Prevalência e caracterização molecular da espécie de Hepatozoon e parâmetros hematológicos e bioquímicos de cães (Canis familiaris) naturalmente infectados procedentes da microrregião de Uberlândia MG

Abstract

The canine Hepatozoonosis has gained importance in veterinary medicine, as emerging infection. Most cases in Minas Gerais, Brazil, were diagnosed by occasional testing laboratory. This study aimed to characterize the isolate of Hepatozoon sp. in naturally infected dogs coming from urban and rural areas of the microregion of Uberlândia, Minas Gerais, Brazil. Furthermore, was determined the prevalence by conventional and molecular techniques, identified genera or species of ticks and promoted serum biochemistry and hematological assessment of the positive animals. Were collected from each animal, samples of peripheral and circulating blood. The dogs were examined to verify the presence of ticks, which were collected, identified and dissected for analysis of the presence of oocysts of Hepatozoon sp.. Of the total number of animals in the study 212 were coming from urban area and 134 from rural, 166 males and 180 females and 92 puppies and 254 adults. The prevalence of Hepatozoon sp., was 20.8% and 79.2%, by the blood extension techniques and PCR, respectively, and differences were observed (p <0.05) when comparing the two methods. By the conventional technique was no difference (p <0.05) in the prevalence of Hepatozoon sp. infection to relate the areas studied. Dogs from urban and rural areas, 148 (69.8%) and 18 (13.4%) respectively, were infested with ticks. Oocysts were recovered from the hemolimph of semi-engorged Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus female. Concomitant infections to Hepatozoon sp. with Ehrlichia sp., Babesia sp. and Anaplasma platys occurred in 38 dogs. The Hepatozoon canis is the species responsible for the canine Hepatozoonosis in Uberlândia. This species is closely related to the causative agent of the disease in southern Europe, but other than H. americanum and H. felis. A new sequence of H. canis coming from the rural area dogs, and sequence found in the hemolymph of infected tick, was deposited in GenBank with access HQ605710 and JN835188, respectively. The serum concentrations of AST and LDH and counts of neutrophil rods showed to be increased in animals with Hepatozoonosis. There are no reports in the literature about the presence of H. canis oocysts in Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus. More studies are needed to determine the natural cycle of the parasite, as well as the epidemiological and clinical aspects.