Search

In South America, apicomplexan parasites of the genus Hepatozoon have been sporadically detected in mammals. Previous studies in wild canids from Brazil and Argentina demonstrated infections by species genetically related to Hepatozoon americanum. The aim of the present work was to detect the presence of Hepatozoon in road-killed foxes encountered in Uruguayan highways. Blood samples from 45 crab-eating (Cerdocyon thous) and 32 grey pampean (Lycalopex gymnocercus) foxes were analyzed by PCR for Hepatozoon 18S rRNA gene. Eight foxes (10.4%) were found to be infected with an H. americanum-like protozoan, an Hepatozoon closely related to H. americanum. Bayesian and maximum-likelihood phylogenetic analyses revealed that the sequences obtained in this study cluster with H. americanum from the United States, and with an H. americanum-like species from dog and foxes from Brazil and Argentina. In the Unites States, H. americanum causes severe disease in dogs. In addition to this, an increasing habitat overlap between dogs and foxes makes the presence of H. americanum-like protozoan in foxes acquires veterinary relevance. This work represents the first report of L. gymnocercus infected with an H. americanum-like protozoan, and of wild canids infected with Hepatozoon in Uruguay.

Anaplasmataceae includes the genera Anaplasma, Ehrlichia, Neorickettsia and Wolbachia, comprising a group of obligate intracellular bacteria. The genus Anaplasma has pathogenic species transmitted by ticks of veterinary and human health importance. Wild ungulates such as deer represent important reservoirs and amplifiers of Anaplasmataceae. The interaction between deer and domestic ruminants represents a serious problem due to the transmission of these pathogens through their ectoparasites. In the present study, we investigated the presence of Anaplasmataceae organisms in blood, tissues and tick samples of a gray-brocket deer (Mazama gouazoubira). The specimen was found dead in a farm in northeast Uruguay. PCRs targeting partial regions of 16S rRNA and groESL genes were carried out for Anaplasmataceae DNA detection. Moreover, several ectoparasites were identified: the chewing louse Tricholipeurus albimarginatus, the Neotropical deer louse fly Lipoptena mazamae, and the ticks Haemaphysalis juxtakochi and Rhipicephalus microplus. A consensus sequence of 1274 bp of 16S rRNA was generated for Anaplasma sp. from the M. gouazoubira blood sample. All ticks analysed by PCR assays were negative. No band was detected in any of the samples after PCR targeting groESL gene. Phylogenetic analysis using 16S rRNA partial gene sequences, clustered the putative novel genotype sequence obtained in this study, named Anaplasma sp. genotype Mazama-Uruguay, along with Anaplasma sp. detected in Mazama sp., Mazama americana and Mazama bororo, all deer species from Brazil. Furthermore, this cluster showed to be closely related to Anaplasma bovis sequences obtained from various ruminants and other mammals from several parts of the world. The pathogenicity as well as its infecting potential to other cervids or domestic ruminants is currently unknown. Further studies should be performed in order to characterize this novel species, especially targeting other genes.

El objetivo del siguiente trabajo fue confirmar la presencia de Ehrlichia canis por diagnóstico molecular, a partir de muestras de perros con diagnósticos presuntivos, oriundos de la ciudad de Concordia, provincia de Entre Ríos. ADN fue extraído de 14 muestras de sangre de perros con diagnóstico presuntivo de EMC. Para la detección de ADN de E. canis se amplificó un fragmento del gen dsb, específico de este género, y su confirmación específica se realizó mediante secuenciación. Doce de las 14 muestras mostraron bandas del tamaño esperado. Las secuencias obtenidas mostraron un 98-100% de identidad con secuencias registradas en GenBank para E. canis. Además, se amplificó un fragmento del gen ARNr 16S mitocondrial de garrapatas obtenidas de un perro positivo. Las secuencias demostraron que corresponden a R. sanguineus sensu stricto (linaje templado). En este estudio se confirma la presencia de E. canis en la ciudad de Concordia, Entre Ríos, resultando en una alerta para los médicos veterinarios de la región, a fin de incentivar estrategias de prevención de la enfermedad y control del vector.

This study used a partial sequence of the mitochondrial cox1 gene for the reconstruction of the interrelationship of the adult and larval stages of Spirometra obtained from Cerdocyon thous, Leopardus munoai, Canis familiaris, Didelphis albiventris and Philodryas patagoniensis in Uruguay. The phylogenetic analysis showed that they were grouped with Spirometra decipiens from the Americas with a high bootstrap support. According to recent studies, American Spirometra species split into two S. decipiens complexes. Our findings strongly suggest that S. decipiens complex 1 is widely distributed in South America, and that wild and domestic canids are definitive hosts. Most of the samples (n = 10) grouped adults and plerocercoids that were retrieved from mammals and reptiles and seem to be the same taxon found in a Lycalopex gymnocercus from Argentina. A second clade was formed with Spirometra sp. found in a L. munoai as well as other wild felids such as a Puma concolor and a Leopardus pardalis (both from Argentina). On the other hand, S. decipiens complex 2 is present in South America and North America. South American clade parasitizes wild (and possibly domestic) felids and reptiles as definitive and intermediate hosts, respectively, whereas the North American clade found in snakes and captive meerkats (acting either as second intermediate or paratenic hosts) has unconfirmed definitive hosts.

In the southern cone of South America different haplotypes of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato (Bbsl) have been detected in Ixodes spp. from Argentina, southern Brazil, Chile, and Uruguay. So far, Lyme borreliosis has not been diagnosed in Uruguay and the medical relevance of the genus Ixodes in South America is uncertain. However, the growing number of new genospecies of Bbsl in the southern cone region and the scarce information about its pathogenicity, reservoirs and vectors, highlights the importance of further studies about spirochetes present in Uruguay and the region. The aim of this study was to determine the presence of Bbsl in Ixodes auritulus ticks collected from birds and vegetation in two localities of southeastern Uruguay. In total 306 I. auritulus were collected from 392 passerine birds sampled and 1110 ticks were collected by flagging in vegetation. Nymphs and females were analyzed for Borrelia spp. by PCR targeting the flagellin (fla) gene and the rrfA-rrlB intergenic spacer region (IGS). The phylogenetic analysis of Borrelia spp. positive samples from passerine birds and vegetation revealed the presence of four fla haplotypes that form a clade within the Bbsl complex. They were closely related to isolates of Borrelia sp. detected in I. auritulus from Argentina and Canada.

The purpose of this study was to perform a phylogenetic analysis of Hepatozoon spp. infecting Philodryas patagoniensis in Uruguay. Twenty-five road-killed specimens of P. patagoniensis from ten departments were obtained. Samples of blood and/or heart tissue were taken. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay was carried out amplifying a specific target region of the 18S rRNA gene of Hepatozoon spp. Eighteen out of twenty-five samples were positive to Hepatozoon spp., which gave an overall prevalence of 72%. Phylogenetic analyses with the obtained sequences were carried out to determine the relationship with closely related species found in the region. The results revealed that samples were split into two clades with a high bootstrap support. Clade I was formed with Hepatozoon spp. sequences obtained in this study from P. patagoniensis, Hepatozoon cuestensis from Crotalus durissus terrificus and Hepatozoon musa from Philodryas nattereri, and Hepatozoon spp. retrieved from Cerdocyon thous, Hemidactylus mabouia, and Phyllopezus pollicaris from Brazil, respectively. Clade II was grouped with Hepatozoon cevapii and Hepatozoon massardii, both species described for C. d. terrificus from Brazil. This is the first report of Hepatozoon spp. in snakes from Uruguay.

espanolEl objetivo del presente trabajo es reportar dos casos autoctonos fatales de tripanosomiasis canina causada por Trypanosoma evansi, enfermedad tambien conocida como surra, en perros cruza utilizados para la caza provenientes de dos localidades del Departamento de Artigas, Uruguay. Los casos se presentaron en los meses de setiembre y noviembre del 2017. Los signos clinicos fueron anemia, edemas en zona ocular, oral y miembros posteriores, inapetencia y desmejoramiento general progresivo. El diagnostico se realizo tomando en cuenta signos clinicos y analisis paraclinicos: hemograma, funcional hepatico, frotis de sangre y PCR/secuenciacion. En los frotis sanguineos se visualizaron tripomastigotes cuya morfologia era compatible con Trypanosoma spp. En hemograma se destaca anemia hipocromica y trombocitopenia, en el funcional hepatico se detectaron altos niveles de enzimas hepaticas (AST/GGT/GOT/Fosfatasa Alcalina). Se realizaron tres PCRs que amplificaron un fragmento parcial del gen ARN ribosomal 18S (ARNr 18S) asi como de dos fragmentos solapantes del espaciador transcrito interno ITS (ITS1+5,8S+ITS2). Las secuencias obtenidas tuvieron una homologia del 100% para el gen ARNr 18S y del 99% para la region ITS con T. evansi. Estos casos representan el segundo diagnostico para Uruguay de T. evansi y los primeros reportes de muerte a causa de esta tripanosomiasis en perros para el pais. Se trata de una enfermedad a tener en cuenta ya que ademas de considerarse emergente para el pais puede afectar gravemente a otras especies, siendo de notificacion a la OIE (Organizacion Mundial de Sanidad Animal). Palabras claves: Tripanosomiasis canina, surra, anemia, Trypanosoma evansi, Uruguay EnglishThe aim of this work is to report two fatal autochthonous cases of canine trypanosomiasis caused by Trypanosoma evansi, a disease also known as surra, in cross breed dogs used for hunting from two sites of Artigas Department, Uruguay. The cases appeared in the months of September and November of 2017. The clinical signs were anemia, ocular, oral and posterior limbs edema, inappetence and progressive general deterioration. The diagnosis was made taking into account clinical signs and paraclinical analysis: hemogram, liver function test, blood smear and PCR/sequencing. Blood smears showed trypomastigotes whose morphology was compatible with Trypanosoma spp. In hemogram and liver function test it was noted hypochromic anemia and thrombocytopenia, in addition to high levels of liver enzymes (AST/GGT/GOT/Alkaline Phosphatase). Three PCRs were performed that amplified a partial fragment of the 18S ribosomal RNA gene (18S rRNA) as well as two overlapping fragments of the internal transcribed spacer ITS (ITS1+5.8S+ITS2). The sequences obtained had a homology of 100% for the 18S rRNA gene and 99% for the ITS region with T. evansi. These cases represent the second diagnosis for Uruguay of T. evansi and the first reports of death due to this trypanosomiasis in dogs for the country. It is a disease to be taken into account, since, in addition to being considered emerging disease for the country; it can seriously affect other species, being an OIE (World Organisation for Animal Health) notified disease. Keywords: Canine trypanosomiasis, surra, anemia, Trypanosoma evansi, Uruguay