Molecular survey of Ehrlichia canis and Coxiella burnetii infections in wild mammals of southern Italy

Santoro, Mario; Veneziano, Vincenzo; D’Alessio, Nicola; Prisco, Francesca Di; Lucibelli, Maria Gabriella; Borriello, Giorgia; Cerrone, Anna; Dantas‐Torres, Filipe; Latrofa, Maria Stefanía; Otranto, Domenico

doi:10.1007/s00436-016-5213-0

Cited by 17 publications

(22 citation statements)

References 31 publications

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“…canis here found were identical to each other but differed from most of those previously found in foxes and wolves from southern Italy [5], confirming high intra-species variability of E . canis , irrespective of the geographical origin.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 79%

“…canis detection only from red foxes ( Vulpes vulpes ) [7–10], although recently this bacterium has been detected in red foxes and wolves ( Canis lupus ) from southern Italy [5]. The high prevalence of infection found in wildlife carnivores in this latter study suggests that a sylvatic life cycle of this pathogen may occur.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 82%

“…canis detection was performed from spleen samples by a real-time PCR analysis (rt PCR) targeting the 16S rRNA gene (124 bp) as described by Waner et al [20] with slight modifications [5]. Briefly, reaction was performed in a total volume of 20 μL containing SsoFast TM EvaGreen ® Supermix 1X (Biorad Laboratories, Hercules, CA, USA), 0.6 μM of each primer and 2 μL of DNA.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Canine monocytic ehrlichiosis (CME) and rickettsiosis are zoonotic tick-borne diseases of canids caused by the intracellular obligate bacteria Ehrlichia canis and Rickettsia species respectively [1–5]. Both CME and many Rickettsia spp.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The Eurasian otter (Lutra lutra) as a potential host for rickettsial pathogens in southern Italy

et al. 2017

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Canine monocytic ehrlichiosis and rickettsiosis are zoonotic tick-borne diseases of canids caused by the intracellular obligate bacteria Ehrlichia canis and Rickettsia species respectively. In this study, we investigated using standard and real-time PCR and sequencing, the occurrence and molecular characterization of E. canis and Rickettsia species in the Eurasian otter (Lutra lutra) from the southern Italian population. Samples were screened by using molecular assays also for Neospora caninum, Toxoplasma gondii, Clamydophyla spp., Coxiella burnetii, Leishmania spp., Cryptosporidium spp., and Giardia spp. detection, and helminths were studied by traditional methods. Out of six carcasses tested, three were positive for E. canis and co-infection with Rickettsia sp. occurred in one of those. Sequences of the 16S rRNA E. canis gene were identical to each other but differed from most of those previously found in red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) and wolves (Canis lupus) from southern Italy. Helminths included just cystacanths of Sphaerirostris spp. from the intestine of two Eurasian otters and the nematode Angiostrongylus vasorum from the lungs of a single Eurasian otter. None of the samples was positive for the other investigated selected pathogens. This study is the first report on the evidence of infection by rickettsial pathogens in the Eurasian otter. The present result prompts some inquiries into the pathogenic role of those bacteria for the isolated sub-populations of the endangered Eurasian otter in southern Italy.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 79%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 82%

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The Eurasian otter (Lutra lutra) as a potential host for rickettsial pathogens in southern Italy

et al. 2017

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“…The infection rate of TBPs in red foxes is correlated with tick species and abundance in the environment, and with the infection rate of pathogens in ticks [ 30 , 32 , 42 ]. In previous European studies, blood or spleen samples of the red fox were found positive for several TBPs, namely A .…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Ticks are more suitable than red foxes for monitoring zoonotic tick-borne pathogens in northeastern Italy

et al. 2018

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BackgroundNortheastern Italy is a hotspot for several tick-borne pathogens, transmitted to animals and humans mainly by Ixodes ricinus. Here we compare the results of molecular monitoring of ticks and zoonotic TBPs over a six-year period, with the monitoring of red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) in an endemic area.ResultsIn the period 2011–2016, 2,578 ticks were collected in 38 sites of 20 municipalities of Belluno Province. Individual adults (264), pooled larvae (n = 330) and nymphs (n = 1984) were screened for tick-borne encephalitis virus, Borrelia burgdorferi (s.l.), Rickettsia spp., Babesia spp., Anaplasma phagocytophilum and “Candidatus Neoehrlichia mikurensis” by specific SYBR green real-time PCR assays and sequencing. The spleens of 97 foxes, culled in the period 2015–2017 during sport hunting or population control programs, were also screened. Overall, nine different pathogens were found in I. ricinus nymph and adult ticks: Rickettsia helvetica (3.69%); R. monacensis (0.49%); four species of the B. burgdorferi (s.l.) complex [B. afzelii (1.51%); B. burgdorferi (s.s.) (1.25%); B. garinii (0.18%); and B. valaisiana (0.18%)]; A. phagocytophilum (3.29%); “Candidatus N. mikurensis” (1.73%); and Babesia venatorum (0.04%). Larvae were collected and screened in the first year only and two pools (0.6%) were positive for R. helvetica. Tick-borne encephalitis virus was not found in ticks although human cases do occur in the area. The rate of infection in ticks varied widely according to tick developmental stage, site and year of collection. As expected, adults were the most infected, with 27.6% harboring at least one pathogen compared to 7.3% of nymphs. Pathogens with a minimum infection rate above 1% were recorded every year. None of the pathogens found in ticks were detectable in the foxes, 52 (54%) of which were instead positive for Babesia cf. microti (also referred to as Babesia microti-like, “Theileria annae”, “Babesia annae” and “Babesia vulpes”).ConclusionsThe results show that foxes cannot be used as sentinel animals to monitor tick-borne pathogens in the specific epidemiological context of northeastern Italy. The high prevalence of Babesia cf. microti in foxes and its absence in ticks strongly suggests that I. ricinus is not the vector of this pathogen.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (10.1186/s13071-018-2726-7) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

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Seroprevalence and risk factors associated with Ehrlichia canis, Anaplasma spp., Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato, and D. immitis in hunting dogs from southern Italy

et al. 2017

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Canine vector-borne diseases (CVBDs) are caused by a range of pathogens transmitted to dogs by arthropods. The present study investigates Ehrlichia canis, Anaplasma spp., Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato, and Dirofilaria immitis seroprevalences in hunting dogs from southern Italy. Dogs (no. 1335) were tested using a commercial in-clinic enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kit. Odds ratios (ORs) were calculated by logistic regression analysis to identify risk factors. Overall, 138/1335 dogs (10.3%) were seroreactive to at least one CVBD pathogen. E. canis, Anaplasma spp., B. burgdorferi s.l., and D. immitis seroprevalences were 7.6, 4.4, 0.3, and 0.2%, respectively. E. canis and Anaplasma spp. co-exposures were found in 30 dogs (2.2%), compared with Anaplasma spp. and B. burgdorferi s.l. co-exposures in 2 dogs (0.1%). Adult age was a risk factor for E. canis (OR 2.35) seroreactivity whereas hunting fur-bearing animals for E. canis (OR 4.75) and Anaplasma spp. (OR 1.87), respectively. The historical presence of tick infestation was identified as a risk factor for positivity to E. canis (OR 2.08) and Anaplasma spp. (OR 2.15). Finally, larger dog pack size was significantly associated with E. canis (OR 1.85) and Anaplasma spp. (OR 2.42) exposures. The results of the present survey indicated that hunting dog populations are at relative risk of CVBDs in southern Italy. Further studies are needed to evaluate the role of hunting dogs in the epidemiology of vector-borne organisms due to sharing common environments with wild, sympatric animal populations.

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Molecular survey of Ehrlichia canis and Coxiella burnetii infections in wild mammals of southern Italy

Cited by 17 publications

References 31 publications

The Eurasian otter (Lutra lutra) as a potential host for rickettsial pathogens in southern Italy

The Eurasian otter (Lutra lutra) as a potential host for rickettsial pathogens in southern Italy

Ticks are more suitable than red foxes for monitoring zoonotic tick-borne pathogens in northeastern Italy

Seroprevalence and risk factors associated with Ehrlichia canis, Anaplasma spp., Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato, and D. immitis in hunting dogs from southern Italy

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