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Tick-borne infections in dogs and horses in the state of Espírito Santo, Southeast Brazil.
Abstract: This work aims to identify and quantify the percentage of Rickettsia spp., Ehrlichia spp., Babesia spp. and Hepatozoon spp. positive pet dogs, and to identify ticks collected on these animals in the state of Espírito Santo, in the Southeast region of Brazil. The study included 378 dogs, 226 females and 152 males, of various breeds and ages (mean age of 4.1 years). All animals were examined for ticks, and whole blood was collected and processed by conventional PCR protocols for Babesia spp., Anaplasmataceae, Hepatozoon spp. and by real-time PCR for Ehrlichia canis. Of the 378 dogs examined, 157 (41.53%) had ticks at the time of the study, which were identified as R. sanguineus s.l. in 154 animals (98.10%), Amblyomma ovale in one animal (0.63%), and Amblyomma sculptum in 2 animals (1.27%). In the PCR for Babesia spp., 5 animals (1.32%) were positive, producing DNA sequences 100% identical to Babesia vogeli. For Anaplasmataceae, 34 animals (9%) were positive, 10 of which generated DNA sequences 100% similar to Ehrlichia canis. The other 24 samples generated fragments 100% identical to Anaplasma platys. In the PCR for Hepatozoon spp, 39 animals (10.31%) were positive, producing sequences 100% identical to Hepatozoon canis. Finally, in the real-time PCR specific for E. canis, 28 animals (7.40%) were positive. Coinfection with 2 or 3 agents was observed in 20 animals (5.29%). Of the 378 dogs sampled, 312 were analyzed by indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFA) for E. canis and five species of Rickettsia (R. rickettsii, R. parkeri, R. amblyommatis, R. rhipicephali and R. bellii). Among them, 71 dogs (22.75%) had a positive reaction for E. canis and 16 dogs (5.13%) had antibody titers higher than 64 to at least one Rickettsia species, 5 of them (1.60%) to R. rickettsii. Samples of blood were collected from 10 equines in the regions where dogs were found with positive serology for any one of the Rickettsia sp. tested. In the municipality of Vila Velha, two equines were positive for R. bellii with inverse titers of 64 and 128. These results indicate that tick-transmitted agents, such as E. canis, A. platys, B. vogeli, H. canis, and several spotted fever group Rickettsia are circulating in the canine population of the Brazilian state of Espirito Santo.
Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Publication Date: 2017-11-13 PubMed ID: 29279085DOI: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2017.11.005Google Scholar: Lookup The Equine Research Bank provides access to a large database of publicly available scientific literature. Inclusion in the Research Bank does not imply endorsement of study methods or findings by Mad Barn.
- Journal Article
Summary
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The research article describes a study carried out on dogs and horses in Espírito Santo, Brazil, to identify and measure the prevalence of various tick-borne infections including Rickettsia, Ehrlichia, Babesia, and Hepatozoon.
Overview of the Study
The study involved 378 dogs of various breeds and sexes, and the mean age was about 4.1 years. Blood samples were collected from these animals and further processed using conventional PCR protocols to detect elements of Babesia, Anaplasmataceae, and Hepatozoon. In addition, a real-time PCR was specifically employed for Ehrlichia canis.
- From the dogs examined, about 42% had ticks at the collection time. These ticks were majorly identified as R. sanguineus, with a few identified as Amblyomma ovale and Amblyomma sculptum.
- From the PCR results, 1.32% of the dogs had Babesia, 9% were Anaplasmataceae positive where 10 had Ehrlichia canis, and 24 had Anaplasma platys. In addition, the Hepatozoon test was positive in 10.31% of the dogs and Ehrlichia canis was detected in 7.4% of the dogs using the real-time PCR method.
- Coinfections were detected in about 5% of the dogs.
- A total of 312 dogs, from the sample, were further tested for E. canis and five strains of Rickettsia through the indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFA). About 23% of the tested dogs had E.canis, and 5% had antibody titers higher than 64 to at least one Rickettsia species.
- R. rickettsii, in specific, was identified in 1.6% of the tested dogs.
Extension of the Study to Equines
The research was extended to test blood samples from ten horses in the regions where dogs had tested positive for any of the Rickettsia species.
- In Vila Velha, two horses showed positive results for R. bellii with antibody titers of 64 and 128 respectively.
Conclusion of the Study
The outcomes of this research indicate that tick-borne agents, encompassing E. canis, A. platys, B. vogeli, H. canis, and several spotted fever group Rickettsia are prevalent in the canine population of the Brazilian state of Espírito Santo. They pose a potential risk to dogs and also horses that reside in the same area.
Cite This Article
APA
Vieira FT, Acosta ICL, Martins TF, Filho JM, Krawczak FDS, Barbieri ARM, Egert L, Fernandes DR, Braga FR, Labruna MB, Dietze R.
(2017).
Tick-borne infections in dogs and horses in the state of Espírito Santo, Southeast Brazil.
Vet Parasitol, 249, 43-48.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vetpar.2017.11.005 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Universidade Vila Velha, Rua Viana, Soteco, Vila Velha, ES, CEP 29106-091, Brazil.
- Universidade de São Paulo, Department of Preventative Veterinary Medicine and AnimalHealth, School of Veterinary Medicine and Zootechnics, Av. Prof. Dr. Orlando Marques de Paiva, 87-Cidade Universitária, CEP 05508 270, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
- Universidade de São Paulo, Department of Preventative Veterinary Medicine and AnimalHealth, School of Veterinary Medicine and Zootechnics, Av. Prof. Dr. Orlando Marques de Paiva, 87-Cidade Universitária, CEP 05508 270, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
- Course in Veterinary Medicine, Universidade de Santo Amaro, Rua Prof. Eneas de Siqueira Neto, 340, Jd. Imbuias. São Paulo, CEP 04829-300, SP, Brazil.
- Universidade de São Paulo, Department of Preventative Veterinary Medicine and AnimalHealth, School of Veterinary Medicine and Zootechnics, Av. Prof. Dr. Orlando Marques de Paiva, 87-Cidade Universitária, CEP 05508 270, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
- Universidade de São Paulo, Department of Preventative Veterinary Medicine and AnimalHealth, School of Veterinary Medicine and Zootechnics, Av. Prof. Dr. Orlando Marques de Paiva, 87-Cidade Universitária, CEP 05508 270, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
- Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo, Department of Veterinary Medicine, Alto Universitário, s/n, Guararema, Alegre, CEP 29500000, ES, Brazil.
- Centro Universitário do Espirito Santo, Course in Veterinary Medicine, Av. Fioravante Rossi, 239, Martinelli, Colatina, CEP 29703-855, ES, Brazil.
- Universidade Vila Velha, Rua Viana, Soteco, Vila Velha, ES, CEP 29106-091, Brazil. Electronic address: fabioribeirobraga@hotmail.com.
- Universidade de São Paulo, Department of Preventative Veterinary Medicine and AnimalHealth, School of Veterinary Medicine and Zootechnics, Av. Prof. Dr. Orlando Marques de Paiva, 87-Cidade Universitária, CEP 05508 270, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
- Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo, Post-graduate Program in Infectious Diseases, Avenida Marechal Campos, 1468, CEP 29040-900, Vitória, ES, Brazil.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Brazil / epidemiology
- Coinfection / epidemiology
- Coinfection / microbiology
- Coinfection / parasitology
- DNA, Bacterial / genetics
- DNA, Protozoan / genetics
- Dog Diseases / epidemiology
- Dog Diseases / microbiology
- Dog Diseases / parasitology
- Dogs
- Female
- Horse Diseases / epidemiology
- Horse Diseases / microbiology
- Horse Diseases / parasitology
- Horses
- Male
- Polymerase Chain Reaction
- Tick-Borne Diseases / epidemiology
- Tick-Borne Diseases / microbiology
- Tick-Borne Diseases / parasitology
- Tick-Borne Diseases / veterinary
- Ticks / parasitology
Citations
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