Vector-Borne Bioagents Laboratory (VBBL), Department of Pathology, Reproduction and One Health, School of Agricultural and Veterinarian Sciences, São Paulo State University (Unesp), Via de Acesso Prof. Paulo Donato Castellane, s/n, Zona Rural, Jaboticabal, São Paulo, CEP: 14884-900, Brazil.
Laboratory of Parasitic Diseases (LabEPar), Department of Pathology, Reproduction and One Health, School of Agricultural and Veterinarian Sciences, São Paulo State University (Unesp), Jaboticabal, SP, Brazil.
Sci Rep. 2023 Feb 1;13(1):1828. doi: 10.1038/s41598-023-29090-1.
The present study aimed to detect molecularly the presence of co-infections by vector-borne agents (VBA) in ring-tailed coatis' (Nasua nasua) blood samples from Iguaçu National Park (INP), southern Brazil, and assess the phylogenetic positioning of the detected agents. DNA blood samples were submitted to molecular screening and characterization for Anaplasmataceae agents, Piroplasmids, Hepatozoon sp., hemotropic mycoplasmas, and Bartonella spp. In total, 42 (85.7%) coatis were positive for hemotropic Mycoplasma sp., 12 (24.5%) for Bartonella machadoae, 7 (14.3%) for Anaplasma sp. closely related to 'Candidatus Anaplasma brasiliensis', and 3 (6%) for Hepatozoon procyonis. The most prevalent co-infections observed was from bacterial VBA: while 18.3% were co-infected by hemotropic Mycoplasma sp. and Bartonella sp., 12.2% were co-infected by Anaplasma sp. and hemotropic Mycoplasma sp. Only two animals (4%) presented co-infections by three VBA (Bartonella sp., Anaplasma sp. and hemotropic Mycoplasma sp.). The coati is a wild carnivore found in INP, mainly in areas visited by tourists. These animals are frequently seen searching for food in garbage dumps or in tourists' belongings. The present study expands the host specificity range of B. machadoae, which has been isolated only from rodents until the present moment. Since the zoonotic potential and transmission routes of the detected VBA are not yet known, surveillance in this area is much needed.
本研究旨在检测来自巴西南部伊瓜苏国家公园（INP）环尾浣熊血液样本中虫媒病原体（VBA）的共感染情况，并评估所检测病原体的系统发育定位。对 DNA 血液样本进行了分子筛选和特征分析，以检测 Anaplasmataceae 病原体、血孢子虫、Hepatozoon sp.、血支原体和巴尔通体属。总共有 42 只（85.7%）浣熊血液样本中检测到血支原体，12 只（24.5%）为巴尔通体 machadoae，7 只（14.3%）与“候选巴尔通体 brasiliensis”密切相关的 Anaplasma sp.，3 只（6%）为 H. procyonis。观察到最常见的共感染来自细菌 VBA：18.3% 的动物同时感染血支原体和巴尔通体属，12.2% 的动物同时感染 Anaplasma sp. 和血支原体。只有两只动物（4%）同时感染了三种 VBA（巴尔通体属、Anaplasma sp. 和血支原体）。环尾浣熊是一种生活在 INP 的野生食肉动物，主要分布在游客经常光顾的区域。这些动物经常在垃圾场或游客的财物中寻找食物。本研究扩展了 B. machadoae 的宿主特异性范围，到目前为止，这种细菌仅从啮齿动物中分离出来。由于尚未了解所检测到的 VBA 的人畜共患病潜力和传播途径，因此非常需要在该地区进行监测。
