Abstract
The aim of this study was to determine the occurrence of tick-borne pathogens (Ehrlichia canis, Babesia vogeli, Hepatozoon spp. and Rickettsia spp.) in dogs in Vila de Jericoacoara, coastal region of Ceará, Brazil. Blood samples were collected from 153 animals and analyzed using molecular and serological methods. Sixty animals were found to be infected or exposed to at least one of the pathogens studied. Babesia vogeli was the most prevalent pathogen (15%), followed by E. canis (13.7%) and Hepatozoon spp. (11.8%), which was identified as Hepatozoon canis through sequencing. Twenty dogs (13%) were seroreactive to Rickettsia spp. Rhipicephalus sanguineus sensu lato was observed on 11.8% of the animals. There were associations between age (< 3 years old) and positivity for B. vogeli, and between habitation (stray dogs) and positivity for H. canis. There were also associations between anemia and infection with H. canis, and between leukopenia and exposure to Rickettsia spp. No association was detected between clinical alterations and infection with or exposure to the pathogens studied. The results confirmed that pathogens of veterinary importance are circulating in northeastern Brazil and showed that dogs are exposed to Rickettsia species with zoonotic potential, thus indicating a need for vector control measures.
Highlights
The emergence and reemergence of arthropod-borne diseases has been a challenge for veterinary and human medicine
Spotted fever group (SFG) rickettsiae are a neglected group of bacteria belonging to the genus Rickettsia, which accounts for a large number of new and emerging infectious diseases with worldwide distribution and can cause serious diseases in humans and animals (Labruna et al, 2009; Oliveira et al, 2016; Robinson et al, 2019)
This study showed that dogs in Vila de Jericoacoara were infected with B. vogeli, E. canis and H. canis or presented anti-Rickettsia spp. antibodies
Summary
The emergence and reemergence of arthropod-borne diseases has been a challenge for veterinary and human medicine. Common species of tick-borne pathogens include Babesia vogeli, Hepatozoon canis, Ehrlichia canis and Rickettsia spp. of the spotted fever group (SFG). These pathogens cause canine diseases in several geographical regions including tropical areas (Chomel, 2011). Ehrlichia canis is a common pathogen affecting domestic dogs around the world and causes canine monocytic ehrlichiosis, with clinical and hematological abnormalities such as fever, anorexia, vomiting, diarrhea, petechial hemorrhages, anemia and thrombocytopenia (Moreira et al, 2003; Moraes-Filho et al, 2015). Spotted fever group (SFG) rickettsiae are a neglected group of bacteria belonging to the genus Rickettsia, which accounts for a large number of new and emerging infectious diseases with worldwide distribution and can cause serious diseases in humans and animals (Labruna et al, 2009; Oliveira et al, 2016; Robinson et al, 2019)
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