Ehrlichiosis is a tick-borne disease that affects both humans and animals. The few existing reports on ehrlichiosis in Brazilian cats have been based on observation of morulae in leukocytes and, more recently, on molecular detection of Ehrlichia sp. In this study, we assessed occurrences of Ehrlichia sp. in the blood of 200 domestic cats in São Luís, Maranhão. Of the 200 animals tested, 11 (5.5%) were seropositive for Ehrlichia sp. and two (1%) were positive for Ehrlichia sp. in PCR. We also performed DNA sequence alignment to establish the identity of the parasite species infecting these animals, using the gene 16S rRNA. One cat presented infection with Ehrlichia sp. with 98% identity with E. canis, and another cat infected with Ehrlichia sp. showed 97% identity with E. chaffeensis. This is the first study on molecular detection of Ehrlichia sp. among domestic cats in São Luís, Maranhão.Keywords: Cats, Ehrlichia sp., serology, PCR, Brazil. ResumoErliquiose é uma enfermidade transmitida por carrapatos que afeta seres humanos e animais. Os poucos relatos de erliquiose em gatos, no Brasil, são baseados na observação de mórulas em leucócitos e, mais recentemente, na detecção molecular de Ehrlichia sp. Neste estudo, foi avaliada a ocorrência de Ehrlichia sp. no sangue de 200 gatos de São Luís, Maranhão. Dos 200 animais testados, 11 (5,5%) foram soropositivos para Ehrlichia sp. e dois (1%) foram positivos na PCR para Ehrlichia spp. O alinhamento de sequências de DNA baseado no gene 16S rRNA foi conduzido para estabelecer a identidade da espécie de parasito que infectou estes animais. Um gato apresentou infecção por uma espécie de Ehrlichia

Bartonella species are fastidious Gram-negative bacteria that predominantly infect mammalian erythrocytes and endothelial cells and cause long-lasting bacteraemia in their reservoir hosts (Chomel et al. 2004). Bartonellae are usually vector-borne bacteria and the vector varies depending on the bacterial species, host and reservoir (Chomel et al. 2006b).Domestic cats are the main reservoir for Bartonella henselae (the most frequent agent of cat scratch disease), Bartonella clarridgeiae (suspected in a few cases of cat scratch disease) (Chomel et al. 2004) and Bartonella koehlerae (Avidor et al. 2004).There are few reports of Bartonella infection in Brazil. A low seroprevalence of Bartonella spp has been detected among Brazilian dogs (Diniz et al. 2007a, b) and B. henselae and Bartonella vinsonii berkhoffii DNA has been detected in Brazilian dogs at a very low prevalence (Diniz et al. 2007b). Conversely, a very high prevalence of antibodies to B. henselae has been observed among free-ranging wild felids in Brazil (Filoni et al. 2006) and the parasite has been detected in wild felids by molecular techniques (Guimarães et al. 2010). Recently, a seroprevalence for Bartonella spp of 35.7% was observed among cats belonging to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) antibody-positive individuals . In addition, Bartonella spp have been molecularly detected in cats from the states of Rio Grande do Sul (RS) (Staggemeier et al. 2010) and Rio de Janeiro (RJ) (Souza et al. 2010, Crissiuma et al. 2011). There are few studies addressing the occurrence of Bartonella spp in humans in Brazil. Antibodies to B. henselae and Bartonella quintana have been detected in 13.7% and 12.8% of healthy residents of the state of Minas Gerais (MG), respectively (da Costa et al. 2005). A seroprevalence of Bartonella spp of 38.4% and 34.4% has been observed in HIV-positive patients and healthy human populations, respectively, in Jacarepaguá, RJ .This study aimed to detect and characterise Bartonella spp DNA from Brazilian cat blood samples from São Luís, Maranhão (MA), north-eastern Brazil. MATERIALS AND METHODSSample collection and study area -Between October 2008-January 2009, whole blood samples were collected from 200 domestic cats (102 males, 98 females) that were allowed outside in São Luís (194 cats from suburban areas of São Luís county and six from Raposa county). The study region is an invasion area that has suffered a 70% forest reduction. Cats were selected without specific inclusion criteria and were apparently healthy at the time of sample collection. Sampled cats had contact with other cats and dogs. Blood samples for polymerase chain reaction (PCR) were collected from jugular or cephalic veins, immediately aliquoted into tubes containing ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA) as an anticoagulant and stored at -20ºC until PCR analysis. All procedures were performed according to Ethical Principles in Animal Research adopted by the Brazilian College of Animal Experimentation and were approved by the Ethical Committee of the College of Ag...

Occurrence of anti-Toxoplasma gondii and anti-Neospora caninum antibodies in cats with outdoor access in São Luís, Maranhão, Brazil AbstractThe present study aimed to investigate the frequency of anti-Toxoplasma gondii and anti-Neospora caninum antibodies in cats with outdoor access in São Luís, Maranhão, Brazil. The presence of IgG anti-T. gondii and anti-N. caninum antibodies was tested using the Indirect Immunofluorescent Antibody Test (IFAT). IgG anti-T. gondii and anti-N. caninum antibodies were detected in 101 (50.5%) and 54 (27%) sampled cats, respectively. The titers of anti-T. gondii antibodies ranged from 40 (cut-off) to 2560. On the other hand, the titers of anti-N. caninum antibodies ranged from 25 (cut-off) to 400. Twenty-seven cats (13.5%) were shown to be seropositive for both parasites. Seventy-four cats (34%) were seropositive only for T. gondii. Twenty-two cats (11%) were seropositive only for N. caninum. The present study showed that cats with outdoor access in São Luís, Maranhão, are exposed to T. gondii and N. caninum.Keywords: Toxoplasma gondii, Neospora caninum, cats, serology. ResumoO presente estudo objetivou verificar a frequência de anticorpos anti-Toxoplasma gondii e anti-Neospora caninum em gatos com acesso à rua em São Luís, Maranhão, Brasil. A presença de anticorpos IgG anti-T. gondii e anti-N. caninum foi verificado pela Reação de Imunofluorescência Indireta (RIFI). Anticorpos IgG anti-T. gondii e anti-N. caninum foram detectados em 101 (50,5%) e 54 (27%) gatos amostrados, respectivamente. Os títulos de anticorpos anti-T. gondii variaram de 40 (ponto de corte) a 2560. Por outro lado, anticorpos anti-N. caninum variaram de 25 (ponto de corte) a 400. Vinte e sete gatos (13,5%) mostraram-se soropositivos para ambos os parasitas. Setenta e quatro gatos (34%) foram soropositivos somente para T. gondii. Vinte e dois gatos (11%) foram soropositivos somente para N. caninum. O presente estudo demonstrou que gatos com acesso à rua em São Luís, Maranhão, são expostos ao T. gondii e N. caninum.

Equine piroplasmosisis, a tick-borne disease caused by the intra-erythrocytic protozoans Babesia caballi and Theileria equi, has economic importance due to the international trade and the increased movement of horses all over the world. The goal of this study was to evaluate the occurrence of phylogenetic diversity of T. equi and B. caballi genotypes among infected equids from São Luís Island, state of Maranhão, northeastern Brazil. Between December of 2011 and June of 2012, EDTA-blood and serum samples were collected from 139 equids (90 donkeys, 39 horses and 10 mules). From 139 serum samples submitted to ELISA assay, IgG antibodies to T. equi and B. caballi were detected in 19.4% (27/139) and 25.2% (35/139), respectively. Among sampled animals, 21.6% (30/139) and 55.4% (77/139) were positive for cPCR assays for T. equi and B. caballi, based on ema-1 and rap-1 genes, respectively. Overall, the T. equi sequences (n=7) submitted to Maximum Likelihood analysis (based on a 18S rRNA fragment of 1700 bp after alignment) grouped into three main groups, which were subdivided in eight clusters. The present work showed that different genotypes of T. equi and B. caballi circulate among equids in Brazil.Keywords: Babesia caballi, Theileria equi, phylogeny, 18S rRNA. ResumoA piroplasmose equina, uma doença transmitida por carrapatos e causada pelos protozoários intra-eritrocíticos Babesia caballi e Theileria equi, tem importância econômica devido ao comércio internacional e ao aumento do movimento de cavalos em todo o mundo. O objetivo do presente estudo foi mostrar a diversidade filogenética de T. equi e B. caballi infectando cavalos, burros e jumentos na Ilha de São Luís, Estado do Maranhão, Nordeste do Brasil. Entre dezembro de 2011 e junho de 2012, amostras de sangue com EDTA e soro de foram coletadas de 139 equídeos (90 jumentos, 39 cavalos e 10 burros). Dentre as 139 amostras de soro submetidas ao ensaio de ELISA, foram detectados anticorpos IgG contra T. equi e B. caballi em 19,4% (27/139) e 25,2% (35/139), respectivamente. Entre os animais amostrados, 21,6% (30/139) e 55,4% (77/139) foram positivos por meio dos ensaios de cPCR para T. equi e B. caballi, com base nos genes ema-1 e rap-1, respectivamente. No geral, as sequências T. equi (n = 7) submetidas à análise de Máxima Verossimilhança (baseada em um fragmento do 18S rRNA de 1700 pb, após o alinhamento) foram agrupadas em três grupos principais, os quais foram subdivididos em oito grupos. O presente trabalho mostrou que diferentes genótipos de T. equi e B. caballi circulam entre equídeos no Brasil.Palavras-chave: Babesia caballi, Theileria equi, filogenia, 18S rRNA.

Few molecular studies have been done concerning the molecular characterization of Hepatozoon species among domestic and wild felids. The present work aimed to characterize molecularly the presence of Hepatozoon sp. DNA in cat blood samples from São Luís Island, Maranhão state, Northeastern Brazil. EDTA-whole blood samples were collected from 200 domestic cats with outdoor and wood areas access from São Luís, Maranhão, Brazil. Each sample of extracted DNA was used as a template in PCR reactions aiming to amplify a partial sequence of 18S rRNA of Hepatozoon spp. We also performed sequence alignment to establish the identity of the parasite species infecting these animals using DNA sequences based on 18S rRNA. From 200 sampled cats, Hepatozoon DNA was only found in one animal (0.5%). The found Hepatozoon DNA showed 97% of identity with Hemobartonella felis isolates 1 and 2 from Spain. When analyzing the phylogenetic tree, the found Hepatozoon DNA was in the same clade than H. felis isolates. Our findings suggest that more than one species of Hepatozoon could infect felids in Brazil.