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Molecular survey and genetic characterization of tick-borne pathogens in dogs in metropolitan Recife (north-eastern Brazil)

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Abstract

To identify DNA of the main tick-borne pathogens in dogs from Recife (Brazil), polymerase chain reactions were carried out on blood samples of dogs treated at the Veterinary Hospital of the Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco from March 2007 to June 2008. The detection of DNA was performed using specific primers. Amplicons were analyzed through electrophoresis and sequencing. A phylogenetic tree was constructed using the UPGMA method, revealing that the sequences were closely related to those of strains from other geographic regions. Among the 205 blood samples analyzed, 48.78% was positive for Anaplasma platys; 38.04% was positive for Ehrlichia canis; 7.31% was positive for Babesia canis vogeli; and 0.49% was positive for Hepatozoon canis and Mycoplasma haemocanis. Coinfection of two or three pathogens was found in 23.9% (49/205) of the dogs. The subspecies B. canis vogeli was identified. Infection by H. canis and M. haemocanis is reported for the first time in dogs in the state of Pernambuco (Brazil). The data indicate that the main tick-borne pathogens in dogs in this region are E. canis and/or A. platys, followed by B. canis vogeli.

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Acknowledgments

The authors are grateful to the Brazilian fostering agencies Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq) and Fundação de Amparo à Ciência e Tecnologia do Estado de Pernambuco (FACEPE) and EC (INCO 003691-MEDLABAB).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Veterinary Medicine, Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco, Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil

    Rafael Ramos, Carlos Ramos, Danillo Pimentel, Mariana Galindo, Marilia Santana, Eduardo Rosas, Maria Faustino & Leucio Alves

  2. Area de Sanidade Animal, Empresa Brasileira de Pesquisa Agropecuária, Campo Grande, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil

    Flábio Araújo, Renato Oliveira & Ingrid Souza

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  1. Rafael Ramos
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  2. Carlos Ramos
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  3. Flábio Araújo
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  4. Renato Oliveira
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  5. Ingrid Souza
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  6. Danillo Pimentel
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  10. Maria Faustino
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  11. Leucio Alves
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Correspondence to Leucio Alves.

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Ramos, R., Ramos, C., Araújo, F. et al. Molecular survey and genetic characterization of tick-borne pathogens in dogs in metropolitan Recife (north-eastern Brazil). Parasitol Res 107, 1115–1120 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-010-1979-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-010-1979-7

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