Molecular and serological detection of arthropod-borne pathogens in carnivorous birds from Brazil

Autor(es)

Vieira Sacchi, Ana Beatriz ^[1] ; Andre, Marcos Rogerio ^[1] ; Calchi, Ana Claudia ^[1] ; de Santi, Mariele ^[1] ; Guimaraes, Andresa ^[2] ; Pires, Jeferson Rocha ^[3] ; Baldani, Cristiane Divan ^[2] ; Werther, Karin ^[1] ; Machado, Rosangela Zacarias ^[1]

Afiliação do(s) autor(es)

^[1] Univ Estadual Paulista, Lab Imunoparasitol, Dept Patol Reprod & Saude Unica, Vet, Fac Ciencias Agr & Vet, UNESP, Jaboticabal, SP - Brazil

^[2] Univ Fed Rural Rio de Janeiro UFRRJ, Lab Patol Clin Diagnost Anim, Dept Med & Cirurgia Vet, Inst Vet, Seropedica, RJ - Brazil

^[3] Univ Estacio Sa UNESA, Ctr Recuperacao Anim Silvestres GRAS, Rio De Janeiro - Brazil

• Tipo de documento: Artigo Científico
• Fonte: VETERINARY PARASITOLOGY- REGIONAL STUDIES AND REPORTS; v. 23, JAN 2021.
• Citações Web of Science: 0

Resumo

Rickettsiales, Haemosporida and Rhizobiales agents can cause diseases that affect various animal species, including humans. Due to predation behaviour, carnivorous birds may play an important role in spreading these etiological agentes across geographically distant areas, specially if they are migratory. The aim of this study was to investigate the occurrence and to access the phylogenetic relations among Anaplasmataceae (Ehrlichia, Anaplasma, Neorickettsia), Bartonellaceae (Bartonella spp.), and Haemosporida (Plasmodium, Haemoproteus and Leucocytozoon) agents in blood samples from 121 carnivorous birds sampled in the states of Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Inclusions resembling hemoparasites were not observed in Giemsa-stained preparations. While three animals were seropositive for E. chaffeensis (3.41% {[}3/88]; 95% CI:1.17-9.55%), five showed antibodies to A. phagocytophilum (5.68% {[}5/88]; 95% CI: 2.45-12.62%). Despite the detection of rrs gene fragments closely related to E. chaffeensis (4.13% {[}5/121]; 95% CI: 1.78-9.31%), no positivity was observed in the qPCR based on the genes vlpt for the organism. Similarly, 12 (9.91% {[}12/121]; 95% CI: 5.76-16.74%) samples were positive in the qPCR for Anaplasma spp. based on groEL gene, but negative in the qPCR for A. phagocytophilum based on msp2 gene. Three samples were positive in the nPCR for E. canis based on rrs gene. Three samples were positive for Haemoproteus spp. and one for Plasmodium spp. in the nPCR based on cytB gene. Four birds (3.3% {[}4/121]; 95% CI: 1.29-8.19%) presented co-positivity by Ehrlichia sp. and Anaplasma sp. in molecular assays. One (0.82% {[}1/ 121]; 95% CI:0.15-4.53%) bird showed to be seropositive for E. chaffeensis and and positive in PCR for Haemoproteus sp. All birds were negative in the qPCR assay for Bartonella spp. (nuoG). The present work showed the occurrence of Anaplasmataceae agents and hemosporidians in carnivorous birds from southeastern Brazil. The role of these animals in the dispersion of Anaplasmataceae agents should be further investigated. (AU)

• Processo FAPESP: 12/11870-3 - Detecção sorológica e caracterização molecular de agentes transmitidos por artrópodes vetores em aves carnívoras no Brasil
• Beneficiário: Rosangela Zacarias Machado
• Modalidade de apoio: Auxílio à Pesquisa - Regular