New insights on the phylogeography of Hepatozoon canis in Brazil.

This study aimed to molecularly characterize the Hepatozoon spp. infecting domestic and wild dogs in Brazil. A total of 22 whole blood samples tested positive for Hepatozoon spp., and five samples were sequenced for the 18S rDNA gene from H. canis after PCR amplification with four primer sets. Phylogenetic analysis using Bayesian inference showed that the three H. canis isolates from domestic dogs were not monophyletic; however, they were more closely related to each other than to other H. canis sequences. The isolate from the hoary fox (Lycalopex vetulus) was phylogenetically more distant. Two haplotype networks were constructed, identifying 10 haplotypes of H. canis in Brazil, with H10 constituting the largest group. It contains nine isolates, including three from domestic dogs. The H5 haplotype grouped the sequence of L. vetulus with two additional sequences from hosts Tapirus terrestris and L. vetulus, representing the sole haplotype with wild hosts. Bayesian analysis suggested the possible existence of two genetic groups of H. canis in Brazil, indicating gene flow of this agent within the country. These findings contribute valuable insights for a more comprehensive understanding of the molecular diversity of Hepatozoon spp. in Brazil and may help in the development of effective control measures.

Seroprevalence for brucellosis and leptospirosis in dogs from Belém and Castanhal, State of Pará, Brazil / Soroprevalência para brucelose e leptospirose em cães de Belém e Castanhal, Pará, Brasil

Brucellosis and leptospirosis are widely spread bacterial infections and dogs are the most important source of infection and reservoir for diseases. Dogs can disseminate the agents in the environment and transmit them to humans and/or other animals. The objective of this study was assess the occurrence of reactive to antibodies anti-Leptospira spp., Brucella canis and B. abortus in Belém and Castanhal, State of Pará, Amazon, Brazil. A total of 156 samples were randomly collected in the city of Belém and 158 samples in Castanhal. The anti-B. canis antibodies research was performed by Agar Gel Immunodiffusion (AGID) with and without 2-mercaptoethanol serum treatment (AGID-2ME). To assess the anti-B. abortus antibodies, the technique of Fast Seroagglutination with buffered acidified plate antigen (BAPAT) was used. For anti-Leptospira spp. antibodies research, the Microscopic Agglutination Technique (MAT) was used. No animal reacted to Brucella abortus and one animal was reactive to B. canis at the AGID, but it was negative to the AGID-2ME test. Seventeen percent of dogs (47/274) presented anti-Leptospira spp. antibodies, with prevalence of serovar Canicola. The dogs from Belém and Castanhal are not source of infection for B. abortus and B. canis, however, they are reservoirs for different serovars of Leptospira spp.(AU)

Brucelose e leptospirose são enfermidades bacterianas amplamente disseminadas e o cão é importante fonte de infecção e reservatório para ambas, podendo eliminar o agente no meio ambiente, e transmiti-lo para humanos e/ou outros animais. O presente estudo teve como objetivo pesquisar a ocorrência de cães reagentes para anticorpos contra Leptospira spp., Brucella canis e B. abortus em Belém e Castanhal, Pará, Amazônia, Brasil. Foram colhidas de forma aleatória 156 amostras no município de Belém e 158 amostras em Castanhal. A pesquisa de anticorpos anti-B. canis foi realizada pela técnica de Imunodifusão em Gel de Ágar (IDGA) com e sem tratamento do soro com 2-mercaptoetanol (IDGA-2ME) e para pesquisa de anticorpos anti-B. abortus foi utilizada a técnica de Soroaglutinação Rápida com antígeno acidificado tamponado (AAT). Para pesquisa de anticorpos contra-Leptospira spp. utilizou-se a Técnica de Aglutinação Microscópica (MAT). Nenhum animal reagiu para Brucella abortus e um animal foi reagente para B. canis na IDGA, porém foi negativo na IDGA-2ME. Dezessete por cento dos cães (47/274) apresentaram anticorpos contra-Leptospira spp., com predominância do sorovar Canicola. Os cães de Belém e Castanhal não são fontes de infecção para B. abortus e B. canis, no entanto são reservatórios de diferentes sorovares de Leptospira spp.(AU)

Seroprevalence for brucellosis and leptospirosis in dogs from Belém and Castanhal, State of Pará, Brazil / Soroprevalência para brucelose e leptospirose em cães de Belém e Castanhal, Pará, Brasil

Brucellosis and leptospirosis are widely spread bacterial infections and dogs are the most important source of infection and reservoir for diseases. Dogs can disseminate the agents in the environment and transmit them to humans and/or other animals. The objective of this study was assess the occurrence of reactive to antibodies anti-Leptospira spp., Brucella canis and B. abortus in Belém and Castanhal, State of Pará, Amazon, Brazil. A total of 156 samples were randomly collected in the city of Belém and 158 samples in Castanhal. The anti-B. canis antibodies research was performed by Agar Gel Immunodiffusion (AGID) with and without 2-mercaptoethanol serum treatment (AGID-2ME). To assess the anti-B. abortus antibodies, the technique of Fast Seroagglutination with buffered acidified plate antigen (BAPAT) was used. For anti-Leptospira spp. antibodies research, the Microscopic Agglutination Technique (MAT) was used. No animal reacted to Brucella abortus and one animal was reactive to B. canis at the AGID, but it was negative to the AGID-2ME test. Seventeen percent of dogs (47/274) presented anti-Leptospira spp. antibodies, with prevalence of serovar Canicola. The dogs from Belém and Castanhal are not source of infection for B. abortus and B. canis, however, they are reservoirs for different serovars of Leptospira spp.

Brucelose e leptospirose são enfermidades bacterianas amplamente disseminadas e o cão é importante fonte de infecção e reservatório para ambas, podendo eliminar o agente no meio ambiente, e transmiti-lo para humanos e/ou outros animais. O presente estudo teve como objetivo pesquisar a ocorrência de cães reagentes para anticorpos contra Leptospira spp., Brucella canis e B. abortus em Belém e Castanhal, Pará, Amazônia, Brasil. Foram colhidas de forma aleatória 156 amostras no município de Belém e 158 amostras em Castanhal. A pesquisa de anticorpos anti-B. canis foi realizada pela técnica de Imunodifusão em Gel de Ágar (IDGA) com e sem tratamento do soro com 2-mercaptoetanol (IDGA-2ME) e para pesquisa de anticorpos anti-B. abortus foi utilizada a técnica de Soroaglutinação Rápida com antígeno acidificado tamponado (AAT). Para pesquisa de anticorpos contra-Leptospira spp. utilizou-se a Técnica de Aglutinação Microscópica (MAT). Nenhum animal reagiu para Brucella abortus e um animal foi reagente para B. canis na IDGA, porém foi negativo na IDGA-2ME. Dezessete por cento dos cães (47/274) apresentaram anticorpos contra-Leptospira spp., com predominância do sorovar Canicola. Os cães de Belém e Castanhal não são fontes de infecção para B. abortus e B. canis, no entanto são reservatórios de diferentes sorovares de Leptospira spp.