Rangelia vitalii, Babesia spp. and Ehrlichia spp. in dogs in Passo Fundo, state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.

Pathogens transmitted by ticks are an emerging problem worldwide, this study aimed to diagnose the causal agents of infection in dogs presenting suspected hemoparasitoses. Fifty-eight dogs with clinical signs such as depression, hemorrhagic diathesis and fever were evaluated regarding clinical presentation, hemogram, blood smears and serological tests, using the indirect immunofluorescence method for the agents Babesia vogeli and Ehrlichia canis and conventional PCR for Babesia spp. (gene 18S rRNA), Rangelia vitalii (gene 18S rRNA) and Ehrlichia spp. (gene dsb). Five (8.6%) of the 58 dogs were serologically positive for Babesia spp. and three (5.1%) for E. canis. Four dogs (6.8%) were positive for R. vitalii through the molecular diagnosis. The PCR products were sequenced and the DNA from R. vitalii was found to be 99% genetically identical to samples of R. vitalii that had been isolated in Brazil. No presence of Babesia spp. or E. canis was observed through PCR on the dogs evaluated here. The results indicate the presence of R. vitalii and exposure to Babesia spp. and Ehrlichia spp. among the dogs analyzed.

Rangelia vitalii, Babesia spp. and Ehrlichia spp. in dogs in Passo Fundo, state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil / Rangelia vitalii, Babesia spp. e Ehrlichia spp. em cães de Passo Fundo, estado do Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil

Abstract Pathogens transmitted by ticks are an emerging problem worldwide, this study aimed to diagnose the causal agents of infection in dogs presenting suspected hemoparasitoses. Fifty-eight dogs with clinical signs such as depression, hemorrhagic diathesis and fever were evaluated regarding clinical presentation, hemogram, blood smears and serological tests, using the indirect immunofluorescence method for the agents Babesia vogeli and Ehrlichia canis and conventional PCR for Babesia spp. (gene 18S rRNA), Rangelia vitalii (gene 18S rRNA) and Ehrlichia spp. (gene dsb). Five (8.6%) of the 58 dogs were serologically positive for Babesia spp. and three (5.1%) for E. canis. Four dogs (6.8%) were positive for R. vitalii through the molecular diagnosis. The PCR products were sequenced and the DNA from R. vitalii was found to be 99% genetically identical to samples of R. vitalii that had been isolated in Brazil. No presence of Babesia spp. or E. canis was observed through PCR on the dogs evaluated here. The results indicate the presence of R. vitalii and exposure to Babesia spp. and Ehrlichia spp. among the dogs analyzed.

Resumo Patógenos transmitidos por carrapatos são um problema emergente em todo o mundo, o trabalho objetivou diagnosticar os agentes causais da infecção em cães com suspeita de hemoparasitoses. Cinquenta e oito caninos com sinais clínicos como depressão, diáteses hemorrágicas e febre foram avaliados quanto à apresentação clínica, hemograma, esfregaço sanguíneo, sorologia pelo método de Imunofluorescência Indireta para os agentes Babesia vogeli e Ehrlichia canis e na PCR convencional para Babesia spp. (gene 18S rRNA), Rangelia vitalii (gene 18S rRNA) e Ehrlichia spp. (gene dsb). Cinco (8,6%) dos 58 cães apresentaram sorologia positiva para Babesia spp. e três (5,1%) para E. canis. Quatro (6,8%) animais mostraram-se positivos para R. vitalii no diagnóstico molecular. Os produtos da PCR foram sequenciados e o DNA encontrado de R. vitalii mostrou 99% de identidade genética com amostras de R. vitalii isoladas no Brasil. Não foi observada a presença de Babesia spp. e E. canis na PCR dos cães avaliados. Os resultados indicaram a presença de R. vitalii e exposição a Babesia spp. e Ehrlichia spp. entre os cães analisados.

Lavado traqueobrônquico auxiliado por endoscópio rígido ou por tubo endotraqueal em cães / Tracheobronchic washing in dogs by means of rigid endoscopy or endotracheal tube

Com o objetivo de se avaliarem os resultados do uso de endoscopia rígida e da técnica por tubo endotraqueal de colheita de líquido traqueobrônquico, foram utilizados 28 cães, errantes ou domiciliados, distribuídos em dois grupos. Nos cães do grupo 1, aplicou-se a técnica de lavado traqueobrônquico em 14 cães, sendo sete sadios e sete com sinais clínicos respiratórios. Nos do grupo 2, utilizou-se a mesma técnica, entretanto com endoscopia rígida, em sete cães sadios e em sete cães com sinais clínicos de doença respiratória. Os dados evidenciaram que o procedimento utilizando-se endoscópio rígido resultou em menor volume de solução infundida e em maior porcentagem de solução recuperada. Não houve diferença significativa quanto ao tempo de duração da execução da técnica. A contagem bacteriana foi mais alta nas amostras coletadas por endoscópio rígido, porém não houve diferença significativa na contagem de células nucleadas totais. Portanto, o uso da endoscopia rígida para colheita de líquido traqueobrônquico mostrou-se mais vantajosa do que a técnica convencional utilizando-se o tubo endotraqueal, pois fornece imagens das vias aéreas e permite acompanhamento visual da lavagem.

The present study aimed to evaluate the results of rigid endoscopy and endotracheal tube techniques for collecting tracheobronchic fluid from dogs. Twenty eight erratic or housed dogs, were allocated into to two groups. In group 1, tracheobronchic washing was applied to seven healthy dogs and seven dogs with clinical signs of respiratory disease. In group 2, seven healthy and seven dogs with respiratory disease were submitted to endo-bronchial washing by rigid endoscopy. Using rigid endoscopy, a lower volume was introduced but a higher percentage of washing fluid was recovered. There was no difference regarding the time necessary to perform both techniques. Bacterial counts were higher in samples collected by rigid endoscopy, but there was no difference in total nucleated cell counts from these samples. Thus, the use of rigid endoscopy to collect tracheobronchic fluid was found to be advantageous when compared to the conventional technique using endotracheal tube.