Occurrence of tick-borne pathogens (Anaplasma spp, Babesia spp, Ehrlichia spp, Hepatozoon spp e Rickettsia spp) in maned wolves (Chrysocyon brachyurus) and domestic dogs at Serra da Canastra National Park, Minas Gerais, Brazil

Author(s)

Ricardo Corassa Arrais

• Document type: Master's Dissertation
• Press: São Paulo.
• Institution: Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia (FMVZ/SBD)
• Defense date: 2013-10-18

Examining board members

Marcelo Bahia Labruna; Ricardo Augusto Dias; Matias Pablo Juan Szabo

• Advisor: Marcelo Bahia Labruna

Abstract

From July 2004 to June 2012, 104 maned wolves were captured. The animals were chemically restrained in order to collect biological material. Ticks were found in 94 wolves and sent to the Laboratory of Parasitic Diseases FMVZ USP, and were identified using a stereomicroscope and taxonomic keys. Of the samples analyzed, 72 were larvae, 188 nymphs and 911 adult ticks, from the species Rhipicephalus microplus , Amblyomma spp , A. cajennense, Amblyomma ovale, Amblyomma brasiliense e Amblyomma tigrinum. This paper reports for the first time larvae of R. b. microplus and adult of A. brasiliense parasitizing C. brachyurus in the country, reinforcing the findings in previous studies of these species of ticks using the maned wolves as hosts . Blood and serum samples were also collected during chemical restraint, 67 blood samples of maned wolves and 52 adult ticks were tested using the technique of Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) for the detection of DNA of Anaplasma spp., Babesia spp. Ehrlichia spp., Hepatozoon spp. and Rickettsia spp. Serology was performed for the detection of antibodies to Rickettsia spp. 210 serum samples of domestic dogs were tested and 43 were positive. Four individuals showed reaction homologous to R. parkeri, two for R. rhipicephali and one for R. rickettsia. In addition, we tested 88 serum samples of maned wolf and 84 were positive for at least one species of Rickettsia and indicated homologous reaction to R. parkeri and R. rhipicephali. 84 maned wolf serum samples were in serology for Ehrlichia canis and 16 were positive. In molecular tests was detected and confirmed the presence of H. canis, H. felis and R. parkeri had already been described for the vertebrate and invertebrate hosts tested in the study. This is also the first report of Candidatus R. andeanae and Candidatus Midichloria mitocondrii in A. tigrinum (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 10/03492-3 - Occurrence of tick-borne pathogens (Anaplasma spp, Babesia spp, Ehrlichia spp, Hepatozoon spp e Rickettsia spp) in maned wolves and domestic dogs at Serra da Canastra National Park, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
• Grantee: Ricardo Corassa Arrais
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master