Molecular and serological detection of arthropod-borne pathogens in carnivorous birds from Brazil.

Rickettsiales, Haemosporida and Rhizobiales agents can cause diseases that affect various animal species, including humans. Due to predation behaviour, carnivorous birds may play an important role in spreading these etiological agentes across geographically distant areas, specially if they are migratory. The aim of this study was to investigate the occurrence and to access the phylogenetic relations among Anaplasmataceae (Ehrlichia, Anaplasma, Neorickettsia), Bartonellaceae (Bartonella spp.), and Haemosporida (Plasmodium, Haemoproteus and Leucocytozoon) agents in blood samples from 121 carnivorous birds sampled in the states of São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Inclusions resembling hemoparasites were not observed in Giemsa-stained preparations. While three animals were seropositive for E. chaffeensis (3.41% [3/88]; 95% CI:1.17-9.55%), five showed antibodies to A. phagocytophilum (5.68% [5/88]; 95% CI: 2.45-12.62%). Despite the detection of rrs gene fragments closely related to E. chaffeensis (4.13% [5/121]; 95% CI: 1.78-9.31%), no positivity was observed in the qPCR based on the genes vlpt for the organism. Similarly, 12 (9.91% [12/121]; 95% CI: 5.76-16.74%) samples were positive in the qPCR for Anaplasma spp. based on groEL gene, but negative in the qPCR for A. phagocytophilum based on msp-2 gene. Three samples were positive in the nPCR for E. canis based on rrs gene. Three samples were positive for Haemoproteus spp. and one for Plasmodium spp. in the nPCR based on cytB gene. Four birds (3.3% [4/121]; 95% CI: 1.29-8.19%) presented co-positivity by Ehrlichia sp. and Anaplasma sp. in molecular assays. One (0.82% [1/121]; 95% CI:0.15-4.53%) bird showed to be seropositive for E. chaffeensis and and positive in PCR for Haemoproteus sp. All birds were negative in the qPCR assay for Bartonella spp. (nuoG). The present work showed the occurrence of Anaplasmataceae agents and hemosporidians in carnivorous birds from southeastern Brazil. The role of these animals in the dispersion of Anaplasmataceae agents should be further investigated.

Absence of zoonotic Bartonella species in questing ticks: first detection of Bartonella clarridgeiae and Rickettsia felis in cat fleas in the Netherlands.

BACKGROUND: Awareness for flea- and tick-borne infections has grown in recent years and the range of microorganisms associated with these ectoparasites is rising. Bartonella henselae, the causative agent of Cat Scratch Disease, and other Bartonella species have been reported in fleas and ticks. The role of Ixodes ricinus ticks in the natural cycle of Bartonella spp. and the transmission of these bacteria to humans is unclear. Rickettsia spp. have also been reported from as well ticks as also from fleas. However, to date no flea-borne Rickettsia spp. were reported from the Netherlands. Here, the presence of Bartonellaceae and Rickettsiae in ectoparasites was investigated using molecular detection and identification on part of the gltA- and 16S rRNA-genes. RESULTS: The zoonotic Bartonella clarridgeiae and Rickettsia felis were detected for the first time in Dutch cat fleas. B. henselae was found in cat fleas and B. schoenbuchensis in ticks and keds feeding on deer. Two Bartonella species, previously identified in rodents, were found in wild mice and their fleas. However, none of these microorganisms were found in 1719 questing Ixodes ricinus ticks. Notably, the gltA gene amplified from DNA lysates of approximately 10% of the questing nymph and adult ticks was similar to that of an uncultured Bartonella-related species found in other hard tick species. The gltA gene of this Bartonella-related species was also detected in questing larvae for which a 16S rRNA gene PCR also tested positive for "Candidatus Midichloria mitochondrii". The gltA-gene of the Bartonella-related species found in I. ricinus may therefore be from this endosymbiont. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that the risk of acquiring Cat Scratch Disease or a related bartonellosis from questing ticks in the Netherlands is negligible. On the other hand fleas and deer keds are probable vectors for associated Bartonella species between animals and might also transmit Bartonella spp. to humans.

Ectoparasites of gray squirrels in two different habitats and screening of selected ectoparasites for bartonellae.

Gray squirrels, Sciurus carolinensis, were livetrapped in 2 different habitat types, woodland (67 squirrels) and parkland (53 squirrels), in southeastern Georgia. Ectoparasites were recovered from anesthetized squirrels and compared between hosts from the 2 habitats. Because of the absence of low vegetation in parkland habitats, it was hypothesized that the ectoparasite fauna, especially ticks and chiggers, would be more diverse on woodland squirrels. The results were generally in agreement with this hypothesis. Seventeen species of ectoparasites were recovered from woodland squirrels, compared with 6 species from parkland squirrels. Five species of ticks and 3 species of chiggers parasitized the woodland squirrels compared with no ticks or chiggers on the parkland squirrels. Significantly higher infestation prevalences were recorded on woodland compared with parkland squirrels for the flea Orchopeas howardi, the tick Amblyomma americanum, and the mesostigmatid mite Androlaelaps fahrenholzi. The mean intensity for O. howardi also was significantly higher on woodland than on parkland squirrels. Because a new strain of Bartonella sp. was isolated recently from S. carolinensis in Georgia, selected ectoparasites from this study were screened for bartonellae by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Some of the fleas and lice, but none of the mites tested, were PCR positive, suggesting that fleas, or lice, or both, might be vectors of bartonellae between squirrels. Six distinct strains of Bartonella sp. were detected, 2 in fleas and 4 in lice.

[Blood parasites of small wild mammals in Steiermark and Burgenland]. / Zur Kenntnis der Blutparasiten wildlebender Kleinsäuger in der Steiermark und im Burgenland.

A total of 488 wild small mammals (16 species) trapped in two federate units of Austria, Steiermark and Burgenland, were examined on the presence of blood parasites. In Steiermark Grahamelles were detected in Neomys fodiens, Clethrionomys glareolus, Microtus arvalis, M. agrestis, Apodemus flavicollis and A. sylvaticus, while Trypanosoma evotomys and Hepatozoon erhardovae were found in C. glareolus, and Babesia microti in Pitymys subterraneus and M. agrestis. In Burgenland Grahamelles were demonstrated in Sorex araneus, C. glareolus, A. sylvaticus, A. flavicollis and Rattus norvegicus, while trypanosoma grosi was encountered in A. flavicollis and Babesia microti in C. glareolus, M. arvalis and A. flavicollis.

Intraerythrocytic parasites in rodent populations of Connecticut: Babesia and Grahamella species.

A total of 612 Peromyscus leucopus, 11 Microtus pennsylvanicus, 21 Clethrionomys gapperi, and 4 Tamias striatus was collected in Connecticut and examined for Babesia and Grahamella during 1976 and 1977. Babesia antibodies were detected in sera of 9 P. leucopus collected from 4 sites. Babesia parasites were not detected in the blood smears of captured rodents. Subsequent splenectomy and subinoculation of blood from these rodents into susceptible animals failed to induce disease and no Babesia was isolated. Six of 10 P. leucopus inoculated with a Shelter Island, New York strain of B. microti remained infected for 3 1/2 months. Indirect fluorescent antibody titers of experimentally infected P. leucopus ranged from 1:8 to 1:256. Prevalence of Grahamella peromysci infection, as determined from examinations of blood smears of P. leucopus, was 13%. This infection rate is a conservative estimate because parasitemia is difficult to detect in intact animals. Twenty of 58 P. leucopus, taken at 2 sites and with negative blood smears for G. peromysci, developed parasitemia after splenectomy.

Latent Haemobartonella muris infection: its transmission and decline in an inbred, ectoparasite-free strain of Wistar rat.

Ectoparasite-free, SPF Italian Wistar rats were consistently found to carry a latent infection with Haemobartonella muris, activable by splenectomy. In an inbred line this diminished and eventually ceased in six generations. Experimental infection from wild rats demonstrated that this was not apparently due to immunity.