Estudo parasitológico e molecular da infecção por Babesia spp. em cães rurais do estado de São Paulo

Com o objetivo avaliar a epidemiologia e a característica molecular da infecção de cães de áreas rurais por Babesia spp., amostras de sangue de 150 animais foram coletadas e analisadas por esfregaço sangüíneo e por PCR. Além disso, os cães foram examinados para investigar possível infestação por carrapatos. Pelo esfregaço sangüíneo de sangue capilar (ponta de orelha) foram detectados três (2%) cães positivos e pela PCR para Babesia spp. 12 (8%) deles foram positivos, com bandas visualizadas em 450 pb. Foram encontrados R. sanguineus e Amblyomma spp. em 36 (24%) dos 150 cães. As espécies de Amblyomma detectadas foram A. cajennense (9/36 - 25%), A. ovale (8/36 - 22,2%) e A. aureolatum (1/36 - 2,7%). Um espécime de Amblyomma (1/36 - 2,7%) não pôde ser identificado especificamente pois se encontrava no estágio de ninfa. Não houve uma associação positiva entre o encontro de R. sanguineus e infecção por B. canis. O seqüenciamento de uma amostra positiva demonstrou identidade com B. canis vogeli já caracterizada no Brasil.In order to study the parasitologic and morphological characteristics of Babesia spp. infection in dogs from rural areas, 150 animals were examined by blood smears and by PCR. Besides, the dogs were examined to investigate ticks infestation. By the blood smear of capillary blood (ear tip) examination, three (2%) were detected positive and by PCR for Babesia spp.12 (8%) were positive, with bands visualized in 450 bp. Rhipicephalus sanguineus and Amblyomma spp. were found in 36 (24%) of the 150 dogs. The found species of Amblyomma were A. cajennense (9/36 - 25%), A. ovale (8/36 - 22.2%) and A. aureolatum (1/36 - 2.7%). A specimen of Amblyomma (1/36 - 2.7%) was found in the nymph stage and could not be identified. There was not a positive association between the encounter of R. sanguineus and the infection for B. canis. The sequencing of two positive samples demonstrated close identity with B. canis vogeli already characterized in Brazil

Molecular and parasitological survey of Hepatozoon canis (Apicomplexa : Hepatozoidae) in dogs from rural area of São Paulo state, Brazil

Hepatozoon canis is a protozoan that infects dogs and is transmitted by the ingestion of the brown dog tick, Rhipicephalus sanguineus. Two distinct species of Hepatozoon genus can infect dogs, H. canis and H. americanum. Routine tests to detect the disease are based on direct examination of gametocytes on Giemsa-stained blood smears. The objectives of this study were the investigation of infection prevalence in rural area dogs, the comparison of diagnostics by blood smear examination and polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and the association of infection with tick infestation. Blood smears, collected by puncture of the cephalic vein and ear margin capillary bed from 150 dogs, were examined. This technique detected 17 positive animals (11.3%), with 14 (9.3%) in peripheral blood and seven (4.7%) in cephalic vein blood. PCR tests detected 80 (53.3%) positive animals. R. sanguineus and Amblyomma spp. were found in 36 of the dogs (24%), in equal proportions. The identified species for Amblyomma genus were A. cajennense and A. ovale. Data analysis showed that PCR was much more sensitive when compared to blood smear examination. Hepatozoon species was previously identified as closely related to H. canis

Babesia spp. infection in dogs from rural areas of São Paulo State, Brazil

The status of Babesia spp. infection in dogs from rural areas of São Paulo State, Brazil was Studied. For this, l 50 animals were examined by blood smears and by PCR; the presence of tick infestation was also investigated. By the blood smear examination, 3 animals (2%) were detected positive and by PCR for Babesia spp. 12 (8%) were positive, with bands Visualized in 450 bp. Rhipicephalus sanguineus or Amblyomma spp. were found on 36 (24%) of the 150 dogs. Amblyomma species found were A. cajennense (9/36-25%) and A. ovale (9/36-25%). It was not possible to correlate the presence of R. sanguineus and the infection with Babesia spp. The sequencing of four positive samples demonstrated close identity with B. canis vogeli already characterized in Brazil.A presença de infecção por Babesia spp. em cães de áreas rurais do Estado de São Paulo, Brasil foi investigada. Para tanto, 150 cães foram examinados por técnicas parasitológicas de esfregaços sanguíneos e moleculares (PCR), e também, foi verificada a presença de carrapatos nestes animais. Pela análise de esfregaços sanguíneos, 3 (2%) dos cães estavam infectados, enquanto pela PCR, 12 (8%) dos animais foram positivos com bandas aproximadas de 450 pares de base (pb). Foram observados 36 (24%) cães infestados com Rhipicephalus sanguineus ou com Amblyomma spp. As espécies de Amblyomma observadas foram A. cajennense (25%) e A. ovale (25%). Não foi possível correlacionar a presença de R. sanguineus com a infecção por Babesia spp. O seqüenciamento de quatro amostras positivas demonstrou alta identidade com B. canis vogeli, já caracterizada no Brasil