Research of hemoparasites in ticks collected from dogs resident in the municipality of Itu, São Paulo, SP

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to report the occurrence of Ehrlichia canis, Babesia canis vogeli and Rangelia vitalli, in ticks collected from dogs residing in the city of Itu, SP, Brazil. METHODS: DNA extraction from 200 tick samples was performed using the “PureLink Genomic DNA Kit” (Invitrogen®) extraction kit according to the manufacturer's instructions and real-time PCR was performed for the detection of Ehrlichia canis, Rangelia vitalli, Babesia canis vogeli. RESULTS: A total of 200 ticks were tested, 1/200 (0.5%) of the species of the genus Amblyomma aureolatum and 199/200 (99.5%) of Rhipicephalus sanguineus. The results show a positivity rate of occurrence only in R. sanguineus, being 0.5% (1/200) for E. canis; 41% (82/100) for B.c. vogeli. No ticks were positive for R. vitalli. CONCLUSION: Detection of B. canis vogeli and E. canis in ticks collected from dogs residing in the municipality of Itu, in the State of São Paulo, Brazil; show the dispersion of these pathogens in the country and; the role of R. sanguineus s.l. as a vector of these pathogens cannot be neglected.

Descriptors: Ehrlichia canis, Babesia canis vogeli, Rangelia vitalli, ticks.