Current approaches on the diagnosis of Bartonelosis

Abstract

The assessment of the role of wild mammals in cycles transmission of bacteria belonging to Anaplasmataceae e Bartonellaceae family has contributed to the determination of important points to the epidemiology of diseases caused by these agents in several regions of the planet. In this context, new genotypes of Ehrlichia spp. and Anaplasma spp. have been detected in wild animals in Brazil. Additionally, Bartonella spp. has been incriminated as reemergent pathogens in Brazil and other countries in the world. The zoonotic agents belonging to Anaplasmataceae e Bartonellaceae provide a perfect opportunity to reinforce the One Health concept (i.e., the need to integrate animal and human health, and environmental factors) while coordinating research priorities designed to enhance diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of Bartonella spp. infections. A better understanding of the interactions of vectors, animals, people, and the environment will allow for improvements in epidemiologic and medical knowledge of the myriad disease manifestations and clinical presentations collectively known as ehrlichiosis, anaplasmosis and bartonellosis. The present work aims to investigate the occurrence and assess the phylogenetic inference of Anaplasmataceae e Bartonellaceae agents in wild animals Brazil, using molecular techniques. The global project involves four subprojects: 1) wild animals (carnivores, rodents and marsupials) and domestic (dogs) and their respective ectoparasites in Pantanal sul-matogrossense; 2) wild and synantropic rodents from several Brazilian biomes; 3) bats sampled in localities in the states of Pará and Paraná; 4) ectoparasites (Streblidae flies and Macronyssidae e Spinturnicidae mites) collected from bats in Rio de Janeiro. The present work aims to contribute to the diagnosis and molecular characterization of Anaplasmataceae and Bartonellaceae agents in our country. (AU)