Deteção molecular de bactérias e parasitas em rhipicephalus sanguineus sensu lato de Portugal
Miniatura indisponível
Data
2024
Título da revista
ISSN da revista
Título do Volume
Editora
Resumo
As carraças são artrópodes hematófagos obrigatórios não permanentes de vertebrados terrestres, sendo responsáveis pela manutenção e transmissão de vários agentes patogénicos (bactérias, parasitas e vírus), afetando uma grande variedade de animais, incluíndo o ser humano. Como a informação acerca dos agentes causadores de doença que circulam nas carraças é limitada em Portugal, o objectivo do presente estudo foi detetar, através da técnica de reação em cadeia da polimerase e sequenciação, a presença de bactérias e parasitas com importância veterinária e zoonótica em carraças colhidas de cães, gatos e da vegetação. Um total de 919 Rhipicephalus sanguineus sensu lato, compreendendo 882 (96,0%) adultos, 8 (1,0%) ninfas e 29 (3,0%) larvas foram colhidos em quatro distritos de Portugal (Guarda, Lisboa, Setúbal e Faro). Entre estes, 620 (67,5%) foram removidos de cães naturalmente infestados, 36 (3,9%) de gatos e 263 (28,6%) foram colhidas da vegetação. Os agentes bacterianos Rickettsia sp., Rickettsia conorii e Rickettsia massiliae foram identificados em 41 (4,5%) de 919 carraças analisadas. Foi detetado ADN de Hepatozoon felis (n=4), Hepatozoon canis (n=2), Anaplasma platys (n=3), Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Babesia vogeli (n=1), Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato (n=1) e Cercopithifilaria spp. (n=1), incluindo uma co-infeção por Hepatozoon felis e Rickettsia massiliae. Não se detetou a presença de ADN de Bartonella sp. ou de Leishmania infantum em nenhuma carraça. Esta foi a primeira vez que se amplificou ADN de Cercopithifilaria spp., B. vogeli, H. canis e H. felis em carraças em Portugal. A ampla gama de agentes patogénicos transmitidos por carraças identificados, alguns com potencial zoonótico, sugere um risco para os animais domésticos e seres humanos em Portugal. Estudos adicionais sobre estes e outros agentes transmitidos por carraças devem ser realizados para compreender melhor a sua importância epidemiológica e clínica, e para permitir a implementação de medidas de controlo eficazes. Palavras-chave: agentes patogénicos transmitidos por carraças; Rhipicephalus sanguineus sensu lato; cão; gato; Portugal; reação em cadeia da polimerase.
Ticks are hematophagous arthropods, being responsible for the maintenance and transmission of various pathogens (bacteria, parasites and viruses) that affect a variety of animals, including humans. Information about tick-borne agents circulating in Portugal is limited, hence the aim of the present study was to detect, by polymerase chain reaction and sequencing, the presence of bacteria and parasites with veterinary and zoonotic importance in ticks collected from dogs, cats and field vegetation. A total of 919 Rhipicephalus sanguineus sensu lato (s.l.), comprising 882 (96.0%) adults, eight (1.0%) nymphs and 29 (3.0%) larvae, were collected in four districts of Portugal (Guarda, Lisbon, Setubal and Faro). Among those, 620 (67.5%) were removed from naturally infested dogs, 36 (3.9%) from cats and 263 (28.6%) were questing ticks obtained from the vegetation. Rickettsia sp., Rickettsia conorii and Rickettsia massiliae were identified in 41 (4.5%) out of the 919 analyzed ticks. Four R. sanguineus s.l. specimens were found infected with Hepatozoon felis, two with Hepatozoon canis, three with Anaplasma platys, one with Anaplasma phagocytophilum, one with Babesia spp., one with Babesia vogeli, one with Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato and one with Cercopithifilaria spp., including one tick coinfected with H. felis and R. massiliae. None of the tested ticks was positive by PCR for Bartonella sp. or Leishmania infantum. To the best of our knowledge, this was the first time that Cercopithifilaria spp., B. vogeli, H. canis, and H. felis have been detected in ticks from Portugal. The wide range of identified tick-borne pathogens, some of zoonotic concern, suggests a risk of tick-borne diseases in domestic animals and humans in Portugal. Further studies on these and other tick-borne agents should be performed to better understand their epidemiological and clinical importance, and to allow the implementation of effective control measures. Keywords: tick-borne pathogens; Rhipicephalus sanguineus sensu lato; dog; cat; Portugal; polymerase chain reaction
Ticks are hematophagous arthropods, being responsible for the maintenance and transmission of various pathogens (bacteria, parasites and viruses) that affect a variety of animals, including humans. Information about tick-borne agents circulating in Portugal is limited, hence the aim of the present study was to detect, by polymerase chain reaction and sequencing, the presence of bacteria and parasites with veterinary and zoonotic importance in ticks collected from dogs, cats and field vegetation. A total of 919 Rhipicephalus sanguineus sensu lato (s.l.), comprising 882 (96.0%) adults, eight (1.0%) nymphs and 29 (3.0%) larvae, were collected in four districts of Portugal (Guarda, Lisbon, Setubal and Faro). Among those, 620 (67.5%) were removed from naturally infested dogs, 36 (3.9%) from cats and 263 (28.6%) were questing ticks obtained from the vegetation. Rickettsia sp., Rickettsia conorii and Rickettsia massiliae were identified in 41 (4.5%) out of the 919 analyzed ticks. Four R. sanguineus s.l. specimens were found infected with Hepatozoon felis, two with Hepatozoon canis, three with Anaplasma platys, one with Anaplasma phagocytophilum, one with Babesia spp., one with Babesia vogeli, one with Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato and one with Cercopithifilaria spp., including one tick coinfected with H. felis and R. massiliae. None of the tested ticks was positive by PCR for Bartonella sp. or Leishmania infantum. To the best of our knowledge, this was the first time that Cercopithifilaria spp., B. vogeli, H. canis, and H. felis have been detected in ticks from Portugal. The wide range of identified tick-borne pathogens, some of zoonotic concern, suggests a risk of tick-borne diseases in domestic animals and humans in Portugal. Further studies on these and other tick-borne agents should be performed to better understand their epidemiological and clinical importance, and to allow the implementation of effective control measures. Keywords: tick-borne pathogens; Rhipicephalus sanguineus sensu lato; dog; cat; Portugal; polymerase chain reaction
Descrição
Palavras-chave
VETERINARY MEDICINE, DOGS, CANIDS, CATS, FELIDS, BACTERIA, PARASITES, PATHOGENS, MESTRADO INTEGRADO EM MEDICINA VETERINÁRIA, MEDICINA VETERINÁRIA, VETERINÁRIA, CÃES, CANÍDEOS, GATOS, FELÍDEOS, BACTÉRIAS, PARASITAS, AGENTES PATOGÉNICOS, Mestrado Integrado em Medicina Veterinária