Detection molecular of Rangelia vitalii in dogs from Parana State, Southern Brazil

Abstract Rangelia vitalii infects erythrocytes, leukocytes and endothelial cells of dogs. The present study aimed to report the molecular detection confirmed by sequencing of R. vitalii in the state of Paraná, as well as describe the clinical, hematological and biochemical alterations of the infected dogs. Three sick dogs from the metropolitan area of Curitiba, PR, Brazil, underwent a physical exam, and laboratory tests included hematology, biochemistry, polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and gene sequencing. Clinical signs included apathy, anorexia, and hemorrhage. Intra-erythrocytic and extracellular piroplasms were found on peripheral blood smears from all three dogs. Blood samples from these animals were positive for Babesia sp. by PCR targeting 18S rRNA. PCR products from all three dogs were sequenced, and BLAST analysis showed that the PCR-generated sequences were highly homologous with those of R. vitalii previously reported. Hematologic findings included severe anemia, shift of neutrophils to the regenerative left, and thrombocytopenia. Serum urea levels were increased in all three dogs, and direct bilirubin levels were elevated in one dog.

摘要 维塔利兰体（Rangelia vitalii）可感染犬的红细胞、白细胞及内皮细胞。本研究旨在报道巴西巴拉那州经测序验证的维塔利兰体分子检测结果，并描述感染该病原体的犬只的临床、血液学及血液生化改变。本研究纳入巴西巴拉那州库里蒂巴都会区的3只患病犬，对其进行体格检查，并开展血液学、生化检测、聚合酶链式反应（PCR）及基因测序等实验室检测项目。临床症状表现为精神沉郁、食欲废绝及出血症状。3只犬的外周血涂片均检出红细胞内及细胞外的梨形虫（piroplasm）。以18S rRNA为扩增靶标的PCR检测显示，所有受试犬的血液样本巴贝斯虫属（Babesia sp.）检测结果为阳性。对3只犬的PCR扩增产物进行测序，经BLAST（基本局部比对搜索工具）分析，本次获得的序列与既往报道的维塔利兰体序列具有高度同源性。血液学检测结果显示重度贫血、中性粒细胞再生性核左移及血小板减少症。3只犬的血清尿素水平均升高，其中1只犬的直接胆红素水平升高。