Búsqueda de Borrelia spp. en garrapatas del género Amblyomma de Argentina

Objetivo. El objetivo del presente estudio fue detectar la presencia de Borrelia spp. en especies de garrapatas del género Amblyomma en Argentina. Materiales y métodos. Se analizaron especímenes de garrapatas del género Amblyomma colectadas de distintas provincias de Argentina (Entre Ríos, Misiones, Formosa, Salta, Córdoba, San Luis y Buenos Aires) mediante una PCR anidada para un fragmento de 306 pb del gen fla del género Borrelia. Resultados. Se analizaron 422 ejemplares de las especies Amblyomma aureolatum, Amblyomma brasiliense, Amblyomma ovale, Amblyomma sculptum, Amblyomma tigrinum, Amblyomma tonelliae y Amblyomma triste de diversas regiones de Argentina. Todas las muestras estudiadas resultaron negativas mediante la PCR. Conclusiones. Las especies de garrapatas del género Amblyomma analizadas en el presente estudio son de importancia en salud pública; si bien no se detectó infección con bacterias del género Borrelia, considerando los escasos antecedentes previos, futuros estudios en esta temática son necesarios en este género de garrapatas.

Baseline studies on the health of marsh deer (Blastocerus dichotomus) populations from Argentina: laying the grounds for an improved interpretation of mortality episodes

Background: The comprehensive approach to diseases in broad ecological contexts appears as a new challenge for global health and draws on baseline studies to detect changes in the occurrence of pathogens over time. Marsh deer (Blastocerus dichotomus) mortality episodes were described in Argentina and several pathogens associated with environmental and eco-epidemiological factors were indicated as risk factors. To date, the lack of basic health information on these populations has hampered interpretation of findings. This study aimed to provide baseline data on health parameters in marsh deer populations from Argentina. Results: Between May 2014 and December 2016 we determined health parameters in 44 marsh deer with different body condition scores, and studied the pathological lesions in dead animals. Marsh deer with poor body condition had a high burden of the ticks Amblyomma triste and Rhipicephalus microplus. Vector borne agents (VBAs), such as Theileria cervi. Trypanosoma theileri, Trypanosoma evansi, Ehrlichia chaffeensis, Anaplasma platys, Anaplasma odocoilei, Anaplasma marginale, and Candidatus Anaplasma boolense were also found. Haemonchus spp, Ostertagia spp., Trichostrongylus spp. showed the highest infection prevalence. A Multiple Correspondence Analysis suggested a possible association of i) lower body score condition with high tick loads and infection with VBAs and, ii) the impoverished body score with high loads of nemathelminths and well-known harmful gastrointestinal parasites. Conclusions: Our results contribute with knowledge on the life history and health aspects of marsh deer in the study areas. We provide data on the prevalent infectious and parasitic agents in their populations. A range of haematology and serum chemistryvalues, and the occurrence of Fasciola hepatica and Leptospira interrogans serovar pyrogenes were reported for the first time in wild marsh deer from Argentina. The histopathological findings in succumbed animals allowed us to recognize injuries associated or not with their body condition. Our results are the first step in the creation of a baseline on marsh deer health in Argentina. In the future, these data added to new contributions could help improve the interpretation of the findings during mortality events.

Primer reporte de Haemaphysalis juxtakochi Cooley, 1946 (Acari: Ixodidae) parasitando equinos en Uruguay

Se presenta el primer reporte de Haemaphysalis juxtakochi Cooley, 1946 parasitando equinos en Uruguay. Adultos de esta especie de garrapata fueron hallados en un equino junto a Rhipicephalus microplus (Canestrini, 1888) en una localidad del departamento de Tacuarembó, con presencia de monte nativo denso y abundante fauna silvestre, como el ciervo guazubirá (Mazama gouazoubira), hospedador preferencial de adultos de H. juxtakochi. Con este hallazgo son cuatro las especies de garrapatas parásitas de equinos reportadas para Uruguay: R. microplus, Amblyomma tigrinum Koch, 1844, Amblyomma triste Koch, 1844 y H. juxtakochi. La importancia médico-veterinario de H. juxtakochi en equinos es desconocida.

Molecular detection of Rickettsia spp. in ticks collected from dogs from the Department of Piura, Peru

The aim of this study was to determine the frequency of ticks positive for genus Rickettsia bacteria among ticks collected from domestic dogs in the Department of Piura, Peru, using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis. Ticks were collected from dogs in urban areas of the metropolitan region of Piura, Peru. Only three species of ticks were identified; 977 Rhipicephalus sanguineus (180 nymphs, 417 females, and 380 males), Six Amblyomma triste females, and one Amblyomma tigrinum male. After classifying the specimens morphologically by stage, species, and sex, their total DNA was tested by PCR using primers that amplify fragments of the gltA, ompA, ompB, and htrA genes. The resulting positive sample was sequenced, compared to the GenBank database, and analyzed phylogenetically. The Rickettsia spp. infection rate in the tick pools was 0.2% (1/484); the positive specimen was an R. sanguineus tick. GenBank analysis of the positive sequence revealed 100% identify with Rickettsia felis; however, no products of the htrA, ompA and ompB genes were amplified from this sample. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of R. felis in R. sanguineus in Peru.

Avian Migrants Facilitate Invasions of Neotropical Ticks and Tick-Borne Pathogens into the United States

ABSTRACTMigratory birds have the potential to transport exotic vectors and pathogens of human and animal health importance across vast distances. We systematically examined birds that recently migrated to the United States from the Neotropics for ticks. We screened both ticks and birds for tick-borne pathogens, includingRickettsiaspecies andBorrelia burgdorferi. Over two spring seasons (2013 and 2014), 3.56% of birds (n= 3,844) representing 42.35% of the species examined (n= 85) were infested by ticks. Ground-foraging birds with reduced fuel stores were most commonly infested. Eight tick species were identified, including seven in the genusAmblyomma, of which onlyAmblyomma maculatum/Amblyomma tristeis known to be established in the United States. Most ticks on birds (67%) were neotropical species with ranges in Central and South America. Additionally, a singleIxodesgenus tick was detected. A total of 29% of the ticks (n= 137) and no avian blood samples (n= 100) were positive for infection withRickettsiaspecies, includingRickettsia parkeri, an emerging cause of spotted fever in humans in the southern United States, a species in the group ofRickettsiamonacensis, and uncharacterized species and endosymbionts of unknown pathogenicity. No avian tick or blood samples tested positive forB. burgdorferi, the etiologic agent of Lyme disease. An extrapolation of our findings suggests that anywhere from 4 to 39 million exotic neotropical ticks are transported to the United States annually on migratory songbirds, with uncertain consequences for human and animal health if the current barriers to their establishment and spread are overcome.