ANAIS 2014
CO-INFECTION BY ARTHROPOD BORNE-PATHOGENS IN DOGS: WHAT IS YOUR DIAGNOSIS?
Autor(es): Luiz Ricardo Gonçalves, Kilder Dantas Filgueira, Silvia Maria Mendes Ahid, Josivânia Soares Pereira, André Menezes do Vale, Rosangela Zacarias Machado, Marcos Rogério André

CO-INFECTION BY ARTHROPOD BORNE-PATHOGENS IN DOGS: WHAT IS YOUR DIAGNOSIS?
» Área de pesquisa: DOENÇAS VETORIAIS
» Instituição: Universidade Estadual Paulista FCAV/UNESP
» Agência de fomento e patrocinadores:
Dogs are susceptible to infection by tick-borne agents and because of close relationship between dogs and humans, these pathogens have become a public health concern. Since dogs presenting canine ehrlichiosis, anaplasmosis, babesiosis, hepatozoonosis and/or leishmaniasis can show none or nonspecific clinical signs, the assessment of the aetiological agent involved in the course of these diseases is much needed. The present study aimed to detect the presence of Babesia spp., Ehrlichia spp., Anaplasma spp., Hepatozoon spp. and Leishmania spp. in blood samples and ectoparasites (seven specimens of Rhipicephalus sanguineus) collected from two dogs showing suggestive tick-borne disease clinical signs, using molecular techniques. DNA of E. canis, H. canis and L. chagasi were detected in blood samples and R. sanguineus ticks collected from dogs. Among all samples analyzed, two showed the presence of multiple infections with E. canis, H. canis and L. chagasi. This study identifies, for the first time, the simultaneous co-infection by L. chagasi, E. canis and H. canis in dogs and their respective ectoparasites. In addition, this work shows the first molecular detection of L. chagasi, E. canis and H. canis in dogs and ticks in the state of Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil. Also, we highlighted the need for molecular differential diagnosis in dogs showing nonspecific clinical signs.