Natural infection and diversity of hemotropic mycoplasmas in free-ranging Geoffroy's cat (Leopardus geoffroyi) and margay cat (Leopardus wiedii) populations in Southern Brazil.

Hemoplasma infection significantly impacts felines health, yet there is a research gap regarding free-ranging wild small felids. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the occurrence of hemoplasma in Leopardus geoffroyi and Leopardus wiedii in southern Brazil. For this purpose, we conducted molecular research for Mycoplasma spp.

Rotational and selective protocols using acaricides to control a multi-resistant strain of Rhipicephalus microplus under field conditions in Southern Brazil.

The cattle tick, Rhipicephalus microplus, causes severe economic losses to beef and dairy production in several countries. The control of the cattle tick is based mostly on chemical acaricides. Currently, there are reports of tick populations resistant to all six classes of acaricides available on the market.

Serosurvey of antibodies against zoonotic pathogens in free-ranging wild canids (Cerdocyon thous and Lycalopex gymnocercus) from Southern Brazil.

The expansion of urbanization on natural areas is increasing contact between human populations with wild animals. Wild carnivores can act as sentinel hosts or environmental health indicators. Thus, the aim of this work was to investigate the exposure of two major species of wild canids from Southern Brazil to selected pathogens.

Transcriptomic Analysis of Salivary Glands of Aragão, 1923, the Agent of a Neotropical Tick-Toxicosis Syndrome in Humans.

Tick salivary glands produce and secrete a variety of compounds that modulate host responses and ensure a successful blood meal. Despite great progress made in the identification of ticks salivary compounds in recent years, there is still a paucity of information concerning salivary molecules of Neotropical argasid ticks. Among this group of ticks, considering the number of human cases of parasitism, including severe syndromes and hospitalization, can be considered one of the major Neotropical argasid species with impact in public health.

Mechanisms of amitraz resistance in a Rhipicephalus microplus strain from southern Brazil.

Amitraz is one of the most used acaricides for the control of ticks of domestic animals, however, extensive use of this active ingredient has favored the development of resistant populations of Rhipicephalus microplus worldwide. The possible mechanisms of metabolic and/or target-site alterations mechanisms of amitraz resistance were investigated in a Brazilian field population of R. microplus (São Gabriel strain).

Molecular characterization of bacterial communities of two neotropical tick species (Amblyomma aureolatum and Ornithodoros brasiliensis) using rDNA 16S sequencing.

Ticks are one of the main vectors of pathogens for humans and animals worldwide. However, they harbor non-pathogenic microorganisms that are important for their survival, facilitating both their nutrition and immunity. We investigated the bacterial communities associated with two neotropical tick species of human and veterinary potential health importance from Brazil: Amblyomma aureolatum and Ornithodoros brasiliensis.

Genomic analysis on Brazilian strains of Anaplasma marginale.

Anaplasma marginale is a vector-borne pathogen that causes a disease known as anaplasmosis. No sequenced genomes of Brazilian strains are yet available. The aim of this work was to compare whole genomes of Brazilian strains of A.

Ticks, mites, fleas, and vector-borne pathogens in free-ranging neotropical wild felids from southern Brazil.

The study of vectors and vector-borne diseases associated with ectoparasites from free-living Neotropical small wild felids is scarce, and the few existing studies on this theme focused on the genus Panthera, Paleartic species or in captive animals. For this reason, the aim of this study was to identify the diversity of ectoparasites and potentially associated Rickettsia and Bartonella species in free-ranging neotropical wild cats collected in the State of Rio Grande do Sul, southern Brazil. A total of 82 ticks, 10 fleas and 22 mites were collected from 18 Geoffroy's cats (Leopardus geoffroyi), 11 margays (Leopardus wiedii), two southern tiger cats (Leopardus guttulus), two jaguarundis (Herpailurus yagouaroundi), three ocelots (Leopardus pardalis) and two pumas (Puma concolor).

Molecular detection and phylogenetic relationship of Haemosporida parasites in free-ranging wild raptors from Brazil.

The order Haemosporida is widely distributed parasitizing members of the Aves class. In birds of prey, infection with Plasmodium spp. parasites varies from an apathogenic form to a clinical syndrome.

Rickettsia parkeri in the Pampa biome of southern Brazil: Isolation, molecular characterization, and serological evidence of canine infection.

In this work we performed a field study in a spotted fever-endemic area of the Pampa biome in Rio Grande do Sul, the southernmost state of Brazil (Rosário do Sul municipality), with the aim to evaluate the serological status of dogs for spotted fever group (SFG) rickettsiae, to attempt the isolation rickettsiae from A. tigrinum ticks, and to further perform a multi-genic molecular characterization of the rickettsial isolate. For this purpose, we collected blood serum samples and ticks from 18 rural dogs during 2016-2017.

Detection of Bartonella sp. and a novel spotted fever group Rickettsia sp. in Neotropical fleas of wild rodents (Cricetidae) from Southern Brazil.

The Neotropical region shows a great diversity of fleas, comprising more than 50 genera. The importance of the study of fleas is linked to their potential role as disease vectors. The aim of this study is to investigate the presence of Rickettsia spp.

Molecular and Serological Survey of the Cat-Scratch Disease Agent (Bartonella henselae) in Free-Ranging Leopardus geoffroyi and Leopardus wiedii (Carnivora: Felidae) From Pampa Biome, Brazil.

The genus Bartonella comprises emerging bacteria that affect humans and other mammals worldwide. Felids represent an important reservoir for several Bartonella species. Domestic cats are the main reservoir of Bartonella henselae, the agent of cat scratch disease (CSD).

A tick cell line as a powerful tool to screen the antimicrobial susceptibility of the tick-borne pathogen Anaplasma marginale.

Anaplasma marginale is the causative agent of the severe bovine anaplasmosis. The tick Rhipicephalus microplus is one of the main vectors of A. marginale in tropical and subtropical regions of the world.

Clinical Findings Associated with Ornithodoros brasiliensis Tick Parasitism in Travelers, Southern Brazil.

We report a series of clinical cases associated with parasitism by the Ornithodoros brasiliensis tick in a group of travelers in the Caxias do Sul municipality, Southern Brazil. These cases draw attention to underdiagnosed noninfectious syndromes caused by ticks with restricted local distributions.

Detection of Rangelia vitalii (Piroplasmida: Babesiidae) in asymptomatic free-ranging wild canids from the Pampa biome, Brazil.

Canine rangeliosis is a tick-borne disease caused by the protozoan Rangelia vitalii, which has only been reported in South America. With this knowledge, we hypothesized that neotropical foxes could act as asymptomatic natural carriers of R. vitalii.

Molecular survey of Rickettsia spp. in the Neotropical deer tick Haemaphysalis juxtakochi from Brazilian Pampa.

Spotted fever (SF) is a tick-borne disease associated with Rickettsia spp.. In the Pampa biome, Southern Brazil, cases of SF seem to be strongly linked with the practice of hunting wild animals.

Records of ticks on humans in Rio Grande do Sul state, Brazil.

More than seventy tick species have been reported in Brazil. Despite the emergence of tick-borne diseases in Neotropical region, there are still limited data available on tick species parasitizing humans in Brazil. Rio Grande do Sul is the southernmost state of Brazil, comprising the only part of Brazilian territory inside the Pampa biome, as well as the transition between subtropical and temperate zones.

Evaluation of the vector competence of six ixodid tick species for Rangelia vitalii (Apicomplexa, Piroplasmorida), the agent of canine rangeliosis.

Rangelia vitalii is the etiologic agent of canine rangeliosis, a severe piroplasmosis that affects domestic dogs in Brazil, Uruguay and Argentina. While R. vitalii is one of the most pathogenic tick-borne pathogens for dogs in the world, its tick vector has remained unknown.

Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato in Ixodes longiscutatus ticks from Brazilian Pampa.

Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato (s.l.) complex includes the agents of Lyme disease/borreliosis in North America, Europe, and Asia, such Borrelia burgdorferi sensu stricto, Borrelia afzelii, Borrelia garinii, Borrelia bavariensis, Borrelia spielmanii, Borrelia bissettiae, and Borrelia mayonii.

DETECTION OF BARTONELLA SP. IN DEER LOUSE FLIES (LIPOPTENA MAZAMAE) ON GRAY BROCKET DEER (MAZAMA GOUAZOUBIRA) IN THE NEOTROPICS.

Louse flies or deer keds, Lipoptena spp., are widespread in Neotropical cervids, but the vector-borne pathogens of louse flies had only been previously reported in the Northern hemisphere. This is the first report of Bartonella spp.

Rickettsia parkeri in Amblyomma dubitatum ticks in a spotted fever focus from the Brazilian Pampa.

Spotted fever is an acute febrile illness, which is considered severely underreported and misdiagnosed in the Brazilian Pampa, caused by tick-borne Rickettsiae. Here, we report an eco-epidemiological investigation of Rickettsia spp. in ticks from a spotted fever focus in Toropi, southern Brazil.

Multiple resistance to acaricides in field populations of Rhipicephalus microplus from Rio Grande do Sul state, Southern Brazil.

Acaricide resistance is a major obstacle to the control of Rhipicephalus microplus. Historically, the indiscriminate use of chemical compounds has contributed to the selection of populations resistant to different classes of acaricides. Therefore, multiple acaricide resistance is an important threat to the chemical control of the cattle tick.

Integrated control of an acaricide-resistant strain of the cattle tick Rhipicephalus microplus by applying Metarhizium anisopliae associated with cypermethrin and chlorpyriphos under field conditions.

The efficacy of the fungus Metarhizium anisopliae to control ticks has been shown in several in vitro experiments. However, few studies have been undertaken in field conditions in order to demonstrate the applicability of its use as a biological control of ticks and its combination with chemical acaricides. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the efficacy of M.