Important frequency of Anaplasma phagocytophilum infection in a population of domiciled dogs in an urbanized area in south-eastern Brazil

Silveira, Julia A. G.; Reis, Ilka A.; Estevam, Leticia G. T. M.; Pinto, Marina C. C.; Zweygarth, Erich; Passos, Lygia M. F. und Paz, Gustavo F. (2017): Important frequency of Anaplasma phagocytophilum infection in a population of domiciled dogs in an urbanized area in south-eastern Brazil. In: Pesquisa Veterinaria Brasileira, Vol. 37, No. 9: pp. 958-962

Abstract

Anaplasma phagocytophilum is responsible for granulocytic anaplasmosis in humans and various animal species. The aim of the present study was to determine the prevalence of A. phagocytophilum-infected dogs in a residential area of Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais state, Brazil. A total of 62 dogs were submitted to serological (indirect fluorescent-antibody -IFI) and molecular (PCR) tests. Anti-A. phagocytophilum antibodies were detected in 43.8% of the dogs. Seven dogs (10.9%) were PCR-positive for the msp4 gene, six and four of these were positive for the for the msp2/p44 gene of A. phagocytophilum and 16S rRNA region of granulocytic Anaplasmataceae respectively. This study confirms a relatively high frequency of A. phagocytophilum infection in a population of domiciled dogs in an urbanized area in south- eastern Brazil and highlights the need for further studies on the role of Rhipicephalus sanguineus sensu lato ticks in the transmission of this bacterium to dogs in urban Brazilian areas.

• Item Type: Journal article
• Faculties: Veterinary Medicine
• Subjects: 600 Technology > 610 Medicine and health
• ISSN: 0100-736X
• Language: English