Wild animals.doc

Introduction: Infectious diseases related to wildlife are of utmost importance especially because of the agents' capacity to spill over into humans from the wild reservoir. Among them, the bacteria Bartonella spp. and Anaplasma spp. are related to this zoonotic dynamic. 

Objective: To determine the presence of pathogenic bacteria in kidney and liver tissues of Didelphis marsupialis; spleen, liver, and skin of Pecari tajacu; spleen, liver, and skin of Chelonoidis denticulata.

Methodology: A PCR using universal primers for 16S rRNA, and a PCR using specific primers for 16S rRNA of Bartonella spp. with subsequent genetic sequencing were used.

Results: Its presence was detected in the liver tissue of Didelphis marsupialis using both universal primers and those specific for Bartonella vinsonni. Anaplasma platys was detected at the liver and spleen level using the universal primers, and Bartonella spp. was detected at the liver, spleen, and skin level in Pecari tajacu using the specific primers. And, at the skin level, using the universal and specific primers, Bartonella spp. was detected in Chelonoidis denticulata.

Conclusions: Bartonella vinsonii was detected at the liver tissue level in Didelphis marsupialis. Anaplasma platys and Bartonella spp. were identified at the spleen and liver level, and only Bartonella spp. at the skin level in Pecari tajacu. In Chelonoidis denticulata, Bartonella spp. was detected at the skin level.