Ticks, mites, fleas, and vector-borne pathogens in free-ranging neotropical wild felids from southern Brazil

Souza, Ugo Araújo; Webster, Anelise; Dall’Agnol, Bruno; Peters, Felipe Bortolotto; Favarini, Marina Ochoa; Schott, Diogo; Zitelli, Larissa Caló; Mazim, Fábio Dias; Kasper, Carlos Benhur; Ott, Ricardo; Trigo, Tatiane Campos; Reck, José; Soares, João Fábio

doi:10.1016/j.ttbdis.2021.101706

Cited by 9 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 59 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Several species, such as snow leopards, cheetahs, and tiger and leopard sub-species, are critically endangered due to their low population sizes and repeated bottlenecks. Domestic, free-ranging, and captive Felidae are confronted with serious viral, bacterial and protozoan infections as well as with various types of ectoparasites (Chalkowski et al, 2019;Souza et al, 2021). Some of these pathogens, such as the retroviruses Feline Leukemia Virus (FLV) and Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV) or the feline coronavirus (FCoV) are thoroughly studied experimental models and practically important agents causing fatal diseases (O'Brien et al, 2012).…”

Section: Felids As a Possible Model Mammalian Family For Studying The...mentioning

confidence: 99%

Comparative Genomics of the Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) of Felids

et al. 2022

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

This review summarizes the current knowledge on the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) of the family Felidae. This family comprises an important domestic species, the cat, as well as a variety of free-living felids, including several endangered species. As such, the Felidae have the potential to be an informative model for studying different aspects of the biological functions of MHC genes, such as their role in disease mechanisms and adaptation to different environments, as well as the importance of genetic diversity for conservation issues in free-ranging or captive populations. Despite this potential, the current knowledge on the MHC in the family as a whole is fragmentary and based mostly on studies of the domestic cat and selected species of big cats. The overall structure of the domestic cat MHC is similar to other mammalian MHCs following the general scheme “centromere-MHC class I-MHC class III-MHC class II” with some differences in the gene contents. An unambiguously defined orthologue of the non-classical class I HLA-E gene has not been identified so far and the class II DQ and DP genes are missing or pseudogenized, respectively. A comparison with available genomes of other felids showed a generally high level of structural and sequence conservation of the MHC region. Very little and fragmentary information on in vitro and/or in vivo biological functions of felid MHC genes is available. So far, no association studies have indicated effects of MHC genetic diversity on a particular disease. No information is available on the role of MHC class I molecules in interactions with Natural Killer (NK) cell receptors or on the putative evolutionary interactions (co-evolution) of the underlying genes. A comparison of complex genomic regions encoding NK cell receptors (the Leukocyte Receptor Complex, LRC and the Natural Killer Cell Complex, NKC) in the available felid genomes showed a higher variability in the NKC compared to the LRC and the MHC regions. Studies of the genetic diversity of domestic cat populations and/or specific breeds have focused mainly on DRB genes. Not surprisingly, higher levels of MHC diversity were observed in stray cats compared to pure breeds, as evaluated by DRB sequencing as well as by MHC-linked microsatellite typing. Immunogenetic analysis in wild felids has only been performed on MHC class I and II loci in tigers, Namibian leopards and cheetahs. This information is important as part of current conservation tasks to assess the adaptive potential of endangered wild species at the human-wildlife interface, which will be essential for preserving biodiversity in a functional ecosystem.

show abstract

Section: Felids As a Possible Model Mammalian Family For Studying The...mentioning

confidence: 99%

Comparative Genomics of the Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) of Felids

et al. 2022

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Thus, it is possible that the role of A. aureolatum as a potential vector for rickettsia in southern Brazil, where this ixodid has already been detected to be infected with the Rickettsia parkeri strain Atlantic rainforest [ 24 ], Rickettsia parkeri sensu stricto [ 4 , 6 ], and Rickettsia asembonensis [ 6 ], is different from what is known to-date for the metropolitan region of SP [ 1 ]. Further studies are needed to assess whether A. aureolatum is also capable of transmitting R. felis .…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Atlantic Forest, with conditions of humidity and high temperature throughout the year, appears to be the natural habitat of this ixodid [ 3 ]. However, there are records of A. aureolatum in the Pampa biome, in southern Brazil, where winters reach freezing, but summers are hot and dry e.g., [ 4 , 5 , 6 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Amblyomma aureolatum Genetic Diversity and Population Dynamics Are Not Related to Spotted Fever Epidemiological Scenarios in Brazil

2021

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Regional differences in tick-borne disease epidemiology may be related to biological variations between vector populations. Amblyomma aureolatum (Ixodida: Ixodidae), a neotropical tick, is known from several regions in Brazil. However, only in the metropolitan area of São Paulo (SP) state are there studies that establish its role as a vector of a pathogenic rickettsia (Rickettsia rickettsii). The aim of the study was to analyze the genetic diversity, population dynamics, and rickettsia infection in A. aureolatum populations from different spotted fever scenarios in Brazil. Samples were subjected to DNA extraction, amplification and sequencing of 12S rDNA, cytochrome oxidase subunit II and D-loop mitochondrial markers for tick population analyses, and gltA, htrA, ompA, and ompB genes for rickettsia researches. Of the 7–17 tick haplotypes identified, 5–13 were exclusive to each population and 2–12 for each epidemiological scenario, as well as three haplotypes shared by all populations. Amblyomma aureolatum populations are expanding, and do not appear to be genetically structured vis-a-vis the different epidemiological scenarios studied. Rickettsia bellii (in SP) and Rickettsia felis (in Santa Catarina) were identified as infecting A. aureolatum. No relationship between tick haplotypes and rickettsia types were observed.

show abstract

“…In a free-ranging margay cat ( Leopardus wiedii ) in Peru, C. felis was identified parasitizing a rescued wild-born kitten that had been kept in the same environment as domestic animals for a period of time prior to flea collection ( Quevedo et al, 2014 ). Other species of wild felids, both free-ranging and under human care, have been identified as flea hosts in Brazil, including Adoratopsylla antiquorum , A. intermedia , C. felis , Polygenis tripus , P. occidentalis , Pulex irritans , Rhopalopsyllus lutzi , and X. cheopis in species such as the jaguarundi ( Herpailurus yagouaroundi) , southern tiger cat ( Leopardus guttulus) , margay cat ( Leopardus wiedii ), geoffroy´s cat ( Leopardus geoffroyi ), ocelot ( Leopardus pardalis ), and puma ( Puma concolor ) ( Grossmann et al, 2018 ; Pinto et al, 2009 ; Souza et al, 2021 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Flea parasitism in wild mammals in the metropolitan region of Sorocaba, São Paulo, Brazil

Teixeira,

Costa,

Gonzaga

et al. 2023

Braz. J. Vet. Med.

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Fleas are eurixenous ectoparasites that can parasitize different species of warm-blooded animals, including humans, with the possibility of causing irritation and blood spoliation. They are vectors responsible for the transmission of numerous pathogens and have a wide geographical distribution, more frequently in warm regions. Domestic animals (dogs and cats) are preferred hosts, but parasitism can also occur in wild hosts, with a greater variety of parasitic species and strong interaction between these siphonapters and their hosts. During the period from January 2021 to June 2023, flea specimens were collected from wild animals coming from the metropolitan region of Sorocaba, São Paulo. Some of these animals were animals from the zoo's own stock, which were diagnosed with parasitism during routine examinations and others were rescued from the natural environment and sent to the zoo. The flea specimens collected were packed in alcohol 700 GL and sent for microscopic diagnosis. Four groups were diagnosed at the specific level: Ctenocephalides felis , Rhopalopsyllus lutzi , R. lugrubis and Tunga penetrans, and two groups as unidentified species, belonging to the genera Rhopalopsyllus and Polygenis . The parasitized animals were all mammals, belonging to eleven different species, distributed in the Orders Carnivora, Didelphimorphia, Rodentia and Cingulata. Studies on the parasitofauna of wild animals contribute to a greater knowledge about the distribution of parasitic agents and their relationships with the host species.

show abstract

Ticks, mites, fleas, and vector-borne pathogens in free-ranging neotropical wild felids from southern Brazil

Cited by 9 publications

References 59 publications

Comparative Genomics of the Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) of Felids

Comparative Genomics of the Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) of Felids

Amblyomma aureolatum Genetic Diversity and Population Dynamics Are Not Related to Spotted Fever Epidemiological Scenarios in Brazil

Flea parasitism in wild mammals in the metropolitan region of Sorocaba, São Paulo, Brazil

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About