Molecular and serological detection of tick-borne pathogens in dogs from an area endemic for Leishmania infantum in Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil.
Tick-borne pathogens affect a wide range of vertebrate hosts. To identify tick-borne pathogens among dogs from Campo Grande, MS, Brazil testing seropositive for Leishmania infantum (syn. L. chagasi), a serological and molecular study was conducted to detect Ehrlichia canis, Anaplasma platys and Babesia vogeli in 60 serum and spleen samples. A confirmatory diagnosis of L. infantum based on serological and molecular assays was also performed, as was sequence alignment and phylogenetic analysis to assess the identity of the parasite species infecting these animals. IgG antibodies to Ehrlichia spp., B. vogeli and L. infantum were found, respectively, in 39 (65%), 49 (81.6%) and 60 (100%) of the sampled dogs. Twenty-seven (45%), fifty-four (90%), fifty-three (88.3%), two (3.3%) and one (1.6%) dog were positive, respectively, for E. canis, Leishmania spp., Leishmania donovani complex, Babesia sp. and Anaplasma sp. in PCR assays. After sequencing, the amplicons showed 99% of identity with E. canis, B. vogeli, A. platys and Leishmania chagasi isolates. The findings of this study indicate that L. infantum-seropositive dogs from Campo Grande are exposed to multiple tick-borne pathogens, which should therefore be included in the differential diagnosis of dogs with clinical suspicion of leishmaniasis.
Faculdade de Ciências Agrárias e Veterinárias - FCAV, Universidade Estadual Paulista - Unesp, JaboticabalSP, Brasil, Faculdade de Ciências Agrárias e Veterinárias - FCAV, Universidade Estadual Paulista - Unesp, Jaboticabal, SP, Brasil.
Keyla Carstens Marques
KC
de Sousa
Faculdade de Ciências Agrárias e Veterinárias - FCAV, Universidade Estadual Paulista - Unesp, JaboticabalSP, Brasil, Faculdade de Ciências Agrárias e Veterinárias - FCAV, Universidade Estadual Paulista - Unesp, Jaboticabal, SP, Brasil.
Marcos Rogério
MR
André
Campo GrandeMS, Brasil.
Heitor Miraglia
HM
Herrera
Campo GrandeMS, Brasil.
Gisele Braziliano
GB
de Andrade
Faculdade de Ciências Agrárias e Veterinárias - FCAV, Universidade Estadual Paulista - Unesp, JaboticabalSP, Brasil, Faculdade de Ciências Agrárias e Veterinárias - FCAV, Universidade Estadual Paulista - Unesp, Jaboticabal, SP, Brasil.
Marcia Mariza Gomes
MM
Jusi
Campo GrandeMS, Brasil.
Luciana Ladislau
LL
dos Santos
Campo GrandeMS, Brasil.
Wanessa Teixeira Gomes
WT
Barreto
Faculdade de Ciências Agrárias e Veterinárias - FCAV, Universidade Estadual Paulista - Unesp, JaboticabalSP, Brasil, Faculdade de Ciências Agrárias e Veterinárias - FCAV, Universidade Estadual Paulista - Unesp, Jaboticabal, SP, Brasil.
Rosangela Zacarias
RZ
Machado
Faculdade de Ciências Agrárias e Veterinárias - FCAV, Universidade Estadual Paulista - Unesp, JaboticabalSP, Brasil, Faculdade de Ciências Agrárias e Veterinárias - FCAV, Universidade Estadual Paulista - Unesp, Jaboticabal, SP, Brasil.
Gilson Pereira
GP
de Oliveira
D000709:Anaplasma / Q000276:immunology* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D000712:Anaplasmosis / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications; D000818:Animals; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000097:blood*; D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan / Q000097:blood*; D001403:Babesia / Q000276:immunology* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D001404:Babesiosis / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000097:blood* / Q000469:parasitology*; D004285:Dogs / Q000469:parasitology*; D041061:Ehrlichia canis / Q000276:immunology* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D016873:Ehrlichiosis / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000662:veterinary*; D019353:Endemic Diseases; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood*; D018314:Leishmania infantum; D007898:Leishmaniasis, Visceral / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology*; D025202:Molecular Diagnostic Techniques; D012698:Serologic Tests; D013987:Ticks
D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan; D007074:Immunoglobulin G