Study on coinfecting vector-borne pathogens in dogs and ticks in Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil

• Published in: Revista brasileira de parasitologia veterinaria Vol. 23; no. 3; pp. 407 - 412
• Main Authors: Gonçalves, Luiz Ricardo, Filgueira, Kilder Dantas, Ahid, Silvia Maria Mendes, Pereira, Josivânia Soares, Vale, André Mendes do, Machado, Rosangela Zacarias, André, Marcos Rogério
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Brazil Colégio Brasileiro de Parasitologia Veterinária 01-07-2014; Colégio Brasileiro de Parasitologia Veterinaria
• Subjects: Animals; Bacterial Infections - blood; Bacterial Infections - veterinary; Brazil; co-infection; Coinfection - blood; Coinfection - microbiology; Coinfection - parasitology; Coinfection - veterinary; CVBDs; Disease Vectors; Dog Diseases - blood; Dog Diseases - microbiology; Dog Diseases - parasitology; Dogs; Ehrlichia canis; Female; Hepatozoon canis; Leishmania infantum; Male; molecular diagnosis; Parasitic Diseases, Animal - blood; PARASITOLOGY; Sequence Analysis, DNA; Ticks - parasitology; VETERINARY SCIENCES; Hepatozoon canis; Leishmania infantum; diagnóstico molecular; co-infection; CVBDs; coinfecção; Ehrlichia canis; molecular diagnosis; DCTVs
• ISSN: 1984-2961; 1984-2961
• DOI: 10.1590/S1984-29612014071

Since dogs presenting several vector borne diseases can show none or nonspecific clinical signs depending on the phase of infection, the assessment of the particular agents involved is mandatory. The present study aimed to investigate the presence of Babesia spp., Ehrlichia spp., Anaplasma spp., Hepatozoon spp. and Leishmania spp. in blood samples and ticks, collected from two dogs from Rio Grande do Norte showing suggestive tick-borne disease by using molecular techniques. DNA of E. canis, H. canis and L. infantum were detected in blood samples and R. sanguineus ticks collected from dogs. Among all samples analyzed, two showed the presence of multiple infections with E. canis, H. canis and L. infantum chagasi. Here we highlighted the need for molecular differential diagnosis in dogs showing nonspecific clinical signs.