Rangelia vitalii, Babesia spp. and Ehrlichia spp. in dogs in Passo Fundo, state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil

Abstract

Pathogens transmitted by ticks are an emerging problem worldwide, this study aimed to diagnose the causal agents of infection in dogs presenting suspected hemoparasitoses. Fifty-eight dogs with clinical signs such as depression, hemorrhagic diathesis and fever were evaluated regarding clinical presentation, hemogram, blood smears and serological tests, using the indirect immunofluorescence method for the agents Babesia vogeli and Ehrlichia canis and conventional PCR for Babesia spp. (gene 18S rRNA), Rangelia vitalii (gene 18S rRNA) and Ehrlichia spp. (gene dsb). Five (8.6%) of the 58 dogs were serologically positive for Babesia spp. and three (5.1%) for E. canis. Four dogs (6.8%) were positive for R. vitalii through the molecular diagnosis. The PCR products were sequenced and the DNA from R. vitalii was found to be 99% genetically identical to samples of R. vitalii that had been isolated in Brazil. No presence of Babesia spp. or E. canis was observed through PCR on the dogs evaluated here. The results indicate the presence of R. vitalii and exposure to Babesia spp. and Ehrlichia spp. among the dogs analyzed.Keywords: Hemoparasites, piroplasms, sequencing, dogs, nambiuvú, indirect immunofluorescence. ResumoPatógenos transmitidos por carrapatos são um problema emergente em todo o mundo, o trabalho objetivou diagnosticar os agentes causais da infecção em cães com suspeita de hemoparasitoses. Cinquenta e oito caninos com sinais clínicos como depressão, diáteses hemorrágicas e febre foram avaliados quanto à apresentação clínica, hemograma, esfregaço sanguíneo, sorologia pelo método de Imunofluorescência Indireta para os agentes Babesia vogeli e Ehrlichia canis e na PCR convencional para Babesia spp. (gene 18S rRNA), Rangelia vitalii (gene 18S rRNA) e Ehrlichia spp. (gene dsb). Cinco (8,6%) dos 58 cães apresentaram sorologia positiva para Babesia spp. e três (5,1%) para E. canis. Quatro (6,8%) animais mostraram-se positivos para R. vitalii no diagnóstico molecular. Os produtos da PCR foram sequenciados e o DNA encontrado de R. vitalii mostrou 99% de identidade genética com amostras de R. vitalii isoladas no Brasil. Não foi observada a presença de Babesia spp. e E. canis na PCR dos cães avaliados. Os resultados indicaram a presença de R. vitalii e exposição a Babesia spp. e Ehrlichia spp. entre os cães analisados.

Detection molecular of Rangelia vitalii in dogs from Parana State, Southern Brazil

“…In the present report, the clinical signs observed in all three dogs included apathy, anorexia, dehydration, pale or icteric mucous membranes, and hemorrhages. These findings corroborate previous studies (LORETTI & BARROS, 2005;FIGHERA et al, 2010;GOTTLIEB et al, 2016;FREDO et al, 2017). One dog with jaundice (dog 1) succumbed to rangeliosis.…”

Implications of domestic dogs in the epidemiology of Rickettsia parkeri strain Atlantic rainforest and Rangelia vitalii in Southeastern Brazil

“…(Labruna et al, 2001(Labruna et al, , 2011Saito et al, 2008;Soares et al, 2014;Malheiros et al, 2016;Soares et al, 2018;Mongruel et al, 2018). Meanwhile, dogs entering Atlantic rainforest areas can also host adults of both tick species (Sabatini et al, 2010;Ogrzewalska et al, 2012;Ferreira et al, 2013;Londoño et al, 2014;Gottlieb et al, 2016), yet in particular, adults of A. ovale (Martins et al, 2012;Londoño et al, 2014;Krawczak et al, 2016).…”

“…Rangeliosis is another neglected disease described in several areas of Southeastern and Southern Brazil (Gottlieb et al, 2016;Soares et al, 2018). The etiological agent of the disease corresponds to the protozoan Rangelia vitalii, which still lacks a proper taxonomic position, yet it is currently classified within the Babesidae family of hemoprotozoa because of genetic and morphological affinities (Soares et al, 2018).…”

“…The etiological agent of the disease corresponds to the protozoan Rangelia vitalii, which still lacks a proper taxonomic position, yet it is currently classified within the Babesidae family of hemoprotozoa because of genetic and morphological affinities (Soares et al, 2018). Few studies on the presence of this parasite in canine populations and its prevalence have been published (Soares et al, 2012;Moreira et al, 2013;Gottlieb et al, 2016). Still unclear, rangeliosis might be widely distributed in the Southeastern and Southern regions of Brazil, and its clinical signs confused with Babesia vogeli infections (Carini, 1908;Pestana, 1910).…”

Prevalência de hemoparasitos em felinos domésticos da micro região de Uberlândia, Minas Gerais, Brasil e correlação com variáveis epidemiológicas

“…Gatos domésticos podem ser susceptíveis a várias infecções de ordem bacteriana, viral ou parasitária, sendo algumas de interesse na saúde pública. Esse trabalho, assim como de outros pesquisadores nacionais e no mundo, tenta esclarecer as questões inerentes às infecções parasitárias, principalmente, àquelas relacionadas as hemoparasitoses (AGUIAR, 2006;MAIA, 2008;VIEIRA et al, 2011;BRAGA et al, 2012;SOUZA et al, 2013;ESCH;PETERSEN, 2013;BRAGA et al, 2014;TEIVES, 2015;BRAGA et al, 2016;GOTTLIEB et al, 2016;JALOVECKA et al, 2018;MATHIOS et al, 2018 (UILENBERG, 2006;YABSLEY et al, 2006). A extensão sanguínea é a única capaz de apresentar os parâmetros morfológicos de cada agente infeccioso, sendo considerada como "padrão ouro" (MORAIS et al, 2007;MAIA, 2008;BIONDO et al, 2009;SYKES 2010;TEIVES et al, 2015;.…”