A multiplex qPCR followed by high-resolution melting analysis for the detection of blood-feeding sources in Culex sp. mosquitoes.

Culex species, such as Culex quinquefasciatus and Culex nigripalpus display a range of feeding habits and act as vectors for pathogens that can cause diseases in both humans and animals. Understanding their feeding habits is pivotal for enhancing disease prevention strategies. The present study introduces the application of two multiplex real-time PCR (qPCR) followed by high-resolution melting (HRM) as a cost-effective and time-efficient alternative.

Spatial distribution and molecular epidemiology of Babesia vogeli in household dogs from municipalities with different altitude gradients in the state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

We performed a cross-sectional epidemiological study with 456 household dogs from urban and rural areas in two different regions situated at different altitudes in the state of Rio de Janeiro. The PCR technique using 18S rRNA as target revealed prevalence of 7.9% of dogs positive for piroplasmids.

Two for the price of one: Co-infection with Rickettsia bellii and spotted fever group Rickettsia in Amblyomma (Acari: Ixodidae) ticks recovered from wild birds in Brazil.

The bacterium Rickettsia bellii has been detected in 25 species of ticks in the American continents, but its pathogenic potential is considered as undetermined. A possible role for this species in the phenomenon of transovarial exclusion of pathogenic members of the spotted fever group (SFG) of Rickettsia has been suggested and co-infections with pathogenic species have been reported infrequently in both North and South America. Traditional methods for the molecular detection of rickettsial agents in ticks focus largely on the identification of sequences found in SFG Rickettsia, an approach that may overlook the presence of co-infections with R.

Ehrlichia spp. infection in domestic cats from Rio de Janeiro State, southeast Brazil.

Ehrlichiosis is caused by agents belonging to Ehrlichia genus. Despite the frequent reports on the serological and molecular detection of E. canis in dogs in Brazil, there is scant data on ehrlichiosis in brazilian cats.

Molecular characterization of Ehrlichia canis from naturally infected dogs from the state of Rio de Janeiro.

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the genetic diversity of Ehrlichia canis in naturally infected dogs from six mesoregions of Rio de Janeiro state. E. canis was diagnosed with a real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) targeting a 93 base pair (bp) fragment of the 16S rDNA gene.

Molecular detection, characterization of Anaplasma spp. in domestic cats from Rio de Janeiro state.

Species of the genus Anaplasma, in the family Anaplasmatacae, are responsible to vector-borne diseases that affecting animals and humans. Feline anaplasmosis is poorly reported in Brazil. This study aimed at investigating the occurrence of Anaplasma spp.

Seroepidemiological aspects of Leishmania spp. in dogs in the Itaguai micro-region, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

This study evaluated factors associated with the frequency of Leishmania spp. antibodies in dogs residing in the Itaguai micro-region, State of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Blood samples were collected from 524 dogs.

Amblyomma cajennense infestation on horses in two microregions of the state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

The objective of this study was to evaluate factors associated with infestation by Amblyomma cajennense on horses in two microregions of the state of Rio de Janeiro. Horses on 62 farms in the municipalities of the Itaguaí and Serrana microregions were evaluated between January and May 2009. The animals were examined to determine the presence of ticks and infestation level.