Serologic evidence of equine granulocytic anaplasmosis in horses from central West Brazil

Abstract

<jats:p>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.</jats:p>

Genetic diversity of piroplasmids species in equids from island of São Luís, northeastern Brazil

“…On the other hand, donkeys and mules showed a higher seroprevalence to B. caballi when compared to that found among sampled horses. These seroprevalence rates were lower than those found among donkeys sampled in São Paulo state for both T. equi and B. caballi (MACHADO et al, 2012;PIANTEDOSI et al, 2014;LAUS et al, 2015) and in horses from southeastern SALVAGNI et al, 2010;PFEIFER BARBOSA et al, 1995;HEUCHERT et al, 1999;HEIM et al, 2007;KERBER et al, 2009) and southern regions (VIEIRA et al, 2013) of Brazil.…”

“…In this country, the prevalence among horses ranges from 22 to 100% for T. equi (TENTER & FRIEDHOFF, 1986;PFEIFER BARBOSA et al, 1995;RIBEIRO et al, 1999;HEUCHERT et al, 1999;HEIM et al, 2007;GOLYNSKI et al, 2008;KERBER et al, 2009;BALDANI et al, 2010;SALVAGNI et al, 2010;MACHADO et al, 2012), and from 70 to 90% for B. caballi (PFEIFER BARBOSA et al, 1995;HEIM et al, 2007;KERBER et al, 2009;MACHADO et al, 2012), indicating that both parasites are endemic among horses.…”

Detecção de Theileria equi e Babesia caballi e anticorpos anti-Ehrlichia spp. em equídeos do Pantanal Mato-Grossense, Brasil

“…Ambos, T. equi e B. caballi, têm sido relatados em outros estados do Brasil, como em algumas regiões de Goiás, Mato Grosso dos Sul, Minas Gerais e São Paulo (Battsetseg et al, 2002;Kerber, et al, 2009;Salvagni et al, 2010). Além disso, a maior frequência de T. equi observada no presente estudo, quando comparado a B. caballi, assemelha-se a resultados de outros autores (Heuchert et al, 1999;Kerber et al, 1999).…”

“…nas amostras testadas pela PCR. Ao contrário de N. risticii, espécies filogeneticamente próximas ou idênticas a A. phagocytophilum já foram detectadas em cães, cervídeos e aves no Brasil (Santos et al, 2011;Machado et al, 2012;Secchi et al, 2012 (Salvagni et al, 2010). No presente estudo, 39,6% dos animais foram reagentes a antígenos de Ehrlichia spp.…”

Important frequency of Anaplasma phagocytophilum infection in a population of domiciled dogs in an urbanized area in south-eastern Brazil

“…In Brazil, the bacterium has been detected by molecular methods in dogs (Santos et al 2011, in carnivorous birds ) and in brown brocket deer (Mazama gouazoubira) (Silveira et al 2014); and in horses (Salvagni et al 2010) and Brazilian marsh deer (Blastocerus dichotomus) (Sacchi et al 2012) by serological methods. In Minas Gerais state observation of A. phagocytophilum has been increasing in animals (Silveira et al 2014 and recently, the present study group detected a dog with Ehrlichia canis and A. phagocytophilum co-infection in the city of Belo Horizonte.…”