Molecular Detection of Tick-Borne Agents in Cats from Southeastern and Northern Brazil

Autor(es)

Andre, Marcos Rogerio ^[1] ; Calchi, Ana Claudia ^[1] ; Furquim, Maria Eduarda Chiaradia ^[1] ; de Andrade, Isabela ^[1] ; Arantes, Paulo Vitor Cadina ^[1] ; de Melo Lopes, Lara Cristina ^[1] ; Demarchi, Iuri Kauan Lins do Nascimento ^[2] ; Figueiredo, Mayra Araguaia Pereira ^[2] ; de Paula Lima, Cirilo Antonio ^[3] ; Machado, Rosangela Zacarias ^[1]

Afiliação do(s) autor(es)

^[1] Univ Estadual Paulista, Lab Imunoparasitol, Dept Patol Reprod & Saude Unica, Fac Ciencias Agr & Vet, UNESP, BR-14884900 Jaboticabal, SP - Brazil

^[2] Univ Fed Rondonia, Lab Parasitol Entomol & Biol Mol Aplicada Saude U, BR-76940000 Rolim De Moura, RO - Brazil

^[3] Univ Fed Uberlandia, Dept Cirurgia Vet, BR-38400902 Uberlandia, MG - Brazil

• Tipo de documento: Artigo Científico
• Fonte: PATHOGENS; v. 11, n. 1 JAN 2022.
• Citações Web of Science: 0

Resumo

Even though the epidemiology of tick-borne agents (TBA) in dogs has been extensively investigated around the world, the occurrence, vectors involved, and molecular identity of these agents in cats remains elusive in many regions. Among TBA, Ehrlichia, Anaplasma, Babesia, Cytauxzoon, and Hepatozoon are responsible for diseases with non-specific clinical signs in cats, making essential the use of molecular techniques for accurate diagnosis and proper treatment. The present work aimed to investigate the occurrence and molecular identity of tick-borne agents (Ehrlichia, Anaplasma, Babesia/Theileria, Cytauxzoon, and Hepatozoon) in cats from southeastern (states of Sao Paulo (SP) and Minas Gerais (MG)) and northern (state of Rondonia (RO)) Brazil. For this purpose, 390 blood samples were collected from domiciled cats in MG (n = 155), SP (n = 151), and RO(n = 84) states, submitted to DNA extraction and PCR assays for Ehrlichia spp. (dsb gene), Anaplasma spp. (rrs gene), piroplasmids (18S rRNA gene), and Hepatozoon spp. (18S rRNA gene), sequencing, and phylogenetic inferences. The overall positivity for Anaplasma spp., Ehrlichia spp., Babesia/Theileria spp., Cytauxzoon spp., and Hepatozoon spp. were 7.4% (12.3% (MG) and 6.6% (SP)), 2% (4.5% (MG) and 0.6% (SP)), 0.7% (0.6% (MG), 0.6% (SP) and 1.2% (RO)), 27.2% (41.9% (MG), 24.5% (SP) and 4.8% (RO), and 0%, respectively. The phylogenetic analysis grouped the obtained sequences with `Candidatus Anaplasma amazonensis', A. platys, B. vogeli, and Cytauxzoon sp. previously detected in wild felids from Brazil. qPCR specific for E. canis based on the dsb gene confirmed the molecular identity of the detected ehrlichial agent. The present study expanded the list and geographical distribution of hemoparasites in cats. `Candidatus Anaplasma amazonensis', recently detected in sloths from northern Brazil, was described for the first time in cats. This is the first report of piroplasmids infecting cats in northern Brazil. Coinfection by Cytauxzoon and other TBA (Ehrlichia, Anaplasma, and B. vogeli) reported in the present study raises the need for veterinary practitioners' awareness of cats parasitized by multiple TBA. (AU)

• Processo FAPESP: 20/12773-8 - Detecção molecular de Hepatozoon sp. em felinos domésticos nos estados de Minas Gerais, São Paulo e Rondônia
• Beneficiário: Isabela de Andrade
• Modalidade de apoio: Bolsas no Brasil - Iniciação Científica
• Processo FAPESP: 19/10101-5 - Detecção e caracterização molecular de piroplasmídeos em felinos domésticos no estado de Minas Gerais
• Beneficiário: Isabela de Andrade
• Modalidade de apoio: Bolsas no Brasil - Iniciação Científica
• Processo FAPESP: 19/19027-2 - Detecção e caracterização molecular de Cytauxzoon spp. em felinos domésticos nos estados de Minas Gerais e São Paulo
• Beneficiário: Paulo Vitor Cadina Arantes
• Modalidade de apoio: Bolsas no Brasil - Iniciação Científica
• Processo FAPESP: 18/02753-0 - ISOLAMENTO E GENOTIPAGEM DE Bartonella spp. EM MAMIFEROS RESERVATÓRIOS DOMÉSTICOS E SELVAGENS NO BRASIL
• Beneficiário: Marcos Rogério André
• Modalidade de apoio: Auxílio à Pesquisa - Regular
• Processo FAPESP: 19/26109-5 - Detecção e caracterização molecular de Ehrlichia spp. e Anaplasma spp. em felinos domiciliados e errantes em Minas Gerais
• Beneficiário: Lara Cristina de Melo Lopes
• Modalidade de apoio: Bolsas no Brasil - Iniciação Científica
• Processo FAPESP: 20/07826-5 - Diversidade de piroplasmídeos em mamíferos e aves selvagens no Brasil
• Beneficiário: Ana Cláudia Calchi
• Modalidade de apoio: Bolsas no Brasil - Doutorado
• Processo FAPESP: 20/12037-0 - Diversidade de piroplasmídeos em aves e mamíferos selvagens no Brasil
• Beneficiário: Marcos Rogério André
• Modalidade de apoio: Auxílio à Pesquisa - Regular