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Ehrlichioses are important emerging zoonotic tick-borne diseases that can affect both animals and humans. Clinical manifestations of ehrlichiosis caused by different members of Anaplasmataceae in dogs are similar to each other and to other diseases showing systemic manifestation. The observation of inclusions in white blood cells and in platelets cannot be used to confirm the Anaplasmataceae etiologic agent of the disease. In this work we assessed the presence of Anaplasmataceae agents in 51 dogs from two different cities (Jaboticabal and Campo Grande) showing clinical and microscopical diagnosis of ehrlichiosis, by using molecular techniques. Anaplasmataceae DNA were amplified in 46/51 (90.2%) of the blood samples; 22 (40%) samples from Jaboticabal and 10 (18.2%) from Campo Grande were positive for E. canis nPCR. Anaplasma platys DNA was amplified in 2 samples from Jaboticabal and in 11 from Campo Grande. Phylogenetic analysis of E. canis and A. platys DNA confirmed the infection agent and showed that PCR is the most reliable method to diagnose ehrlichial infection.Keywords: Dogs, Ehrlichia canis, Anaplasma platys, PCR, Brazil. ResumoErliquioses são importantes enfermidades emergentes transmitidas por carrapatos que podem afetar os animais e o homem. Em cães, as manifestações clínicas da erliquiose causada por diferentes membros da Família Anaplasmataceae são similares entre si e entre outras enfermidades de manifestação sistêmica. A observação de inclusões em leucócitos e plaquetas não pode ser utilizada para diagnosticar o agente etiológico pertencente à Família Anaplasmataceae. O presente trabalho objetivou detectar, por meio de técnicas moleculares, a presença de agentes da Família Anaplasmataceae em 51 cães de duas diferentes cidades (Jaboticabal, SP e Campo Grande, MS) apresentando sinais clínicos e microscópios sugestivos de erliquiose. DNA de agentes da Família Anaplasmataceae foi amplificado em 46/51 (90,2%) das amostras de sangue; 22 (40%) amostras de Jaboticabal e 10 (18,2%) amostras de Campo Grande foram positivas na nested PCR para E. canis. DNA de Anaplasma platys foi amplificado em duas amostras de Jaboticabal e em 11 de Campo Grande. Análise filogenética dos DNAs de E. canis e A. platys das amostras confirmou o agente etiológico e mostrou que a PCR é o método mais confiável no diagnóstico das infecções por agentes da Família Anaplasmataceae.

Cytauxzoon spp. DNA was detected for the first time in blood samples from asymptomatic Brazilian wild captive felids. In 2006, 72 EDTA blood samples from seven wild felids species: Puma concolor (puma), Leopardus pardalis (ocelot), Puma yagouaroundi (jaguarundi), Leopardus wiedii (margay), Leopardus tigrinus (little spotted cat), Oncifelis colocolo (pampas cat) and Panthera onca (jaguar) were analyzed using polymerase chain reaction to amplify the 18S rRNA gene segment in order to verify the presence of Cytauxzoon spp. DNA. Nine samples were positive: six ocelots, two pumas, and one jaguar. In Brazil, wild felids may be natural reservoirs for Cytauxzoon spp.

Ehrlichia canis morulae and DNA detection in whole blood and spleen aspiration samples Detecção de mórulas e DNA de Ehrlichia canis em sangue e em aspirado de baço em cães naturalmente infectados

Resumo: A erliquiose é uma doença causada por bactérias gram negativas estritamente intracelulares, pertencentes a Ordem Rickettsiales, Família Anaplasmataceae, Gêneros Ehrlichia e Anaplasma. As diferentes erlíquias podem parasitar leucócitos, eritrócitos e plaquetas levando a alterações em vários órgãos. Os sinais clínicos variam com a severidade da infecção, a resposta imunológica do hospedeiro, os órgãos atingidos, a espécie de erlíquia envolvida e a presenca de co-infecção com outras erlíquias ou outros microrganismos transmitidos pelo mesmo vetor. A incidência de erliquiose vem aumentando nos últimos anos tanto nos animais como no homem. O diagnóstico etiológico é importante para o monitoramento epidemiológico, porém a maioria dos testes usados rotineiramente apresenta limitações. A recente introdução de técnicas diagnósticas que empregam biologia molecular permitem caracterizar quais espécies de erlíquia estão infectando o paciente. Palavras-chave: Erliquiose, Erhlichia sp., animais, homem, diagnóstico. Abstract:Ehrlichiosis is a disease caused by gram negative obligate intracellular bacterial organisms belonging to the Rickettsiales Order, Anaplasmataceae Family, Genus Ehrlichia and Anaplasma. These organisms may parasite leukocytes, erythrocytes or platelets, leading to abnormalities in many organs. Clinical signs are variable depending on the severity of the infection, host immune response, affected organs, the specific Ehrlichia species involved, and the presence of coinfection with other Ehrlichiae or tickborne disease. The incidence of ehrlichiosis has increased over the last years in both animals and men. The etiological diagnosis is important for adequate epidemiological monitoring. Most tests currently being used have limitations. The recent use of molecular biology diagnostic techniques allow the characterization of the specie or species that are infecting a given patient.

Ehrlichiosis is a zoonotic disease caused by gram-negative and intracellular obligatory bacterial organisms. Equine Granulocytic Anaplasmosis - EGA (formerly Equine Granulocytic Ehrlichiosis, EGE) is a seasonal disease, normally self-limited in horses. There are few reports in Brazil about this ehrlichial agent, as well as its natural vectors. Nowadays, veterinarians are considering the suspicion of EGA in horses with suggestive symptoms of ehrlichiosis and which do not respond to piroplasmosis treatment. The aim of the present study was to identify horses exposed to the agent A. phagocytophilum by serological and molecular techniques. Twenty equine blood and serum samples from the central West region of Brazil were evaluated by microscopic examination of buffy coat smear, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), indirect fluorescent antibody test (IFAT) and nested polymerase chain reaction (nPCR). Additionally, the serodiagnosis of Theileria equi by IFA and ELISA were carried out, as well as molecular diagnosis by nPCR. Thirteen (65%) serum samples were positive for A. phagocytophilum by ELISA, but none of them were positive by buffy-coat smear examination or nPCR. Antibodies IgG anti-T. equi were detected in 18 (90%) and 17 (85%) horses by IFA and ELISA, respectively and the agent was detected in 9 (45%) animals by nPCR. Our data may be considered as important information to understanding the occurrence of EGA and equine piroplasmosis in central West Brazil.