Molecular detection of piroplasmids in synanthropic rodents, marsupials, and associated ticks from Brazil, with phylogenetic inference of a putative novel Babesia sp. from white-eared opossum (Didelphis albiventris)

• Published in: Parasitology Research
• Main Authors: Gonçalves, Luiz Ricardo, Paludo, Giane, Bisol, Talita Barcelos, Perles, Lívia, de Oliveira, Laryssa Borges, de Oliveira, Camila Manoel, da Silva, Thiago Merighi Vieira, Nantes, Wesley Arruda Gimenes, Duarte, Matheus Almeida, Santos, Filipe Martins, de Oliveira Porfírio, Grasiela Edith, Hirano, Líria Queiroz Luz, Herrera, Heitor Miraglia, Barros-Battesti, Darci Moraes, Machado, Rosangela Zacarias, André, Marcos Rogério
• Other Authors: Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP)
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: 2021
• Subjects: Babesia spp; Capybara; Opossum; Rodents; Rattus rattus
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/11449/229403; https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-021-07284-8

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP) Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq) Fundação de Apoio ao Desenvolvimento do Ensino, Ciência e Tecnologia do Estado de Mato Grosso do Sul CAPES: 001 Processo FAPESP: 2018/02753-0 Processo FAPESP: 2020/12037-0 CNPq: 302420 / 2017-7 CNPq: 308768/2017-5 Fundação de Apoio ao Desenvolvimento do Ensino, Ciência e Tecnologia do Estado de Mato Grosso do Sul: 59 / 300.187 / 2016 The order Piroplasmida encompasses tick-borne pathogens of veterinary and medical importance positioned in two main families: Babesiidae and Theileriidae. Even though previous studies carried out in Brazil recorded the occurrence of piroplasmid species circulating in small mammals, 18S RNA gene sequences were only partially sequenced, preventing the assessment of their phylogenetic positioning. The current study aimed to detect and characterize, using morphological, molecular, and bioinformatic approaches, piroplasmids from wild mammals and associated ticks sampled in Central-Western Brazil. Out of 67 Didelphis albiventris sampled, 22 (16.4%) were positive for piroplasmids by PCR. In contrast, none of the 48 small rodents and 14 capybaras (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris) was PCR-positive. Four Amblyomma dubitatum ticks—one from Rattus rattus, one from H. hydrochaeris, and two from D. albiventris—out of 114 Amblyomma spp. DNA samples were positive for piroplasmids by PCR. The phylogenetic inference performed using the near-complete 18S rRNA gene positioned the putative novel piroplasmid species detected in D. albiventris and associated A. dubitatum ticks near to Babesia sensu lato clade (Western group—cluster III) and distant from the Australian marsupial-associated piroplasms. Phylogenetic inferences based on two additional molecular markers, namely hsp-70 and cox-1, supported the near-complete 18S rRNA gene phylogenetic inference. Finally, the partial 18S rRNA gene ...