Serologic evidence of equine granulocytic anaplasmosis in horses from central West Brazil

• Published in: Revista brasileira de parasitologia veterinaria 2010-07, Vol.19 (3), p.135-140
• Main Authors: Salvagni, Carlos Augusto(Universidade Estadual Paulista Departamento de Patologia Veterinária), Dagnone, Ana Sílvia(Universidade Estadual Paulista Departamento de Patologia Veterinária), Gomes, Tiago Salles, Mota, Jozivaldo Silva(1º Regimento Cavalaria Guarda, Dragões da Independência), Andrade, Gisele Maria(Universidade Estadual Paulista Departamento de Patologia Veterinária), Baldani, Cristiane Divan(Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro Departamento de Medicina e Cirurgia Veterinária), Machado, Rosangela Zacarias(Universidade Estadual Paulista Departamento de Patologia Veterinária)
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Anaplasma - immunology; Anaplasmose granulocítica equina; Anaplasmosis - blood; Anaplasmosis - diagnosis; Animals; Antibodies, Bacterial - blood; Brazil; ELISA; Equine granulocytic anaplasmosis; Granulocytes; Horse Diseases - blood; Horse Diseases - diagnosis; Horses; IFA; nPCR; PARASITOLOGY; Serologic Tests; Theileria equi; VETERINARY SCIENCES
• ISSN: 1984-2961; 1984-2961
• DOI: 10.1590/S1984-29612010000300002

Ehrlichiosis is a zoonotic disease caused by gram-negative and intracellular obligatory bacterial organisms. Equine Granulocytic Anaplasmosis - EGA (formerly Equine Granulocytic Ehrlichiosis, EGE) is a seasonal disease, normally self-limited in horses. There are few reports in Brazil about this ehrlichial agent, as well as its natural vectors. Nowadays, veterinarians are considering the suspicion of EGA in horses with suggestive symptoms of ehrlichiosis and which do not respond to piroplasmosis treatment. The aim of the present study was to identify horses exposed to the agent A. phagocytophilum by serological and molecular techniques. Twenty equine blood and serum samples from the central West region of Brazil were evaluated by microscopic examination of buffy coat smear, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), indirect fluorescent antibody test (IFAT) and nested polymerase chain reaction (nPCR). Additionally, the serodiagnosis of Theileria equi by IFA and ELISA were carried out, as well as molecular diagnosis by nPCR. Thirteen (65%) serum samples were positive for A. phagocytophilum by ELISA, but none of them were positive by buffy-coat smear examination or nPCR. Antibodies IgG anti-T. equi were detected in 18 (90%) and 17 (85%) horses by IFA and ELISA, respectively and the agent was detected in 9 (45%) animals by nPCR. Our data may be considered as important information to understanding the occurrence of EGA and equine piroplasmosis in central West Brazil. A Erliquiose é uma doença zoonótica causada por bactérias gram-negativas e intracelulares obrigatórias. A Anaplasmose Granulocítica Equina - AGE (anteriormente denominada Erliquiose Granulocítica Equina, EGE) é uma enfermidade sazonal, normalmente auto-limitante em equinos. No Brasil, existem poucos relatos deste agente erliquial, bem como de seus vetores naturais. Atualmente, veterinários têm levantado a suspeita de casos de AGE em equinos com sinais clínicos sugestivos de erliquiose e não responsivos ao tratamento para a piroplasmose equina. O objetivo do presente estudo foi identificar equinos expostos a A. phagocytophilum por meio de técnicas sorológicas e moleculares. Vinte amostras de sangue e soro de equinos da região Centro-oeste do Brasil foram avaliados por meio do exame microscópico de capa leucocitária, ensaio imunoenzimático indireto (ELISA), reação de imunofluorescência indireta (RIFI) e reação em cadeia da polimerase (nested PCR). Adicionalmente, o diagnóstico sorológico de Theileria