Detection and molecular characterization of piroplasms species from naturally infected dogs in southeast Brazil

Tatiana Didonet Lemos,Nádia Regina Pereira Almosny,Aloysio De Mello Figueiredo Cerqueira,Helena Keiko Toma,Adrianna Vieira Da Silva,Giane Regina Paludo,Carlos Luiz Massard,Rafael Gomes Bartolomeu Corrêa

doi:10.1590/s1984-29612012000200012

Abstract

Rangelia vitalii is a protozoon described from dogs in the south and southeast regions of Brazil. It is phylogenetically related to Babesia spp. that infects dogs, but data on this enigmatic parasite is still limited. The aim of this work was to detect piroplasm species in dogs in the state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, by 18S rRNA gene-based PCR assay, restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) and sequence analyses. Of 103 dogs examined, seven (6.8%) were positive for Babesia spp. by PCR. The amplified products were digested by restriction enzymes to differentiate the Babesia species, and one sample was identified as Babesia vogeli. The pattern observed for the other six amplification products did not match with pattern described for large Babesia infecting dogs. Sequencing analysis confirmed these six samples as R. vitalii, with high homologies (99-100%) with a sequence from south Brazil. This study confirms the presence of Babesia vogeli and Rangelia vitalii circulate in domestic dogs in Teresópolis, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Highlights

Canine babesiosis is a parasitosis caused by the intraerythrocytic protozoa of the genus Babesia (LEVINE, 1973)
This study confirms the presence of Babesia vogeli and Rangelia vitalii circulate in domestic dogs in Teresópolis, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
In the capillary and circulating blood smears, four (3.9%) of the 103 dogs evaluated showed intraerythrocytic parasites compatible with Babesia spp

Summary

Introduction

Canine babesiosis is a parasitosis caused by the intraerythrocytic protozoa of the genus Babesia (LEVINE, 1973). Babesia classification in dogs is performed microscopically. Dogs in North Carolina, USA (BIRKENHEUER et al, 2004; LEHTINEN et al, 2008). Other small piroplasms are known to infect dogs including Theileria annae (ZAHLER et al, 2000), B. conradae (CONRAD et al, 1991; KJEMTRUP; CONRAD, 2006), T. annulata (CRIADO et al, 2006), T. equi (CRIADO‐FORNELIO et al, 2003) and Theileria sp. (MATJILA et al, 2008) Other small piroplasms are known to infect dogs including Theileria annae (ZAHLER et al, 2000), B. conradae (CONRAD et al, 1991; KJEMTRUP; CONRAD, 2006), T. annulata (CRIADO et al, 2006), T. equi (CRIADO‐FORNELIO et al, 2003) and Theileria sp. (MATJILA et al, 2008)

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