Aspectos epidemiológicos de Babesia canis, Ehrlichia canis e Ricktettsia spp. em cães de ambiente urbano e rural da mesorregião do Leste maranhense, microrregião de Chapadinha-Ma, Brasil

Abstract

Infections by Babesia canis, Ehrlichia canis and Rickettsa spp. Can lead to important diseases in small animals. Furthermore are of public health interest due to their zoonotic risck. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the epidemiological data of these hemoparasites in dogs from urban and rural environment from the east region of Maranhão, verifying the possible differences among sex, age, breed and hunting activity and associated risck factors.Ticks were collected from de dogs, identified and infection by Rickettsia was investigated by PCR. Serum and blood samples were collected from 323 dogs from the municipalities of Anapurus, Chapadinha and Mata Roma ( Chapadinha, east region of Maranhão), to IFAT analysis for Babesia canis, Ehrlichia canis and Rickettsia spp. Infestation by ticks was observed in 59,9% of the dogs, and ticks were identified as Rhipicephalus sanguineus, Amblyomma ovale e Amblyomma cajennense. There was significative association (p<0,05) only for mixed infestations dogs from rural area presented higher frequency of tick infestation (12, 44%). Living urban areas was considered a protection factor for the infestation (OR=0,08). The prevalence using IFAT was 16,1%, 14,6%, 18,9% for B. canis, E. canis and Rickettsia spp., respectively. The only factor associated with B. canis infection of the dog breed, however for E. canis, breed, sex and age ware not associated with the infection. It was determined R. amblyommii as the probable antigen responsible for 19,67% of natural dog infection. A significant association (p< 0,05) was observed for the dogs from the rural area (32, 9%). Animal from the urban area had a lower chancer of infection (OR= 0,06). In PCR of the blood three samples were positive for B. canis vogeli e all samples were negative for Rickettsia. Ticks samples were negative for Rickettsia bellii by PCR. It was concluded that Babesia canis, Ehrlichia canis and Rickettsia spp infected dogs of the studied area.