Autor: |
Taques IIGG; Laboratory of Virology and Rickettsial Infections, Veterinary Hospital, Federal University of Mato Grosso, Av. Fernando Correa da Costa 2367, Cuiabá 78090-900, MT, Brazil., Melo ALT; Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Cuiabá, Cuiabá 78065-900, MT, Brazil., Horta MC; Laboratory of Parasitic Diseases, Federal University of São Francisco Valley, Petrolina 56304-917, PE, Brazil., Pereira NA; Laboratory of Virology and Rickettsial Infections, Veterinary Hospital, Federal University of Mato Grosso, Av. Fernando Correa da Costa 2367, Cuiabá 78090-900, MT, Brazil.; VetVida Veterinary Center of Diagnostic and Research, Cuiabá 78045-100, MT, Brazil., Aguiar DM; Laboratory of Virology and Rickettsial Infections, Veterinary Hospital, Federal University of Mato Grosso, Av. Fernando Correa da Costa 2367, Cuiabá 78090-900, MT, Brazil. |
Abstrakt: |
Ehrlichia chaffeensis is a tick-borne bacterium that causes human monocytotropic ehrlichiosis, an emerging life-threatening disease in humans transmitted by Amblyomma americanum . Although most studies have reported bacterial isolations and clinical cases in the United States, their occurrence is not restricted to North America. Some studies in the Southern Cone of South America have molecularly detected a close phylogenetic relative of E. chaffeensis in ticks and wild mammals. Even so, many gaps must be filled to confirm the presence of this agent in the region. To add new data on this issue, we report the first detection of specific anti- E. chaffeensis antibodies in dogs collected from all regions of Brazil. By means of IFA and ELISA with crude and specific antigens of E. chaffeensis , sera from 1134 dogs were analyzed. Serological analyses using ELISA showed nine (0.7%) seropositive dogs, with seven of them exhibiting IFA titers ranging from 160 to 5120. All regions of Brazil had at least one seropositive dog. Our results support the evidence for the occurrence of E. chaffeensis in South America. As dogs have a close relationship with humans, they can be used as an environmental sentinel for these infections because they can act as a bridge to human parasitism or infection with ehrlichial agents. |