Study on the cycle of Hepatozoon spp. in rural areas of Botucatu - São Paulo: evaluation of the potential of wild rodents as a source of infection to domestic dogs

• Grant number: 12/25197-9
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: May 01, 2013
• End date: April 30, 2015
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Veterinary Medicine
• Principal Investigator: Lucia Helena O'Dwyer de Oliveira
• Grantee: Lucia Helena O'Dwyer de Oliveira
• Host Institution: Instituto de Biociências (IBB). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Botucatu. Botucatu , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The genus Hepatozoon is a diverse group of parasites, with more than 300 species. Two species are known to cause disease in dogs, Hepatozoon canis and Hepatozoon americanum. In Brazil, studies have shown that H. canis is the species involved in hepatozoonosis canine wich vector are ixodids ticks. In our country, reports of infection in dogs are common especially in rural areas where animals are infested by different species of tick. Recent studies demonstrated that the vector of H. canis in rural areas of Brazil remains nuclear and other forms of transmission may exist, such as predation paratenic hosts. Thus, this study aimed to investigate the presence of Hepatozoon spp. in wild rodents captured in native forests around rural property in Botucatu, where the prevalence of the parasite will also be studied in domestic dogs. Blood samples and tissue of rodents will be collected for parasite research through parasitological diagnosis (blood smears and histopathology) and also by molecular diagnosis (PCR). In dogs, the parasite will be researched by PCR technique and peripheral blood smear. Thus, it is intended to elucidate the mode of transmission of H. canis in rural areas of Brazil, as the main vector of the disease is uncertain. (AU)

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

DEMONER, LARISSA DE CASTRO; LUCAS DA SILVA, MARIA REGINA; MAGRO, NATALIA MIZUHIRA; O'DWYER, LUCIA HELENA. . Parasitology, v. 146, n. 5, p. 662-669, APR 2019. (12/09715-0, 12/25197-9)

DEMONER, LARISSA DE CASTRO; LUCAS DA SILVA, MARIA REGINA; MAGRO, NATALIA MIZUHIRA; O'DWYER, LUCIA HELENA. Hepatozoon milleri sp. nov. (Adeleorina: Hepatozoidae) in Akodon montensis (Rodentia: Cricetidae: Sigmodontinae) from southeastern Brazil. Parasitology, v. 146, n. 5, p. 8-pg., 2019-04-01. (12/09715-0, 12/25197-9)

DEMONER, LARISSA DE CASTRO; MAGRO, NATALIA MIZUHIRA; LUCAS DA SILVA, MARIA REGINA; AZEVEDO DE PAULA ANTUNES, JOAO MARCELO; PEREZ CALABUIG, CECILIA IRENE; O'DWYER, LUCIA HELENA. Hepatozoon spp. infections in wild rodents in an area of endemic canine hepatozoonosis in southeastern Brazil. TICKS AND TICK-BORNE DISEASES, v. 7, n. 5, p. 859-864, 2016. (12/09715-0, 12/25197-9)