Molecular survey and genetic characterization of tick-borne pathogens in dogs in metropolitan Recife (north-eastern Brazil).
To identify DNA of the main tick-borne pathogens in dogs from Recife (Brazil), polymerase chain reactions were carried out on blood samples of dogs treated at the Veterinary Hospital of the Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco from March 2007 to June 2008. The detection of DNA was performed using specific primers. Amplicons were analyzed through electrophoresis and sequencing. A phylogenetic tree was constructed using the UPGMA method, revealing that the sequences were closely related to those of strains from other geographic regions. Among the 205 blood samples analyzed, 48.78% was positive for Anaplasma platys; 38.04% was positive for Ehrlichia canis; 7.31% was positive for Babesia canis vogeli; and 0.49% was positive for Hepatozoon canis and Mycoplasma haemocanis. Coinfection of two or three pathogens was found in 23.9% (49/205) of the dogs. The subspecies B. canis vogeli was identified. Infection by H. canis and M. haemocanis is reported for the first time in dogs in the state of Pernambuco (Brazil). The data indicate that the main tick-borne pathogens in dogs in this region are E. canis and/or A. platys, followed by B. canis vogeli.
Ramos
Rafael
R
Department of Veterinary Medicine, Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco, Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil.
Ramos
Carlos
C
Araújo
Flábio
F
Oliveira
Renato
R
Souza
Ingrid
I
Pimentel
Danillo
D
Galindo
Mariana
M
Santana
Marilia
M
Rosas
Eduardo
E
Faustino
Maria
M
Alves
Leucio
L
D000818:Animals; D001419:Bacteria / Q000145:classification* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D001769:Blood / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000469:parasitology*; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D017931:DNA Primers / Q000235:genetics; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000469:parasitology; D004285:Dogs; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010271:Parasites / Q000145:classification* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D010802:Phylogeny; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D017282:Tick-Borne Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000469:parasitology / Q000662:veterinary*
D017931:DNA Primers