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The epidemiological aspects of Babesia caballi infection were evaluated in 516 horse samples from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The presence and infestation level of ticks on horses, breed conditions, and animal management were evaluated on each farm through an epidemiological questionnaire. The gene that codes for rhoptry-associated protein-1 (RAP-1) of B. caballi was amplified by nested PCR (nPCR). Among the horses sampled, 17.2% (n = 89/516) presented B. caballi DNA. The characterized samples showed 99-100% similarity with other isolates of B. caballi based on the RAP-1 gene, available in GenBank. In the final logistic regression model, the variables associated with B. caballi infection in horses were as follows: age below two years (OR = 3.33; IC = 1.7-6.5), farms located in low altitudes (OR = 3.52; IC = 1.7-7.3) and Dermacentor nitens infestation (OR = 1.91; IC = 1.1-3.4). Furthermore, a high level of D. nitens infestation in horses was also a factor associated with positivity for B. caballi (OR = 2.11; IC = 1.25-3.54). In summary, young horses bred in low altitude regions characterized with high temperatures, and infested by D. nitens, mainly with a higher level of infestation, are more likely to be infected by B. caballi. This epidemiological study provides statical evidence that the D. nitens tick play a role as the biological vector of B. caballi in the studied region.

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Species of the genus Anaplasma, in the family Anaplasmatacae, are responsible to vector-borne diseases that affecting animals and humans. Feline anaplasmosis is poorly reported in Brazil. This study aimed at investigating the occurrence of Anaplasma spp. in domestic cats from Greater Rio de Janeiro, and evaluating hematological changes associated with this rickettsial infection. Were sampled 216 cats, we performed nested PCR (nPCR) and real-time PCR (qPCR) assays targeting A. platys-16S-rDNA, A. platys-gltA and A. phagocytophilum-msp2 sequences. As evaluated with gltA-qPCR the frequency of cats positive for A. platys was 3.7% (n = 8/216) and by 16S-rDNA nested-PCR it was 0.9% (n = 2/216). No cats were positive to msp2-qPCR to A. phagocytophilum. The sequences of A. platys presented 100% similarity with previously described isolates around the world and Brazil. Two cats that were positive in the gltA-qPCR reactions have platelet inclusions in the microscopic examination. However, no significant (p > 0.05) hematological changes were observed, probably due to low parasite load. This study showed that A. platys occur in domestic cats from Greater Rio de Janeiro. Further studies are needed to more precisely characterize these organisms.

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The present study aims to determine the frequencies of Theileria equi and Anaplasma phagocytophilum antibodies among horses from the state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and to detect the presence of DNA of these pathogens through molecular methods. A total of 98 serum samples of horses from the municipality of Seropedica were tested by indirect immunofluorescence antibody (IFA) to detect anti-A. phagocytophilum and anti-T. equi IgG antibodies. In addition, quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) was used to detect these pathogens in the DNA extracted from the whole blood and buffy coat of horses. Bivariate analysis and odds ratio were performed to verify the possible association between positivity and characteristics related to the horses. As evaluated by IFA and qPCR, the frequency of animals that tested positive for T. equi was 89.8% (n = 88/98) and 91.8% (n = 90/98), whereas A. phagocytophilum was 17.4% (n = 17/98) and 1.0% (n = 1/98), respectively. Serological evidence of exposure to A. phagocytophilum and T. equi was observed in 16.3% (n = 16/98) of the horses; however, exposure was confirmed by qPCR in only 1.0% (n = 1/98). No statistical association was found in the bivariate and odds ratio analysis. This is the first study reporting the molecular detection of A. phagocytophilum DNA in horses from the state of Rio de Janeiro, and also the coinfection of A. phagocytophilum and T. equi in a horse from Brazil confirmed by molecular methods. Equine granulocytic anaplasmosis is circulating in Brazilian horses, together with T. equi, and should be included in the differential diagnosis of tick-borne diseases.

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This cross-sectional, observational, and descriptive study aims to investigate the epidemiology of Ehrlichia canis in healthy owned dogs from the Southeastern region of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Blood samples were collected from 390 households dogs. During the visits, an epidemiological questionnaire was filled out concerning the dogs' characteristics as well as the environments in which they lived. The variables were analyzed using a bivariate test, while the correlation analysis between the variables was performed via a phi test. The variables that had p-values lower than 0.2 in the bivariate analysis and had a low or moderate correlation were selected for the multivariate analysis. The model that had the lowest Akaike information criterion (AIC) value was retained. Among the 390 blood samples tested, 24.8% were considered positive for E. canis. The parsimonious logistic regression model presented an AIC value of 408.75 and showed three variables that favored the presence of E. canis DNA in the tested dogs: the animal's access to urban streets and neighborhoods (odds ratio [OR] = 1.91; p-value = 0.02; confidence interval [CI]: 1.14 - 3.18), tick infestation (OR = 2.01; p-value = 0.006; CI: 1.22 - 3.32), and poor hygienic conditions (OR = 2.19; p-value = 0.002; CI: 1.31 - 3.67). The model was considered well-calibrated based on the Hosmer-Lemeshow test (p = 0.39). According to the present study, dogs that have access to the street and neighborhood, are infested with ticks, and live under poor hygienic conditions are more likely to be infected with E. canis in the state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

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Abstract Ornithocoris toledoi is a hematophagous insect that parasites birds, particularly, galliformes. Although the occurrence of this arthropod is relatively low in Brazil, this is an important ectoparasite associated with backyarding poultry. The objective of this study was to report the occurrence of O. toledoi in a free-range chicken farm in the state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, including aspects of its taxonomic identification, biology and epidemiology.

Resumo Ornithocoris toledoi é um inseto hematófago que parasita aves, particularmente os galiformes. Embora a ocorrência deste artrópode seja relativamente baixa no país, este é um ectoparasito importante relacionado à criação rústica de galinhas. O objetivo estudo foi relatar a ocorrência de O. toledoi em uma criação rústica de galinhas no estado do Rio de Janeiro, incluindo aspectos sobre a sua identificação taxonômica, biologia e epidemiologia.

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Ornithocoris toledoi is a hematophagous insect that parasites birds, particularly, galliformes. Although the occurrence of this arthropod is relatively low in Brazil, this is an important ectoparasite associated with backyarding poultry. The objective of this study was to report the occurrence of O. toledoi in a free-range chicken farm in the state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, including aspects of its taxonomic identification, biology and epidemiology.(AU)

Ornithocoris toledoi é um inseto hematófago que parasita aves, particularmente os galiformes. Embora a ocorrência deste artrópode seja relativamente baixa no país, este é um ectoparasito importante relacionado à criação rústica de galinhas. O objetivo estudo foi relatar a ocorrência de O. toledoi em uma criação rústica de galinhas no estado do Rio de Janeiro, incluindo aspectos sobre a sua identificação taxonômica, biologia e epidemiologia.(AU)

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Equine piroplasmosis is a disease of Equidae, including horses, donkeys, mules, and zebras, caused by either Theileria equi or Babesia caballi. This disease represents a serious problem for the horse industry and its control is critical for the international trade of horses. The objective of the present study was to detect B. caballi and T. equi infections in horses reared in western Cuba. Blood samples from 100 horses were tested for the presence of piroplasms by using Giemsa-stained blood smears and nested PCR (nPCR) assays targeting merozoite antigen genes of B. caballi (bc48) and T. equi (ema-1). All animals were inspected for the detection of tick infestation and tick specimens were collected for species identification. Erythrocyte inclusions were observed in 13 (13%) of the analyzed samples. nPCR analysis showed that 25 (25%) samples were positive for B. caballi, 73 (73%) for T. equi, and 20 (20%) showed dual infections. Only one tick species was found infesting horses, Dermacentor nitens. In addition, three nearly full-length sequences of T. equi 18S rRNA gene were obtained and subjected to phylogenetic analyses. This study reports a high prevalence of T. equi and B. caballi single and coinfections in horses in western Cuba. Molecular analysis of the 18S rRNA gene of T. equi suggested that different genotypes of this hemoparasite circulate in Cuba. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report describing the molecular detection of B. caballi and T. equi in horses in Cuba.

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Ornithocoris toledoi is a hematophagous insect that parasites birds, particularly, galliformes. Although the occurrence of this arthropod is relatively low in Brazil, this is an important ectoparasite associated with backyarding poultry. The objective of this study was to report the occurrence of O. toledoi in a free-range chicken farm in the state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, including aspects of its taxonomic identification, biology and epidemiology.

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Currently, there are only three valid species of Cryptosporidium infecting avian hosts, namely, Cryptosporidium meleagridis, Cryptosporidium baileyi, Cryptosporidium galli and Cryptosporidium avium in addition to 12 genotypes of unknown species status. The objectives of this study were to microscopically diagnose the presence of Cryptosporidium in birds from a commercial aviary located in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; genotypically characterize species and/or genotypes of genus Cryptosporidum; and conduct sequencing and phylogenetic analyses to compare the obtained DNA sequences with those deposited in GenBank. A total of 85 fecal samples were collected from wild captive-bred birds: 48 of family Psittacidae and 37 of family Ramphastidae. Initially, a search for the presence of Cryptosporidium sp. oocysts was conducted using the centrifugal-flotation in saturated sugar solution technique, after that, the collected samples were analyzed microscopically. Cryptosporidium infections were only detected in 24.32% of samples belonging to the family Ramphastidae. DNA was extracted from positive samples and molecular diagnostics was applied targeting the 18S rRNA gene, followed by sequencing and phylogenetic analysis. The Cryptosporidium Avian genotype III was diagnosed in this study more closely related to the gastric species. This is the first record of Cryptosporidium Avian genotype III in order Piciformes and family Ramphastidae, where three host species (Ramphastus toco, Ramphastus tucanus, and Pteroglossus bailloni) were positive for the etiologic agent. Based on the molecular data obtained, these wild birds raised in captivity do not represent a source of human cryptosporidiosis, considering that Cryptosporidium Avian genotype III does not constitute a zoonosis.

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Theileria equi is one of the etiologic agents of the equine piroplasmosis. This infectious disease is transmitted by ticks and is a worldwide problem in the international horse movement. The 18S rRNA gene of T. equi is often used for genotyping and phylogenetic purpose. This study aimed to analyze the degree of the heterogeneity of the 18S rRNA gene of T. equi in horses from the state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The complete T. equi 18S rRNA sequences were obtained from twenty naturally infected horses. The PCR amplicons were cloned and sequenced. The phylogenetic analyses were performed using a set of T. equi 18S rRNA sequences and other related organisms available in ARB-Silva database. There were twelve distinct T. equi 18S rRNA gene sequences circulating in horses in the state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Monophyletic clades with 2% evolutionary divergence between clades and high bootstrap value were the support to divide T. equi sequences in three distinct clades. The sequences from this study grouped into clades I (70%, n=14/20) and II (30%, n=6/20). All of the T. equi sequences grouped within a node other than the theileriids. This study reported a clear division of two distinct genotypes of T. equi 18S rRNA sequences in state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and it demonstrates that distinct isolates of T. equi can coexist in the same geographic region.

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