Pesquisa de infecções por agentes Anaplasmataceae, Piroplasmas e Hemoplasmas em gambás-de-orelha-preta (Didelphis aurita) da Região Metropolitana do Rio de Janeiro

Abstract

The occurrence of hemoprotozoa in marsupials is described in several countries such as Brazil, Australia, United States, China, among others. Environmental changes contribute to the access of these animals to unusual ecological niches, such as metropolises and peri-urban areas, exposing them to various risks such as electrical discharges, burns, fractures, poisoning and attacks by dogs and humans. Despite this proximity, there are few investigations regarding the participation of black-eared skunks (Didelphis aurita) on the circulation of vector-borne pathogens and the consequent occurrence of diseases in Brazil. The objective of this study was to investigate the presence of pathogens from the Anaplasmataceae, Mycoplasmataceae and piroplasms in peripheral blood and bone marrow, as well as the existence of co-infections in Didelphis aurita from the metropolitan region of Rio de Janeiro. A total of 15 black-eared possums were received at the Wild Animal Screening Center – CETAS RJ and at the Wild Animal Rehabilitation Center – CRAS RJ. With appropriate restraint, the animals were clinically evaluated and inspected for the presence of ectoparasites. In addition, peripheral blood samples were collected by venipuncture of the tail vein and transferred to tubes containing the anticoagulant EDTA, to perform the hemogram. Bone marrow collection was performed after sedation in only ten of the fifteen animals due to the adequate body score, they had. To avoid false-negative results, all samples were submitted to previous molecular analysis for detection of endogenous gapdh and IRBP genes. DNA detections of pathogens belonging to the Anaplasmataceae and Mycoplasmataceae family were based on the 16S rRNA gene and Piroplasmas on the 18S rRNA gene. All samples of whole blood and bone marrow tested were negative for the family Anasplasmataceae. Twenty percent (3/15) of the animals were positive for Mycoplasma spp. in whole blood samples, and of these, 66.6% (2/3) had comorbidities such as abrasions and fractures related to urban accidents. For the Piroplasmid order, 33.3% (5/15) of the animals were positive in samples of whole blood and also in bone marrow and of these, 80% (4/5) had inflammatory conditions. One of the animals positive for Piroplasma had icteric mucosa and decreased mean corpuscular hemoglobin value and another animal had anemia (23.5% hematocrit) and decreased plasma protein value (5g/dl). Coinfection by piroplasm and hemoplasma occurred in thirteen-point thirty-three percent (2/15) of skunks, and only one had comorbidity. The data from this study indicate the existence of infections by hemoparasites of importance in D. aurita from the metropolitan region of Rio de Janeiro, which reinforces the need for new epidemiological studies to clarify the participation of these animals in the occurrence of diseases caused by these pathogens. in domestic animals and humans.