Molecular detection of Leishmania infantum, Babesia vogeli, and Rangelia vitalii in dogs from the Embu-Guaçú municipality around the Guarapiranga Reservoir, São Paulo / Detecção molecular de Leishmania infantum, Babesia vogeli e Rangelia vitalii em cães do municipio de Embú-Guaçú no entorno da represa Guarapiranga, São Paulo

Abstract

Vector-borne diseases are of great importance worldwide in human and veterinary medicine, as several parasites can cause disease in multiple different hosts. In this work, we investigated the prevalence of some vector-borne parasitic diseases in dogs in Embu-Guaçú, São Paulo, Brazil. Molecular diagnosis was performed by PCR using oligonucleotide markers specific for protozoans with significance in both animal and human health, such as Leishmania infantum, Rangelia vitalii, and Babesia vogeli. Molecular diagnostic results showed a high occurrence (16.25%, 13/80) of Babesia vogeli, but negative results for Leishmania infantum and Rangelia vitalii. Further studies should be conducted with a larger number of dogs, and vector control and educational measures should be implemented within the population to minimize the impact of vector-borne diseases on animal health