Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Anaplasma phagocytophilum infection in dogs and ticks in Brazil
By Santos, Huarrisson A et al.·Published in Parasites & vectors·2013·Epidemiology and Public Health Department, Brazil·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Molecular epidemiology of the emerging zoonosis agent Anaplasma phagocytophilum (Foggie, 1949) in dogs and ixodid ticks in Brazil.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A study found that 6% of dogs tested in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, had a tick-borne infection called Anaplasma phagocytophilum, which can also affect humans. The researchers examined blood samples from 398 dogs and found the bacteria in both ticks and dogs, particularly in the Rhipicephalus sanguineus and Amblyomma cajennense tick species. Factors like tick infestations, dog size, access to forest areas, and the cleanliness of the dog's living environment were linked to higher infection rates. This finding highlights the importance of tick prevention and maintaining a clean environment for dogs to reduce the risk of this infection.
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Abstract
BACKGROUND: Anaplasma phagocytophilum is an emerging pathogen of humans, dogs and other animals, and it is transmitted by ixodid ticks. The objective of the current study was a) detect A. phagocytophilum in dogs and ixodid ticks using real-time Polymerase Chain Reaction (qPCR); and b) Determine important variables associated to host, environment and potential tick vectors that are related to the presence of A. phagocytophilum in dogs domiciled in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. METHODS: We tested blood samples from 398 dogs and samples from 235 ticks, including 194 Rhipicephalus sanguineus sensu lato, 15 Amblyomma cajennense, 8 Amblyomma ovale and 18 pools of Amblyomma sp. nymphs. A semi-structured questionnaire was applied by interviewing each dog owner. Deoxyribonucleic acid obtained from ticks and dog buffy coat samples were amplified by qPCR (msp2 gene). The sequencing of 16S rRNA and groESL heat shock operon genes and a phylogenetic analysis was performed. The multiple logistic regression model was created as a function of testing positive dogs for A. phagocytophilum. RESULTS: Among the 398 blood samples from dogs, 6.03% were positive for A. phagocytophilum. Anaplasma phagocytophilum was detected in one A. cajennense female tick and in five R. sanguineus sensu lato ticks (four males and one female). The partial sequences of the 16S rRNA, and groESL genes obtained were highly similar to strains of A. phagocytophilum isolated from wild birds from Brazil and human pathogenic strains. The tick species collected in positive dogs were R. sanguineus sensu lato and A. cajennense, with A.cajennense being predominant. Tick infestation history (OR = 2.86, CI = 1.98-14.87), dog size (OR = 2.41, IC: 1.51-12.67), the access to forest areas (OR = 3:51, CI: 1.52-16.32), hygiene conditions of the environment in which the dogs lived (OR = 4.35, CI: 1.86-18.63) and Amblyomma sp. infestation (OR = 6.12; CI: 2.11-28.15) were associated with A. phagocytophilum infection in dogs. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first report of A. phagocytophilum in ixodid ticks from Brazil. The detection of A. phagocitophylum in A. cajennense, an aggressive feeder on a wide variety of hosts, including humans, is considered a public health concern.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24330631/