RESUMEN
Human ehrlichiosis are scantily documented in Uruguay. The aim of this study was to investigate the presence of Ehrlichia spp. in Haemaphysalis juxtakochi and in a gray brocket deer (Mazama gouazoubira) from Uruguay. The presence of Ehrlichia DNA was investigated in free-living H. juxtakochi in five localities of southeast and northeast Uruguay, as well as blood, spleen, and ticks retrieved from a M. gouazoubira. Ehrlichia spp. DNA was detected in six out of 99 tick pools from vegetation, in the spleen of M. gouazoubira, and in one out of five pools of ticks feeding on this cervid. Bayesian inference analyses for three loci (16S rRNA, dsb, and groEL) revealed the presence of a new rickettsial organism, named herein as "Candidatus Ehrlichia pampeana". This new detected Ehrlichia is phylogenetically related to those found in ticks from Asia, as well as Ehrlichia ewingii from USA and Cameroon. Although the potential pathogenicity of "Ca. E. pampeana" for humans is currently unknown, some eco-epidemiological factors may be relevant to its possible pathogenic role, namely: (i) the phylogenetic closeness with the zoonotic agent E. ewingii, (ii) the evidence of H. juxtakochi parasitizing humans, and (iii) the importance of cervids as reservoirs for zoonotic Ehrlichia spp. The molecular detection of "Ca. E. pampeana" represents the third Ehrlichia genotype described in Uruguay.
RESUMEN
Ehrlichia are small intracellular Gram-negative bacteria transmitted by ticks. These microorganisms cause ehrlichiosis, a complex of life-threatening emerging zoonoses and diseases of global veterinary relevance. The aim of this study was to investigate the presence of Ehrlichia in free-living Ixodes auritulus collected in Uruguay. Ticks were collected from vegetation in five localities from the southeast and northeast of the country between 2014 and 2017. Detection of Ehrlichia DNA was performed in pools of adults or nymphs grouped according to the collection site and date. A total of 1,548 I. auritulus ticks were collected in four of the five locations sampled. Fragments of three loci (16S rRNA, dsb and groEL) were obtained by PCR, and phylogenies inferred using Bayesian inference analysis for each gene independently. DNA of Ehrlichia spp. was found in 15 out of 42 tick pools. Based on the topology of the phylogenetic trees, our sequences represent two novel genotypes for the genus named as Ehrlichia sp. Serrana and Ehrlichia sp. Laguna Negra. Both genotypes were closely related to Ehrlichia sp. Magellanica, a species detected in Ixodes uriae and Magellanic penguins. Considering that all stages of I. auritulus and I. uriae are parasites of birds, their phylogenetic relationships, and common eco-epidemiological profiles, it is reasonable to state that these genotypes of Ehrlichia spp. may represent a natural group likely associated with birds. Our results constitute the first characterization of Ehrlichia spp. in Uruguay. Future studies on birds reported as hosts for I. auritulus are needed to further understand the epidemiological cycles of both Ehrlichia genotypes in the country. Finally, I. auritulus does not feed on humans, so the two Ehrlichia species reported herein might have no implications in human health.
