Molecular analysis reveals the diversity of Hepatozoon species naturally infecting domestic dogs in a northern region of Brazil

作者：Gomes Laise de Azevedo^*; Goncalves Moraes Pablo Henrique; Silva do Nascimento Luciana de Cassia; O'Dwyer Lucia Helena; Teixeira Nunes Marcio Roberto; Ponce Rossi Adriana dos Reis; Figueira Aguiar Delia Cristina; Goncalves Evonnildo Costa^*

来源：Ticks and Tick-Borne Diseases, 2016, 7(6): 1061-1066.

DOI：10.1016/j.ttbdis.2016.09.008

• Hepatozoon canis
• Hepatozoon americanum
• Canine hepatozoonosis
• Nested PCR
• Molecular epidemiology

This study aimed to optimize molecular methods for detecting DNA of Hepatozoon spp. as well as identify the phylogenetic relationships of Hepatozoon strains naturally infecting domestic dogs in Belem, Para, northern Brazil. Blood samples were collected from 138 dogs, and screened for Hepatozoon spp. using a new nested PCR assay. Positive samples were subjected to genetic characterization based on amplification and sequencing of approximately 670 bp of the Hepatozoon spp. 18S rRNA. Of the positive dogs, four shared the haplotype Belem 01, one dog presented the haplotype Belem 02 and two dogs shared the haplotype Belem 03. A Bayesian inference indicates that haplotypes Belem 01 and Belem 02 are phylogenetically related to H. canis, while Belem 03 is related to H. americanum. Overall, based on the first molecular evidence of H. americanum in Brazilian domestic dogs, the proposed protocol may improve the epidemiological investigation of canine hepatozoonosis.

• 出版日期2016