title: Occurrence of Ehrlichia canis in free-living primates of the genus Callithrix.
abstract: Bacteria of the genus Ehrlichia are Gram-negative and coccoid-shaped microorganisms that cause ehrlichiosis - a serious infectious disease that often leads to death. These bacteria present a strong zoonotic potential and primates may act as reservoir hosts. This study involved a molecular analysis to detect these microorganisms in blood samples collected from nineteen primates of the genus Callithrix living free in an Atlantic Forest fragment in the municipality of Viçosa, state of Minas Gerais, Brazil. One of the 19 primates was found to be infected with Ehrlichia canis. This finding points to a new wild host of E. canis with a strong potential for transmission to humans because of its increasing contact with people. This is the first report of Ehrlichia spp. in primate of the genus Callithrix.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Bioquímica e Biologia Molecular, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Viçosa, MG, Brasil.
authors.forename: Claudio
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mafra
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Bioquímica e Biologia Molecular, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Viçosa, MG, Brasil.
authors.forename: Rafael Mazioli
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Barcelos
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Bioquímica e Biologia Molecular, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Viçosa, MG, Brasil.
authors.forename: Cynthia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mantovani
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Bioquímica e Biologia Molecular, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Viçosa, MG, Brasil.
authors.forename: Juliana
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Carrizo
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Bioquímica e Biologia Molecular, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Viçosa, MG, Brasil.
authors.forename: Adriano Carlos
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Soares
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Bioquímica e Biologia Molecular, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Viçosa, MG, Brasil.
authors.forename: Higo Nasser Sant'Anna
authors.initials: HN
authors.lastname: Moreira
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Medicina Veterinária, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Viçosa, MG, Brasil.
authors.forename: Natasha Lagos
authors.initials: NL
authors.lastname: Maia
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Biologia Animal, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Viçosa, MG, Brasil.
authors.forename: Fernanda de Fátima Rodrigues
authors.initials: Fde F
authors.lastname: da Silva
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Biologia Animal, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Viçosa, MG, Brasil.
authors.forename: Vinícius Herold Dornelas
authors.initials: VH
authors.lastname: e Silva
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Bioquímica e Biologia Molecular, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Viçosa, MG, Brasil.
authors.forename: Vanner
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Boere
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Biologia Animal, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Viçosa, MG, Brasil.
authors.forename: Ita de Oliveira
authors.initials: Ide O
authors.lastname: e Silva
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001938:Brazil; D002144:Callithrix / Q000469:parasitology*; D041061:Ehrlichia canis / Q000302:isolation & purification*