Contributo para a caracterização morfológica e molecular de vectores e agentes patogénicos de uma população insular de cães
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2026
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Agentes patogénicos transmitidos por vectores representam riscos significativos para a saúde tanto dos animais como dos humanos. Dados sobre a prevalência destes agentes em cães da Ilha de São Vicente, Cabo Verde, são escassos. Assim sendo, pretendeu-se, com este estudo, a) caracterizar morfologicamente uma população de cães errantes, b) caracterizar morfologicamente e molecularmente os seus ectoparasitas, c) identificar molecularmente até ao nível da espécie, os agentes patogénicos transmitidos por vectores. Para tal, foram recolhidas amostras de sangue de cães errantes (n=20, para fins clínicos como análises pré-cirurgicas) e os seus ectoparasitas (n=47), durante uma campanha de captura-esterilização-retorno (no ano 2024). Foi ainda realizado um registo fotográfico. Os ectoparasitas foram identificados morfologicamente por microscopia (microscópio óptico e estereomicroscópio) utilizando chaves taxonómicas dicotómicas. O DNA foi extraído das amostras de sangue dos cães e dos ectoparasitas. Seguiu-se a pesquisa molecular para identificação dos ectoparasitas e de diferentes agentes patogénicos - bactérias tais como Anaplasma/Ehrlichia spp., Bartonella spp., Borrelia spp., Rickettsia spp e protozoários: Babesia/Theileria spp.; Hepatozoon spp., Leishmania spp. - por PCR, sequenciação e análise filogenética. Foram detectados ectoparasitas em 80,0% (16/20) dos cães. Foi recolhido um total de 47 ectoparasitas, identificados como carraças Rhipicephalus sanguineus (n=38, 10 fêmeas, 26 machos e 2 larvas), pulgas Echidnophaga gallinacea (n=1, fêmea) e Ctenocephalides felis (n=4, fêmeas) e piolhos da espécie Heterodoxus spiniger (n=4). A sequenciação das amostras permitiu a identificação de Rickettsia asembonensis e Borrelia bavariensis em 5 pulgas e no sangue de 1 cão, respectivamente, e Hepatozoon canis em 13 carraças e no sangue de 13 cães. Não foram detectadas Leishmania spp. nem de Bartonella spp. em nenhum dos ectoparasitas nem no sangue dos cães, Neste estudo, tanto R. asembonensis como B. bavariensis, potenciais agentes zoonóticos, foram reportados pela primeira vez em Cabo Verde, e H. canis foi reportado pela primeira vez na ilha de São Vicente. Estas descobertas destacam a importância de uma vigilância contínua, da realização de estudos mais abrangentes e da implementação de estratégias integradas de Uma Só Saúde para monitorizar e controlar os agentes patogénicos transmitidos por vetores, a fim de proteger humanos e animais.
Vector-borne pathogens pose significant health risks to both animals and humans. Data on the prevalence of these agents in dogs on São Vicente Island, Cape Verde, are scarce. Therefore this study aims to: a) morphologically characterise a population of stray dogs, b) morphologically and molecularly characterize their ectoparasites, c) molecularly identify vector-borne pathogens to the species level. To do so, blood samples were collected from stray dogs (n=20, for clinical purposes such as pre-cirurgical analysis) and their ectoparasites (n=47) during a trap-neuter-return campaign (2024). Photographic documentation was also carried out. Ectoparasites were morphologically identified by microscopy (optical microscope and stereomicroscope) using dichotomous taxonomic keys. DNA was extracted from the blood samples and ectoparasites. Molecular screening followed to identify ectoparasites and different pathogenic agents - bacterias such as Anaplasma/Ehrlichia spp., Bartonella spp., Borrelia spp. and Rickettsia spp. and protozoa such as Hepatozoon spp., Babesia/Theileria spp. and Leishmania spp. - by PCR, sequencing, and phylogenetic analysis. Ectoparasites were detected in 80,0% (16/20) of the dogs. A total of 47 ectoparasites, identified as hard ticks Rhipicephalus sanguineus (n=38, 10 females, 26 males and 2 larvae), fleas Echidnophaga gallinacea (n=1, female) and Ctenocephalides felis (n=4, females), and lice of the species Heterodoxus spiniger (n=4,), were collected. Sequencing of the samples allowed the identification of Rickettsia asembonensis and Borrelia bavariensis in 5 fleas and in the blood of 1 dog, respectively, and Hepatozoon canis in 13 ticks and in the blood of 13 dogs. Leishmania spp. or Bartonella spp. were not detected in none of the ectoparasites nor in the dogs´blood. In this study, both R.asembonensis and B. bavariensis, potential zoonotic agents, were reported for the first time in Cape Verde, and H. canis was first reported on São Vicente Island. These findings highlight the importance of continued surveillance, new data studies, and the implementation of integrated One Health strategies to monitor and control emerging vector-borne pathogens to protect humans and animals alike.
Vector-borne pathogens pose significant health risks to both animals and humans. Data on the prevalence of these agents in dogs on São Vicente Island, Cape Verde, are scarce. Therefore this study aims to: a) morphologically characterise a population of stray dogs, b) morphologically and molecularly characterize their ectoparasites, c) molecularly identify vector-borne pathogens to the species level. To do so, blood samples were collected from stray dogs (n=20, for clinical purposes such as pre-cirurgical analysis) and their ectoparasites (n=47) during a trap-neuter-return campaign (2024). Photographic documentation was also carried out. Ectoparasites were morphologically identified by microscopy (optical microscope and stereomicroscope) using dichotomous taxonomic keys. DNA was extracted from the blood samples and ectoparasites. Molecular screening followed to identify ectoparasites and different pathogenic agents - bacterias such as Anaplasma/Ehrlichia spp., Bartonella spp., Borrelia spp. and Rickettsia spp. and protozoa such as Hepatozoon spp., Babesia/Theileria spp. and Leishmania spp. - by PCR, sequencing, and phylogenetic analysis. Ectoparasites were detected in 80,0% (16/20) of the dogs. A total of 47 ectoparasites, identified as hard ticks Rhipicephalus sanguineus (n=38, 10 females, 26 males and 2 larvae), fleas Echidnophaga gallinacea (n=1, female) and Ctenocephalides felis (n=4, females), and lice of the species Heterodoxus spiniger (n=4,), were collected. Sequencing of the samples allowed the identification of Rickettsia asembonensis and Borrelia bavariensis in 5 fleas and in the blood of 1 dog, respectively, and Hepatozoon canis in 13 ticks and in the blood of 13 dogs. Leishmania spp. or Bartonella spp. were not detected in none of the ectoparasites nor in the dogs´blood. In this study, both R.asembonensis and B. bavariensis, potential zoonotic agents, were reported for the first time in Cape Verde, and H. canis was first reported on São Vicente Island. These findings highlight the importance of continued surveillance, new data studies, and the implementation of integrated One Health strategies to monitor and control emerging vector-borne pathogens to protect humans and animals alike.
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VETERINARY MEDICINE, DOGS, ZOONOSES, CAPE VERDE, ANIMAL EPIDEMIOLOGY, ECTOPARASITES, HEPATOZOONOSIS, EPIDEMIOLOGICAL SURVEILLANCE, MICROSCOPY, MOLECULAR BIOLOGY, MESTRADO INTEGRADO EM MEDICINA VETERINÁRIA, VETERINÁRIA, MEDICINA VETERINÁRIA, CÃES, ZOONOSES, CABO VERDE, EPIDEMIOLOGIA VETERINÁRIA, ECTOPARASITAS, HEPATOZOONOSE, VIGILÂNCIA EPIDEMIOLÓGICA, MICROSCOPIA, BIOLOGIA MOLECULAR