Year 2018 - Volume 38, Number 3


Title
Molecular investigation of Ehrlichia canis, Anaplasma platys, Anaplasma phagocytophilum and Rickettsia spp. in captive wild felids, 38(3):528-535
Authors

Abstract
ABSTRACT.- Mazzotti G.A., Silva W.A.C., Carneiro F.T., Scalon M.C., Lima M.A., Teixeira M.A., Lima A.C.F. & Paludo G.R. 2018. [Molecular investigation of Ehrlichia canis, Anaplasma platys, Anaplasma phagocytophilum and Rickettsia spp. in captive wild felids.] Investigação molecular de Ehrlichia canis, Anaplasma platys, Anaplasma phagocytophilum e Rickettsia spp. em felídeos selvagens cativos. Pesquisa Veterinária Brasileira 38(3):528-535. Laboratório de Patologia Clínica Veterinária, Faculdade de Agronomia e Medicina Veterinária, Universidade de Brasília, SGAN 605, Avenida L2, Brasília, DF 70910-900, Brazil. E-mail: giane@unb.br

Vector-borne diseases have been emerging and reemerging all over the world, causing a challenge to veterinary and human medicine. Among these diseases are those caused by agents of the order Rickettsiales, obligatory intracellular Gram-negative bacteria, with ability to infect several animals and humans. Rickettsiales of the species Ehrlichia spp. and Anaplasma spp. residing in cytoplasmic vacuoles of leukocytes and platelets. Rickettsiales of the species Rickettsia spp. freely infect cytoplasm or nucleus of host cells. The aim of the present study was to investigate the natural infection with Ehrlichia canis, Anaplasma platys, Anaplasma phagocytophilum and Rickettsia spp. in captive wild felids at the Federal District and Goiás, Brazil. In addition, it was also aimed to relate possible changes in hemogram with the presence of these agents. Blood samples from 34 animals were analyzed by PCR to detect the presence of DNA from these agents. The DNA of Ehrlichia canis was detected in 5.8% (2/34) of samples. A. platys was detected in 64.7% (22/34), A. phagocytophilum was detected in 5.8% (2/34). The DNA of Rickettsia spp. was not detected in any sample. Two felides presented co-infection with E. canis and A. platys, and two presented co-infection with A. platys and A. phagocytophilum. There were no significant differences in hematological data from positive and negative samples. The data suggest that captive wild felids can serve as potential reservoirs for Ehrlichia spp. and Anaplasma spp., despite hematological abnormalities were not observed.
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