veterinary and Animal Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, 05508-270, Brazil.
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Universidade Federal do Paraná, Curitiba, PR, 80035-050, Brazil.
- Department of Clinics, Surgery and Animal Reproduction, College of Veterinary Medicine, São Paulo State University at Araçatuba, SP, 16050-680, Brazil.
- Department of Preventive Veterinary and Animal Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, 05508-270, Brazil.
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Universidade Federal do Paraná, Curitiba, PR, 80035-050, Brazil.
- Department of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Universidade Estadual de Londrina, Londrina, PR, 86051-990, Brazil. Electronic address: vidotto@uel.br.
MeSH Terms
- Anaplasma / immunology
- Animals
- Antibodies, Bacterial / blood
- Bacterial Proteins / genetics
- Borrelia burgdorferi / immunology
- Brazil / epidemiology
- Disease Vectors
- Ehrlichia / classification
- Ehrlichia / genetics
- Ehrlichia / immunology
- Ehrlichia / isolation & purification
- Ehrlichiosis / epidemiology
- Ehrlichiosis / immunology
- Ehrlichiosis / microbiology
- Ehrlichiosis / veterinary
- Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / veterinary
- Female
- Genes, Bacterial
- Horse Diseases / epidemiology
- Horse Diseases / immunology
- Horse Diseases / microbiology
- Horses / microbiology
- Male
- Phylogeny
- Poverty
- RNA, Ribosomal, 16S
- Sequence Analysis, DNA
- Ticks / microbiology
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