Molecular and serological detection of Ehrlichia spp. in cats on São Luís Island, Maranhão, Brazil

Braga, Maria do Socorro Costa de Oliveira; André, Marcos Rogério; Freschi, Carla Roberta; Teixeira, Márcia Cristina Alves; Machado, Rosangela Zacarias

doi:10.1590/s1984-29612012000100008

Cited by 29 publications

(24 citation statements)

References 30 publications

(32 reference statements)

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“…In the Western hemisphere fewer Ehrlichia spp. seroprevalence studies have been performed; however, E.canis seroprevalence was 5.5 % amongst 200 domestic cats in Brazil [8]. B.burgdorferi seroprevalence rates as high as 47 % were found in cats from areas endemic for Lyme in the US [5].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Serological and molecular analysis of feline vector-borne anaplasmosis and ehrlichiosis using species-specific peptides and PCR

et al. 2015

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BackgroundWith the exception of Bartonella spp. or Cytauxzoon felis, feline vector-borne pathogens (FVBP) have been less frequently studied in North America and are generally under-appreciated as a clinical entity in cats, as compared to dogs or people. This study investigated selected FVBP seroreactivity and PCR prevalence in cats using archived samples.MethodsFeline blood samples submitted to the Vector Borne Diseases Diagnostic Laboratory (VBDDL) at North Carolina State University College of Veterinary Medicine (NCSU-CVM) between 2008 and 2013 were tested using serological assays and PCR. An experimental SNAP® Multi-Analyte Assay (SNAP® M-A) (IDEXX Laboratories, Inc. Westbrook, Maine, USA) was used to screen all sera for antibodies to Anaplasma and Ehrlichia genus peptides and A.phagocytophilum, A.platys, B.burgdorferi, E.canis, E.chaffeensis, and E.ewingii species-specific peptides. PCR assays were used to amplify Anaplasma or Ehrlichia DNA from extracted ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA)-anti-coagulated blood samples. Amplicons were sequenced to identify species.ResultsOverall, 7.8 % (56/715) of cats were FVBP seroreactive and 3.2 % (13/406) contained Anaplasma or Ehrlichia DNA. Serologically, B.burgdorferi (5.5 %) was the most prevalent FVBP followed by A.phagocytophilum (1.8 %). Ehrlichia spp. antibodies were found in 0.14 % (12/715) of cats with species-specific seroreactivity to E.canis (n = 5), E.ewingii (n = 2) and E.chaffeensis (n = 1). Of seropositive cats, 16 % (9/56) were exposed to more than one FVBP, all of which were exposed to B.burgdorferi and either A.phagocytophilum (n = 7) or E.ewingii (n = 2). Based upon PCR and DNA sequencing, 4, 3, 3, 2, and 1 cat were infected with A.phagocytophilum, A.platys, E. ewingii, E. chaffeensis and E.canis, respectively.ConclusionsCats are exposed to and can be infected with vector-borne pathogens that commonly infect dogs and humans. To our knowledge, this study provides the first evidence for E.chaffeensis and E.ewingii infection in naturally-exposed cats in North America. Results from this study support the need for regional, serological and molecular FVBP prevalence studies, the need to further optimize serodiagnostic and PCR testing for cats, and the need for prospective studies to better characterize clinicopathological disease manifestations in cats infected with FVBP.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Serological and molecular analysis of feline vector-borne anaplasmosis and ehrlichiosis using species-specific peptides and PCR

et al. 2015

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“…Recently, Braga et al (2010) reported the first surveillance of feline ehrlichiosis in a free-living, healthy cat population in the northeast region of Brazil.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Detection of Ehrlichia canis in domestic cats in the central-western region of Brazil

Braga¹,

Santos²,

Ramos³

et al. 2014

Braz. J. Microbiol.

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Ehrlichiosis is a worldwide distributed disease caused by different bacteria of the Ehrlichia genus that are transmitted by arthropod vectors. Its occurrence in dogs is considered endemic in several regions of Brazil. Regarding cats, however, few studies have been done and, consequently, there is not enough data available. In order to detect Ehrlichia spp. in cats from the central-western region of Brazil, blood and serum samples were collected from a regional population of 212 individuals originated from the cities of Cuiabá and Várzea Grande. These animals were tested by the Immunofluorescence Assay (IFA) and the Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) designed to amplify a 409 bp fragment of the dsb gene. The results obtained show that 88 (41.5%) cats were seropositive by IFA and 20 (9.4%) cats were positive by PCR. The partial DNA sequence obtained from PCR products yielded twenty samples that were found to match perfectly the Ehrlichia canis sequences deposited on GenBank. The natural transmission of Ehrlichia in cats has not been fully established. Furthermore, tick infestation was not observed in the evaluated cats and was not observed any association between age, gender and positivity of cats in both tests. The present study reports the first serological and molecular detection of E. canis in domestic cats located in the endemic area previously mentioned.

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“…Symptoms suggestive of ehrlichiosis infection have also been reported in domestic cats in several countries. The Ehrlichia species that naturally infect cats have not yet been fully determined, although monocyte and lymphocyte inclusions and, more consistently, E. canis DNA, have been detected in cats (BREITSCHWERDT et al, 2002;OLIVEIRA et al, 2009;BRAGA et al, 2012), as well as some granulocytic inclusions related to feline granulocytic ehrlichiosis caused by Anaplasma phagocytophilum (BUORO et al, 1989;BOULOY et al, 1994;BEAUFILS et al, 1995;BJOERSDORFF et al, 1999;SHAW et al, 2001;AGUIRRE et al, 2004).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Hematological values associated to the serological and molecular diagnostic in cats suspected of Ehrlichia canisinfection

Braga

Santos

Melo

et al. 2013

Rev. Bras. Parasitol. Vet.

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The literature contains several studies on feline ehrlichiosis. However, information about the characteristics of Ehrlichia infection in cats is still scanty. This study evaluated the association between Ehrlichia spp. infection and the hematologic data of 93 cats treated at the Federal University of Mato Grosso Veterinary Hospital in Cuiabá, state of Mato Grosso, Brazil. The presence of or exposure to Ehrlichia spp. infection was evaluated by Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) targeting the dsb and 16S rRNA gene of Ehrlichia, and by detection of anti-Ehrlichia canis IgG antibodies in Indirect Fluorescence Assay (IFA), respectively. Eight (8.6%) cats tested positive by PCR and the partial DNA sequence obtained from PCR products was a 100% match to E. canis. Forty-two (45.1%) cats showed antibody reactivity against Ehrlichia spp. Hematological alterations such as low erythrocyte count, thrombocytopenia, lymphopenia and monocytosis were observed in PCR positive cats. Among them, low erythrocyte counts were associated with IgG antibody titers of 40 to 640 and five cats also tested positive by PCR. Furthermore, PCR-positive cats showed a tendency to be lymphopenic. No correlation was found between age and sex, and no ticks were observed in any of the examined cats.Keywords: Ehrlichiosis, feline, hematology, polymerase chain reaction, indirect fluorescence assay, diagnosis. ResumoDiversos estudos sobre erliquiose felina vêm sendo relatados na literatura. No entanto, a caracterização da infecção por Ehrlichia em gatos ainda é escassa. O presente estudo objetivou avaliar a associação entre infecção por Ehrlichia e dados hematológicos em 93 gatos atendidos no Hospital Veterinário da Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso, em Cuiabá, Brasil. A presença de infecção por Ehrlichia spp. foi avaliada pela Reação em Cadeia pela Polimerase (PCR) visando à amplificação dos genes dsb e 16S rRNA de Ehrlichia e por Reação de Imunofluorescência Indireta (RIFI). Oito (8,6%) gatos demonstraram ser positivos pela PCR, sendo suas sequências parciais de DNA 100% idênticas à E. canis. Quarenta e dois gatos (45,1%) apresentaram anticorpos reativos contra Ehrlichia spp. Alterações hematológicas como baixas contagens de eritrócitos, trombocitopenia, linfopenia e monocitose foram observadas em gatos positivos pela PCR. Dentre essas, eritropenia foi associada em gatos com títulos de anticorpos IgG entre 40 e 640, sendo cinco destes positivos pela PCR. Adicionalmente, gatos positivos na PCR apresentaram uma tendência a serem linfopênicos. Não foram observadas associações entre a presença de infecção nos gatos e suas respectivas idades e sexo. Nenhum carrapato foi observado nos gatos examinados.Palavras-chave: Erliquiose, felinos, hematologia, reação em cadeia pela Polimerase, reação de imunofluorescência indireta, diagnóstico.

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Molecular and serological detection of Ehrlichia spp. in cats on São Luís Island, Maranhão, Brazil

Cited by 29 publications

References 30 publications

Serological and molecular analysis of feline vector-borne anaplasmosis and ehrlichiosis using species-specific peptides and PCR

Serological and molecular analysis of feline vector-borne anaplasmosis and ehrlichiosis using species-specific peptides and PCR

Detection of Ehrlichia canis in domestic cats in the central-western region of Brazil

Hematological values associated to the serological and molecular diagnostic in cats suspected of Ehrlichia canisinfection

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