Assessing the natural circulation of canine vector-borne pathogens in foxes, ticks and fleas in protected areas of Argentine Patagonia with negligible dog participation

Abstract

We collected blood and/or ectoparasites from 49 South American grey foxes (Lycalopex griseus) and two Andean foxes (L. culpaeus) caught in two National Parks of southern Argentine Patagonia (Bosques Petrificados, BPNP; and Monte León, MLNP) where dogs are nearly absent (density < 0.01 dog/km2). Common ectoparasites were the flea Pulex irritans (88% prevalence) and the tick Amblyomma tigrinum (29%). Conventional PCR and sequencing of 49 blood samples, 299 fleas analysed in 78 pools, and 21 ticks revealed the presence of DNA of the following canine vector-borne pathogens: in grey foxes, Rickettsia sp. (3%), hemoplasmas (8%), including Mycoplasma haemocanis, and Hepatozoon sp. (50%); in P. irritans, Bartonella spp. (72% of flea pools from 76% of foxes), mostly B. vinsonii subsp. berkhoffii but also B. rochalimae, Anaplasmataceae (Wolbachia sp.; 60% and 54%), and M. haemocanis/haemofelis (29% and 18%); and in A. tigrinum, Hepatozoon sp. (33% of ticks in 4 of 7 foxes). No piroplasmid DNA was detected in any sample. Andean foxes were negative for all tested pathogens. Two different Hepatozoon haplotypes were detected: the most prevalent was phylogenetically associated with H. felis, and the other with H. americanum and related sequences. Amblyomma tigrinum and Hepatozoon sp. were more abundant and/or prevalent in BPNP than in colder MLNP, 300 km southwards, perhaps located close to the limit for tick suitability. Bartonella v. berkhoffii was also significantly more prevalent in fleas of foxes in BPNP than in MLNP. This study provides novel information about natural host-pathogen associations in wildlife, markedly extends the distribution area in South America of arthropods and vector-borne pathogens of veterinary and public health interest, and contributes preliminary evidence about the potential role of A. tigrinum and P. irritans as vectors, respectively, for potentially new species of Hepatozoon from Lycalopex spp. and for M. haemocanis that should be further investigated.

A review on the occurrence of companion vector-borne diseases in pet animals in Latin America

“…Babesia vogeli was also detected in cat fleas ( Ctenocephalides felis ) collected from shelter dogs in Córdoba and Santa Fé (R. Maggi, unpublished data). Interestingly, Babesia was not detected in any of 48 free ranging Pampas gray foxes ( Lycalopex gymnocercus ) from Rio Negro that showed high prevalence for hepatozoonosis [253].…”

“…Hepatozoonosis has been reported in dogs (infected with H. canis ) from Buenos Aires [251, 260], and in up to 50% of 48 blood samples from free ranging Pampas gray foxes ( L. gymnocercus ) from Rio Negro (infected with Hepatozoon sp.) [253, 261]. Hepatozoon sp.…”

“…Other species ( Mycoplasma suis ) have also been described in dogs [252]. Hemotropic mycoplasmas were also detected in up to 8.3% of 48 blood samples from free ranging Pampas gray foxes ( L. gymnocercus ) from Rio Negro [253].…”

Canine vector-borne pathogens in rural dogs in Chile: molecular survey and co-infection patterns

“…Brie y, DNA of hemotropic Mycoplasma spp., Bartonella spp., Rickettsia spp., Anaplasmataceae (Anaplasma and Ehrlichia), Piroplasmida (Babesia and Theileria) and Hepatozoon spp. was screened by conventional PCR (cPCR) with the primers and run protocols described in Millán et al [33]. Samples scored positive for Mycoplasma were examined with speci c primers for M. haemocanis (Mhc) and for Candidatus M. haematoparvum (CMhp) to detect coinfections [47,48].…”

“…and piroplasmid parasites have been poorly investigated in Chile, despite the presence of suitable vectors (e.g. R. sanguineus) and the report of Hepatozoon canis in the whole South America [30,31] and of Hepatozoon felis or Hepatozoon americanum, in wild canids in Argentina [32,33]. There are no studies describing the presence of canine Hepatozoon spp.…”