Detection and molecular characterization of Anaplasmataceae, Bartonellaceae, Coxiellaceae, Mycoplasmataceae, Rickettsiaceae, Babesiidae and Theileriidae agents in free-living wild boars in São Paulo State, Brazil: Molecular detection of vector-borne agents in wild boars (Sus scrofa) and associated ticks in Brazil, with evidence of possible new genotypes of Ehrlichia, Anaplasma and Hemoplasma

Author(s)

Matheus de Souza Santana

• Document type: Master's Dissertation
• Press: Jaboticabal. 2023-01-13.
• Institution: Universidade Estadual Paulista (Unesp). Faculdade de Ciências Agrárias e Veterinárias. Jaboticabal
• Defense date: 2022-03-28
• Advisor: Marcos Rogério André

Abstract

The present study aimed to investigate, by molecular techniques, the occurrence of Anaplasmataceae, Bartonellaceae, Rickettsiaceae, Mycoplasmataceae, Coxiellaceae e Babesiidae/Theileriidae in blood samples of free-living wild boars and associated ticks in southeastern Brazil. For this purpose, 67 blood samples and 265 ticks (264 Amblyomma sculptum and one A. ovale) were analyzed. In the screening for Anaplasmataceae agents by a PCR assay based on the 16S rRNA gene, 5.97% blood samples and 50.54% ticks were positive. In the PCR assay for Ehrlichia spp. based on the dsb gene, 9.24% of ticks were positive. Despite the low occurrence, a possible new 16S rRNA genotype of Anaplasma sp. was detected in a wild boar’s blood sample. Based on phylogenetic analyses based on the groEL, gltA, sodB genes and ITS (23S5S) intergenic region, it was found that A. sculptum and A. ovale ticks collected from wild boars carry Ehrlichia genotypes phylogenetically associated with E. ewingii, E. ruminantium, and new Ehrlichia genotypes previously detected in horses, peccaries, and ticks collected from jaguars. In the screening for hemoplasmas by a qPCR based on the 16S rRNA gene, 88.06% of blood samples and 8.69% of ticks were positive. Mycoplasma suis, M. parvum and a possible new hemoplasma genotype were detected in wild boars in southeastern Brazil. In the screening for Bartonella spp. using a nuoG-based qPCR assy, 3.8% of tick samples were positive. Phylogenetic inferences positioned four nuoG and one for gltA Bartonella sequences into the same clade as Bartonella machadoae. No blood or tick samples from wild boars showed to be positive in the qPCR for Coxiella burnetii based on the IS111 gene. On the other hand, only 1.6% of ticks was positive in the nested PCR assay for piroplasmids based on the 18S rRNA gene. An 18S rRNA sequence detected in a pool of A. sculptum nymphs was phylogenetically close to Cytauxzoon felis sequences previoously detected in cats from the United States. Rickettsia sp. closely related to R. belli was detected in a pool of A. sculptum nymphs. This is the first report of hemoplasmas, B. machadoae and Cytauxzoon spp. in A. sculptum. Wild boars and associated ticks do not seem to participate in the epidemiological cycle of C. burnetii in the region studied. This invasive mammal species may act as a potential disperser of ticks infected with Ehrlichia spp., Bartonella spp., hemotropic mycoplasmas, and Cytauxzoon, and may bring important epidemiological implications in the transmission of bartonelosis, ehrlichiosis, hemoplasmosis, and cytauxzoonosis to humans and animals, more specifically to horses, rodents, pigs, and cats. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 19/24726-7 - Molecular detection and characterization of Anaplasmataceae and Bartonellaceae agents in free-ranging wild boars (Sus scrofa) in the State of São Paulo
• Grantee: Matheus de Souza Santana
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master