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O cancro é uma das principais causas de morbilidade e mortalidade em animais de companhia. Em felinos domésticos, as neoplasias do sistema hematopoiético são as que apresentam uma maior expressão, e destas, o linfoma é o que possui um maior número de casos reportados. As neoplasias mamárias são consideradas como o terceiro tipo de tumores mais frequente em gatos. Vários estudos identificaram diferentes agentes infeciosos e parasitários como estando envolvidos na carcinogénese de diferentes tumores em oncologia humana e veterinária. No entanto, a informação relacionada com a função biológica dos agentes de transmissão vetorial na carcinogénese de tumores em felinos é escassa. Para além disso, a imunodepressão devida ao tumor e aos tratamentos oncológicos poderá permitir a multiplicação dos agentes infeciosos e originar a manifestação/agravamento de sinais clínicos associados a estes agentes, que poderão ser interpretados como sendo devidos aos tumores ou aos seus tratamentos. Neste estudo, pretendemos avaliar a prevalência de agentes de transmissão vetorial dos géneros Babesia, Hepatozoon, Ehrlichia/Anaplasma, Mycoplasma e Leishmania em felinos com linfomas e tumores mamários. No presente estudo foram analisados 61 felinos, dos quais 31 animais diagnosticados com linfoma através de citologia e/ou histopatologia, e 30 gatos com diagnóstico histopatológico de tumor mamário , provenientes da região centro de Portugal. A presença de ADN dos agentes de transmissão vetorial no sangue total destes animais foi analisada através de PCR convencional. Todos os felinos incluídos no estudo testaram negativo para os seis géneros testados. De acordo com os nossos resultados, a prevalência de agentes de transmissão vetorial na população de gatos com linfoma e tumores mamários estudada é baixa. Serão necessários outros estudos, com diferentes populações e com outros tumores, para confirmar os nossos resultados. No entanto, estes agentes deverão ser considerados em doentes oncológicos com sinais clínicos compatíveis com infeção por agentes de transmissão vetorial, principalmente considerando a imunodepressão associada à doença oncológica e aos seus tratamentos. Para além disso, os animais com doenças oncológicas e infetados por agentes de transmissão vetorial deverão ser estudados no sentido de avaliar a possível implicação destes agentes na carcinogénese de doenças oncológicas. Cancer is one of the main causes of morbidity and mortality in companion animals. The neoplasias of the hematopoietic system are the most frequent tumors reported in domestic cats, and among these, lymphoma is the most common. Mammary tumors are considered to be third most frequent type of tumor in domestic felines. Several studies have identified different infectious and parasitic agents as being involved in the carcinogenesis of different tumors in human and veterinary oncology. Nevertheless, the available information related to the biological role of vector-borne infections/diseases in feline carcinogenesis is scarce. Moreover, immunodepression associated with tumor and cancer treatments may allow the proliferation of infectious agents and lead to the manifestation/aggravation of clinical signs associated with these agents, which may be interpreted as being due to the tumors or their treatments. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of vector-borne agents of genera Babesia, Hepatozoon, Ehrlichia/Anaplasma, Mycoplasma and Leishmania in cats with lymphomas and mammary tumors. In the present study, 61 cats from the central region of Portugal diagnosed with lymphoma (n=31) by cytology and/or histopathology and with histopathological diagnosis of mammary tumor (n=30) were analyzed. The presence of vector-borne agents DNA in the total blood of these animals was investigated by conventional PCR. All felines included in the study tested negative for the six selected genera. According to these results, the prevalence of vector-borne agents amongst the analyzed feline population with lymphoma and mammary tumors is low. Further studies, with different populations and with other tumors are needed to confirm these results. However, these agents should be considered in oncology patients with clinical signs compatible with infections by vector-borne agents, especially considering the immunodepression associated with oncologic diseases and its treatments. Furthermore, animals with oncologic diseases infected with vector-borne agents should be further studied in order to evaluate the possible implications of these agents in tumor carcinogenesis.

Wildlife interaction with humans increases the risk of potentially infected ticks seeking an opportunistic blood meal and consequently leading to zoonotic transmission. In the United States, human babesiosis is a tick-borne zoonosis most commonly caused by the intraerythrocytic protozoan parasite, Babesia microti. The presence of Babesia microti and other species of Babesia within Texas has not been well characterized, and the molecular prevalence of these pathogens within wildlife species is largely unknown. Small (e.g. rodents) and medium sized mammalian species (e.g. racoons) represent potential reservoirs for specific species of Babesia, though this relationship has not been thoroughly evaluated within Texas. This study aimed to characterize the molecular prevalence of Babesia species within small and medium sized mammals at two sites in East Texas with an emphasis on detection of pathogen presence in these two contrasting wild mammal groups at these sites. To that end, a total of 480 wild mammals representing eight genera were trapped, sampled, and screened for Babesia species using the TickPath layerplex qPCR assay. Two sites were selected for animal collection, including The Big Thicket National Preserve and Gus Engeling Wildlife Management Area. Molecular analysis revealed the prevalence of various Babesia and Hepathozoon species at 0.09% each, and Sarcocystis at 0.06% . Continued molecular prevalence surveys of tick-borne pathogens in Texas wild mammals will be needed to provide novel information as to which species of Babesia are most prevalent and identify specific wildlife species as pathogen reservoirs., Graphical abstract Image 1, Highlights • Babesia microti was identified for the first time in Texas and only within raccoons. • 3 Hepatozoon spp. were found within Texas wild mammals. • Co-infections of Babesia microti, Babesia spp. and Hepatozoon spp. were detected in sampled mammals.

Among the Apicomplexa parasites, Hepatozoon spp. have been mainly studied in domestic animals and peri-urban areas. The epidemiology of Hepatozoon spp. is poorly investigated in natural systems and wild hosts because of their scarce veterinary and economic relevance. For most habitats, the occurrence of these parasites is unknown, despite their high ecosystemic role. To fill this gap for alpine small mammals, we applied molecular PCR-based methods and sequencing to determine the Hepatozoon spp. in 830 ear samples from 11 small mammal species (i.e., Apodemus, Myodes, Chionomys, Microtus, Crocidura and Sorex genera) live-trapped during a cross-sectional study along an altitudinal gradient in the North-Eastern Italian Alps. We detected Hepatozoon spp. with an overall prevalence of 35.9%. Two species ranging from 500 m a.s.l. to 2500 m a.s.l. were the most infected: My. glareolus, followed by Apodemus spp. Additionally, we detected the parasite for the first time in another alpine species: C. nivalis at 2000–2500 m a.s.l. Our findings suggest that several rodent species maintain Hepatozoon spp. along the alpine altitudinal gradient of habitats. The transmission pathway of this group of parasites and their role within the alpine mammal community need further investigation, especially in consideration of the rapidly occurring environmental and climatic changes. First Record of Hepatozoon spp. in Alpine Wild Rodents: Implications and Perspectives for Transmission Dynamics across the Food Web

Babesia microti (Aconoidasida: Piroplasmida) (Franca, 1910) is an important tick-borne zoonotic parasite with rodents serving as reservoir hosts. In the present study, 536 rodents were captured from Burdur, Bartin, Giresun, and Yozgat provinces of Turkey between the years 2010 and 2012, and blood samples were examined for the presence of Babesia spp. using conventional PCR which targeted the 18S rRNA gene. The sequence analysis of PCR amplicons was tested for B. microti as well as for Hepatozoon spp., and Sarcocystis spp. Overall, 5.8% of the rodents were positive for B. microti: 41% in Myodes glareolus, 7.7% in Chionomys roberti, and 2% in Apodemus spp., whereas no Babesia DNA was detected in Mus macedonicus and Microtus spp. Six rodents were positive for Hepatozoon spp. and one rodent was positive for Sarcocystis spp. Overall, 14.9 and 4.5% of rodents captured from Bartin and Giresun provinces, respectively, were PCR positive for B. microti, whereas none of rodents captured in Burdur and Yozgat were positive for Babesia spp. The sequence data of B. microti from rodents revealed that all sequences belonged to the zoonotic genotype. Sequences of B. microti obtained from rodents of the Bartin province were genotypically closer to European isolates, whereas those obtained from rodents of the Giresun province were closer to Russian and Mongolian isolates.

application/pdf, Tick-borne diseases (TBD) in dogs have been an emerging issue worldwide. In the Philip-pines, most reports are in the northern areas, which include Babesia,Ehrlichia,Anaplasma, and Hepatozoon spp. The Mycoplasma spp., a suspected TBD pathogen, has not been re-ported in Philippine dogs while Hepatozoon spp. has not been previously documented in the southern Philippines. The present study aimed to evaluate the presence of Mycoplasma and Hepatozoon spp. in dogs in Cebu, Philippines. A total of 100 dogs from four veterinary clin-ics and hospitals were tested for Hepatozoon and Mycoplasma spp. using PCR. The inclusion criteria used were presence or history of ticks, anemia and/or thrombocytopenia. Clinical signs of the dogs were also obtained. There were four and two dogs found positive for Hepa-tozoon and Mycoplasma spp., respectively using PCR, and two dogs were found positive for Hepatozoon spp. using PBSE. Clinical signs such as lethargy, inappetence, fever, weight loss, and paleness were observed in most of the subjects. This study is the first of Mycoplasmaspp. detection in Philippine dogs, and the initial report of Hepatozoon spp. in the southern Philippines.

Ticks have a great importance in human and veterinary medicine but general knowledge about tick fauna in different hosts in Serbia is lacking. Since research on ticks that parasitize foxes has not been done systematically, the goal of this study was to research the tick fauna in Red Fox population and identify the most important tick-borne pathogens that can be transmitted to other mammals, including humans. For the purpose of this study 129 red foxes and 113 ticks parasitizing on them were collected. A total of six tick species was identified. The most abundant species was Ixodes ricinus (69%), followed by I. hexagonus (11.5%), I. canisuga (5.3%), I. kaiseri (5.3%), Dermacentor reticulatus (4.4%) and Haemaphysalis concinna (4.4%). Spleen samples from 129 collected red foxes were individually tested for presence of following tick-borne pathogens: Anaplasmataceae, Hepatozoon spp., Babesia spp., Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato, Rickettsia spp., Coxiella burnetii, Francisella tularensis and Bartonella spp. DNA of pathogenic microorganisms was detected in spleen samples of 94 out of 129 animals (72.9%). DNA of Hepatozoon spp. was detected in 79 analyzed animals (61.2%). H. canis was identified after sequencing and analyzing the data. DNA of Babesia spp. was detected in 38 analyzed animals (29.5%). Presence of two Babesia species was confirmed: B. vulpes in 37 samples (28.7%) and B. canis in one sample (0.8%). Borrelia burgdorferi s. l. complex revealed presence of the pathogen in 7 samples (5.4%) from 5 localities. The obtained sequences from sequencing of 5S-23S rRNA intergenic spacer region confirmed presence of three B. burgdorferi s. l. species: B. burgdorferi s. s., B. lusitaniae and B. garinii. Finally Candidatus Neoerlichia sp. (FU98) was confirmed in 6 Red Fox individuals. Крпељи имају велики значај у хуманој и ветеринарској медицини, али генерално недостају информације о фауни крпеља код различитих домаћинима у Србији. Будући да истраживање на крпељима који паразитирају на лисицама није рађено систематски, циљ ове студије је био да истражити фауну крпеља у популацији лисице, и да идентификује најважније патогене који преносе крпељи, а који се се могу пренети на друге сисаре, укључујући и људе. За потребе ове студије прикупљено је 129 лисица и 113 крпеља који паразитирају на њима. Идентификовано је укупно шест врста крпеља. Ixodes ricinus (69%), је била најбројнија врста, и прате је I. hexagonus (11.5%), I. canisuga (5.3%), I. kaiseri (5.3%), Dermacentor reticulatus (4.4%) и Haemaphysalis concinna (4.4%). Прикупљени узорци слезине од 129 лисица појединачно су тестирани на присуство следећих патогена који преносе крпељи: Anaplasmataceae, Hepatozoon spp., Babesia spp., Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato, Rickettsia spp., Coxiella burnetii, Francisella tularensis и Bartonella spp. ДНК патогених микроорганизама је детектована у узорцима слезине код 94 од 129 анализираних животиња (72.9%). ДНК пореклом од Hepatozoon spp. jе детектована у 79 анализираних животиња (61.2%). H. canis је идентификован након секвенцирања и анализирања података. ДНК Babesia spp. је детектована код 38 анализираних животиња (29.5%). Потврђено је присуство две врсте Babesia: B. vulpes код 37 узорака (28.7%), и B. canis у једном узорку (0.8%). Присуство Borrelia burgdorferi s. l. комплекса је откривено код 7 узорака (5.4%) на 5 локалитета. Секвенцирањем добијених секвенци 5S-23S rRNA интергенског региона потврђено је присуство три B. burgdorferi s. l. врсте: B. burgdorferi s. s., B. lusitaniae и B. garinii. Коначно, Candidatus Neoerlichia sp. (FU98) је потврђена код 6 јединки лисица.

The aim of this study was to determine the presence of Hepatozoon sp in free-living spectacled caiman (Caiman crocodilus) in Bajo Madre de Dios, located in the department of Madre Dios, Peru. Blood samples were taken from 30 individuals (21 males, 4 females, 5 of undetermined sex) from three age categories (sub-adult, adult and reproductive active adult). The alligators were captured on the bank of the Bajo Madre de Dios river. Two smears per sample were prepared, fixed with methanol and stained with May-Grunwald Giemsa. The biometric measurements of the gametocytes, both intra and extra-erythrocytic were determined, confirming their correspondence with the genus Hepatozoon. The results showed that 90% (27/30) of the individuals were positive for Hepatozoon sp, being 100% females (4/4), 95.2% (20/21) of males and 60.0% (3/5) of undetermined sex., El objetivo de la investigación fue determinar la presencia de Hepatozoon sp en el caimán blanco (Caiman crocodilus) de vida libre en el Bajo Madre de Dios, ubicado en el departamento de Madre Dios, Perú. Se tomaron muestras de sangre de 30 individuos (21 machos, 4 hembras, 5 de sexo indeterminado) de tres categorías etarias (sub-adulto, adulto y adulto reproductor). Los caimanes fueron capturados a la orilla del río Bajo Madre de Dios. Se realizaron dos frotis por muestra, se fijaron con metanol y se tiñeron con May-Grunwald Giemsa. Se determinaron las medidas biométricas de los gamatocitos, tanto intra como extraeritroíitico, confirmando su correspondencia con el género Hepatozoon. El 90% (27/30) de los individuos fueron positivos a Hepatozoon sp, correspondiendo al 100% de hembras (4/4), 95.2% (20/21) de machos y 60.0% (3/5) de sexo indeterminado.

Made available in DSpace on 2021-06-25T10:14:39Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2021-01-01 Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq) Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP) Trombidiformes and Mesostigmata mites, as well as Ixodida ticks, infest ectothermic tetrapods worldwide, potentially acting as vectors of bacteria, viruses and protozoa. The relationship among ectoparasites, transmitted pathogenic agents (e.g., Borrelia spp., Coxiella spp., Hepatozoon spp., and Rickettsia spp.) and ectothermic hosts has been scarcely investigated. This research focuses on a large collection of Brazilian herpetofauna screened for the presence of arthropod ectoparasites and vector-borne microbial agents. Reptiles (n = 121) and amphibians (n = 49) from various locations were infested by ectoparasites. Following genomic extraction, microbial agents were detected in 81 % of the Acari (i.e. n = 113 mites and n = 26 ticks). None of the mites, ticks and tissues from amphibians yielded positive results for any of the screened agents. Blood was collected from reptiles and processed through blood cytology and molecular analyses (n = 48). Of those, six snakes (12.5 %) showed intraerythrocytic alterations compatible with Hepatozoon spp. gamonts and Iridovirus inclusions. Hepatozoon spp. similar to Hepatozoon ayorgbor and Hepatozoon musa were molecularly identified from seven hosts, two mite and two tick species. Rickettsia spp. (e.g., Rickettsia amblyommatis, Rickettsia bellii-like, Rickettsia sp.) were detected molecularly from four mite species and Amblyomma rotundatum ticks. Phylogenetic analyses confirmed the molecular identification of the above-mentioned microbial agents of mites and ticks related to snakes and lizards. Overall, our findings highlighted that the Brazilian herpetofauna and its ectoparasites harbour potentially pathogenic agents, particularly from the northern and south-eastern regions. The detection of several species of spotted fever group Rickettsia pointed out the potential role of ectothermic hosts and related arthropod ectoparasites in the epidemiological cycle of these bacteria in Brazil. Department of Veterinary Medicine University of Bari Faculty of Veterinary Medicine University of São Paulo Zoological Collections Laboratory Butantan Institute Master's Program in Veterinary Medicine and Animal Welfare and Doctoral Program in One Health Santo Amaro University Deparment of Veterinary Medicine Anhembi Morumbi University Vila Tramontano Department of Agriculture Food and Environment University of Pisa, via Del Borghetto 80 Department of Veterinary Pathology Universidade Estadual Paulista Julio De Mesquita Filho (UNESP) Department of Pathobiology Faculty of Veterinary Science Bu-Ali Sina University Felestin Sq. Department of Veterinary Pathology Universidade Estadual Paulista Julio De Mesquita Filho (UNESP) CNPq: 142409/2015-4 FAPESP: 2010/51875-9 FAPESP: 2017/12910-2 CNPq: 440639/2015-8 CNPq: 454907/2014-1

The Ixodidae family comprises ticks that are hematophagous ectoparasites and are considered vectors of several hemoparasites from the Anaplasmataceae family and the genus Hepatozoon, Babesia, and Rickettsia. These ectoparasites parasitize domestic and wild animals belonging to several vertebrate groups. Ticks are highly adapted to different biomes and thus possess a wide geographical distribution. In the Brazilian state of Bahia, localized in the Northeast region, there are large rainforest fragments. Studies have rarely been carried out on ticks, and their hemoparasites, that parasitize wild animals in this region. Thus, this study aimed to identify the tick species parasitizing wild animals rescued in rainforest fragments of Bahia and investigate the presence of hemoparasites in tick tissues. During a 2-year period, 238 ticks were collected from 41 wild mammalians, reptiles, and amphibians. These ectoparasites were taxonomically classified according to their morphological characteristics. The ticks identified belonged to five different species from the Ixodidae family: Amblyomma varium, Amblyomma rotundatum, Amblyomma nodosum, Ixodes loricatus, and Rhipicephalus sanguineus. For the first time, an A. rotundatum parasitizing the Mesoclemmys tuberculata turtle was described. PCR assays using DNA extracted from salivary glands or midgut of the ticks were performed to detect specific DNA fragments of hemoparasites from the genus Rickettsia, Ehrlichia, Babesia, Hepatozoon, and from the Anaplasmataceae family. The results showed positive detection of the Rickettsia genus (7.9%), Anaplasmataceae family (15.8%), and Hepatozoon genus (15.8%). Specific DNA from the Ehrlichia and Babesia genera were not detected in these samples. Specific DNA from members of the Anaplasmataceae family was detected in A. varium for the first time. The present work showed that amphibians, reptiles, and mammals from Bahia's Atlantic Forest areparasitized by different tick species, and that these ectoparasites present pathogens in their tissues that impact both humans and animals due to their zoonotic potential.

International audience; Dogs are competent reservoirs/hosts of several protozoan pathogens transmitted by blood-feeding arthropods. Throughout their long history of domestication, they have served as a link for the exchange of parasites among livestock, wildlife, and humans and therefore remain an important source of emerging and re-emerging diseases. In Algeria, while canine leishmaniosis (CanL) is well known to be endemic, no data are available on other vector-borne protozoans. Here, we investigate the occurrence and diversity of trypanosomes, piroplasms and Hepatozoon spp. and update the epidemiological status of CanL in dogs from Kabylia, northern Algeria. A total of 227 dogs from three regions of Kabylia were enrolled, including 77 dogs with clinical signs. Dogs were clinically examined and were tested for L. infantum antibodies using a Rapid Immuno-Migration (RIM™) and a quantitative indirect Immunofluorescence Antibody Test (IFAT). PCR screening and sequencing were performed for vector-borne protozoa. Sixty two percent (141/227) of dogs presented at least one infection, whereas 26% (59/227) were co-infected. L. infantum antibodies were detected in 35.7% (81/227) of dogs including 88.7% (68/77) of sick dogs. Molecular investigation revealed prevalence of: 6.6% (15/227), 13.2% (30/227), 41% (93/227) for Trypanosoma spp., B. vogeli and H. canis, respectively. T. evansi (3.1%) and potential new subspecies of T. congolense had been identified. Dog''s clinical status correlates positively with L. infantum antibody titers and the presence of co-infections. Susceptibility to CanL varied according to the dog's aptitude and guard dogs were more infected (51%) (P-value = .001). B. vogeli infection was more frequent in juveniles than adults (32% vs 9%, P-value < .001) and in females than males (21% vs 10%, P-value = .02). To the authors' knowledge, this is the first report on vector-borne protozoa infected dogs in Algeria. Current results are important not only for animal health, but also to avoid serious public health and livestock problems.

Babesia microti (Aconoidasida: Piroplasmida) (Franca, 1910) is an important tick-borne zoonotic parasite with rodents serving as reservoir hosts. In the present study, 536 rodents were captured from Burdur, Bartin, Giresun, and Yozgat provinces of Turkey between the years 2010 and 2012, and blood samples were examined for the presence of Babesia spp. using conventional PCR which targeted the 18S rRNA gene. The sequence analysis of PCR amplicons was tested for B. microti as well as for Hepatozoon spp., and Sarcocystis spp. Overall, 5.8% of the rodents were positive for B. microti: 41% in Myodes glareolus, 7.7% in Chionomys roberti, and 2% in Apodemus spp., whereas no Babesia DNA was detected in Mus macedonicus and Microtus spp. Six rodents were positive for Hepatozoon spp. and one rodent was positive for Sarcocystis spp. Overall, 14.9 and 4.5% of rodents captured from Bartin and Giresun provinces, respectively, were PCR positive for B. microti, whereas none of rodents captured in Burdur and Yozgat were positive for Babesia spp. The sequence data of B. microti from rodents revealed that all sequences belonged to the zoonotic genotype. Sequences of B. microti obtained from rodents of the Bartin province were genotypically closer to European isolates, whereas those obtained from rodents of the Giresun province were closer to Russian and Mongolian isolates. © 2019 Crown copyright 2019.

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Cient?fico e Tecnol?gico (CNPq) - (grant 311686/2015-0); Conselho de Aperfei?oamento de Pessoal cient?fico e Tecnol?gico (CNPq) - (grant 311686/2015-0) Universidade Federal do Par?. Instituto de Ci?ncias Biol?gicas. Laborat?rio de Tecnologia Biomolecular. Bel?m, PA, Brazil. Universidade Federal do Par?. Instituto de Ci?ncias Biol?gicas. Laborat?rio de Tecnologia Biomolecular. Bel?m, PA, Brazil. Universidade Federal do Par?. Instituto de Ci?ncias Biol?gicas. Laborat?rio de Tecnologia Biomolecular. Bel?m, PA, Brazil. Universidade Estadual Paulista - Campus de Botucatu. Instituto de Bioci?ncias. Departamento de Parasitologia. Botucatu, SP, Brazil. Minist?rio da Sa?de. Secretaria de Vigil?ncia em Sa?de. Centro de Inova??es Tecnol?gicas. Instituto Evandro Chagas. Ananindeua, PA, Brasil. Universidade Federal do Par?. Instituto de Ci?ncias Biol?gicas. Laborat?rio de Tecnologia Biomolecular. Bel?m, PA, Brazil. Universidade Federal do Par?. Instituto de Ci?ncias Biol?gicas. Laborat?rio de Tecnologia Biomolecular. Bel?m, PA, Brazil. Minist?rio da Sa?de. Secretaria de Vigil?ncia em Sa?de. Instituto Evandro Chagas. Ananindeua, PA, Brasil / Universidade Federal do Par?. Instituto de Ci?ncias Biol?gicas. Laborat?rio de Tecnologia Biomolecular. Bel?m, PA, Brazil. This study aimed to optimize molecular methods for detecting DNA of Hepatozoon spp. as well as identify the phylogenetic relationships of Hepatozoon strains naturally infecting domestic dogs in Bel?m, Par?, northern Brazil. Blood samples were collected from 138 dogs, and screened for Hepatozoon spp. using a new nested PCR assay. Positive samples were subjected to genetic characterization based on amplification and sequencing of approximately 670 bp of the Hepatozoon spp. 18S rRNA. Of the positive dogs, four shared the haplotype Bel?m 01, one dog presented the haplotype Bel?m 02 and two dogs shared the haplotype Bel?m 03. A Bayesian inference indicates that haplotypes Bel?m 01 and Bel?m 02 are phylogenetically related to H. canis, while Bel?m 03 is related to H. americanum. Overall, based on the first molecular evidence of H. americanum in Brazilian domestic dogs, the proposed protocol may improve the epidemiological investigation of canine hepatozoonosis.

Background: In the Mediterranean basin, Leishmania infantum is a major cause of disease in dogs, which are frequently co-infected with other vector-borne pathogens (VBP). However, the associations between dogs with clinical leishmaniosis (ClinL) and VBP co-infections have not been studied. We assessed the risk of VBP infections in dogs with ClinL and healthy controls. Methods: We conducted a prospective case-control study of dogs with ClinL (positive qPCR and ELISA antibody for L. infantum on peripheral blood) and clinically healthy, ideally breed-, sex- and age-matched, control dogs (negative qPCR and ELISA antibody for L. infantum on peripheral blood) from Paphos, Cyprus. We obtained demographic data and all dogs underwent PCR on EDTA-blood extracted DNA for haemoplasma species, Ehrlichia/Anaplasma spp., Babesia spp., and Hepatozoon spp., with DNA sequencing to identify infecting species. We used logistic regression analysis and structural equation modelling (SEM) to evaluate the risk of VBP infections between ClinL cases and controls.Results: From the 50 enrolled dogs with ClinL, DNA was detected in 24 (48%) for Hepatozoon spp., 14 (28%) for Mycoplasma haemocanis, 6 (12%) for Ehrlichia canis and 2 (4%) for Anaplasma platys. In the 92 enrolled control dogs, DNA was detected in 41 (45%) for Hepatozoon spp., 18 (20%) for M. haemocanis, 1 (1%) for E. canis and 3 (3%) for A. platys. No Babesia spp. or “Candidatus Mycoplasma haematoparvum” DNA was detected in any dog. No statistical differences were found between the ClinL and controls regarding age, sex, breed, lifestyle and use of ectoparasitic prevention. A significant association between ClinL and E. canis infection (OR = 12.4, 95% CI: 1.5–106.0, P = 0.022) was found compared to controls by multivariate logistic regression. This association was confirmed using SEM, which further identified that younger dogs were more likely to be infected with each of Hepatozoon spp. and M. haemocanis, and dogs with Hepatozoon spp. were more likely to be co-infected with M. haemocanis.Conclusions: Dogs with ClinL are at a higher risk of co-infection with E. canis than clinically healthy dogs. We recommend that dogs diagnosed with ClinL should be tested for E. canis co-infection using PCR.

Made available in DSpace on 2018-12-11T17:31:43Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2017-04-15 Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP) Hepatozoon parasites comprise intracellular apicomplexan parasites transmitted to vertebrate animals by ingestion of arthropods definitive hosts. The present work aimed to investigate the occurrence of Hepatozoon spp. in wild animals, domestic dogs and their respective ectoparasites, in southern Pantanal region, central-western Brazil, by molecular techniques. Between August 2013 and March 2015, 31 coatis (Nasua nasua), 78 crab-eating foxes (Cerdocyon thous), seven ocelots (Leopardus pardalis), 42 dogs (Canis lupus familiaris), 110 wild rodents (77 Thichomys fosteri, 25 Oecomys mamorae, and 8 Clyomys laticeps), 30 marsupials (14 Thylamys macrurus, 11 Gracilinanus agilis, 4 Monodelphis domestica and 1 Didelphis albiventris), and 1582 ticks and 80 fleas collected from the sampled animals were investigated. DNA samples were submitted to PCR assays for Hepatozoon spp. targeting 18S rRNA gene. Purified amplicons were directly sequenced and submitted to phylogenetic analysis. A high prevalence of Hepatozoon among carnivores (C. thous [91.02%], dogs [45.23%], N. nasua [41.9%] and L. pardalis [71.4%]) was found. However, ticks and fleas were negative to Hepatozoon PCR assays. By phylogenetic analysis based on 18S rRNA sequences, Hepatozoon sequences amplified from crab-eating foxes, dogs, coatis and ocelots clustered with sequences of H. canis, H. americanum and H. felis. The closely related positioning of Hepatozoon sequences amplified from wild rodents and T. macrurus marsupial to Hepatozoon from reptiles and amphibians suggest a possible transmission of those Hepatozoon species between hosts by ectoparasites or by predation. Hepatozoon haplotypes found circulating in wild rodents seem to present a higher degree of polymorphism when compared to those found in other groups of animals. Although rodents seem not to participate as source of Hepatozoon infection to wild carnivores and domestic dogs, they may play an important role in the transmission of Hepatozoon to reptiles and amphibians in Pantanal biome. Faculdade de Ciências Agrárias e Veterinárias/Universidade Estadual Paulista UNESP Universidade Católica Dom Bosco Universidade Federal da Paraíba Laboratório de Ecologia Animal Universidade de São Paulo, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia Laboratório de Parasitologia Instituto Butantan São Paulo Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso do Sul Embrapa gado de corte Faculdade de Ciências Agrárias e Veterinárias/Universidade Estadual Paulista UNESP

Hepatozoon parasites comprise intracellular apicomplexan parasites transmitted to vertebrate animals by ingestion of arthropods definitive hosts. The present work aimed to investigate the occurrence of Hepatozoon spp. in wild animals, domestic dogs and their respective ectoparasites, in southern Pantanal region, central-western Brazil, by molecular techniques. Between August 2013 and March 2015, 31 coatis (Nasua nasua), 78 crab-eating foxes (Cerdocyon thous), seven ocelots (Leopardus pardalis), 42 dogs (Canis lupus familiaris), 110 wild rodents (77 Thichomys fosteri, 25 Oecomys mamorae, and 8 Clyomys laticeps), 30 marsupials (14 Thylamys macrurus, 11 Gracilinanus agilis, 4 Monodelphis domestica and 1 Didelphis albiventris), and 1582 ticks and 80 fleas collected from the sampled animals were investigated. DNA samples were submitted to PCR assays for Hepatozoon spp. targeting 18S rRNA gene. Purified amplicons were directly sequenced and submitted to phylogenetic analysis. A high prevalence of Hepatozoon among carnivores (C. thous [91.02%], dogs [45.23%], N. nasua [41.9%] and L. pardalis [71.4%]) was found. However, ticks and fleas were negative to Hepatozoon PCR assays. By phylogenetic analysis based on 18S rRNA sequences, Hepatozoon sequences amplified from crab-eating foxes, dogs, coatis and ocelots clustered with sequences of H. canis, H. americanum and H. felis. The closely related positioning of Hepatozoon sequences amplified from wild rodents and T. macrurus marsupial to Hepatozoon from reptiles and amphibians suggest a possible transmission of those Hepatozoon species between hosts by ectoparasites or by predation. Hepatozoon haplotypes found circulating in wild rodents seem to present a higher degree of polymorphism when compared to those found in other groups of animals. Although rodents seem not to participate as source of Hepatozoon infection to wild carnivores and domestic dogs, they may play an important role in the transmission of Hepatozoon to reptiles and amphibians in Pantanal biome. Made available in DSpace on 2018-02-06T23:41:06Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 MoleculardetectionofHepatozoonspp.indomesticdogsandwild.pdf: 1982451 bytes, checksum: 8c94a1fa32b0477e017458b0c0278398 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2018-02-06

The occurrence of Hepatozoon gamont in the blood cells of Bothrops jararaca and B. jararacussu in captivity was analyzed. The prevalence of infection by Hepatozoon spp. was 50% and few erythrocytes contained the gamonts. Results suggest that the infection by Hepatozoon spp. occurred in the natural environment or after the captivity.

The occurrence of Hepatozoon gamont in the blood cells of Bothrops jararaca and B. jararacussu in captivity was analyzed. The prevalence of infection by Hepatozoon spp. was 50% and few erythrocytes contained the gamonts. Results suggest that the infection by Hepatozoon spp. occurred in the natural environment or after the captivity.