Molecular detection of Anaplasmataceae agents in Dasyprocta azarae in northeastern Brazil

ABSTRACT

Recently, the importance of wild-living rodents for maintenance of pathogens of the family Anaplasmataceae in the environment was investigated. These mammals play a role as reservoirs for these pathogens and act as hosts for the immature stages of tick vectors. The aim of the present study was to investigate the prevalence of Ehrlichia sp. and Anaplasma sp. in 24 specimens of Azaras agouti (Dasyprocta azarae) that had been trapped in the Itapiracَ Environmental Reserve, in Sمo Luيs, Maranhمo, northeastern Brazil, using molecular methods. Four animals (16.7%) were positive for Ehrlichia spp. in nested PCR assays based on the 16S rRNA gene. In a phylogenetic analysis based on the 16S rRNA gene, using the maximum likelihood method and the GTRGAMMA+I evolutionary model, Ehrlichia sp. genotypes detected in Azaras agoutis were found to be closely related to E. canis and to genotypes relating to E. canis that had previously been detected in free-living animals in Brazil. The present work showed the first molecular detection of Ehrlichia sp. in Azaras agoutis in Brazil.(AU)

RESUMO

Recentemente, a importância de roedores selvagens na manutençمo de agentes Anaplasmataceae no ambiente tem sido investigada, haja visto o papel que tais mamيferos podem desempenhar como reservatَrios para os patَgenos e como hospedeiros para estلgios imaturos dos carrapatos vetores. O presente estudo objetivou investigar a ocorrência de Ehrlichia sp. e Anaplasma sp. em 24 cotias (Dasyprocta azarae) capturadas na Reserva Ambiental de Itapiracَ, em Sمo Luيs, Maranhمo, nordeste do Brazil, utilizando métodos moleculares. Quatro animais (16,7%) mostraram-se positivos nos ensaios de nested PCR para Ehrlichia spp. baseados no gene 16S rRNA gene. Na anلlise filogenética baseda no gene 16S rRNA e utilizando o método de Mلxima Verossimilhança e modelo evolutivo GTRGAMMA+I, os genَtipos de Ehrlichia sp. detectados em cotias mostraram-se filogeneticamente relacionados às sequências de E. canis e outros genَtipos relacionados a E. canis detectados previamente em animais selvagens no Brasil. O presente trabalho mostrou a primeira detecçمo molecular de Ehrlichia sp. em cotias no Brasil.(AU)