Molecular detection and characterization of Anaplasmataceae and Bartonellaceae agents in free-ranging wild boars (Sus scrofa) in the State of São Paulo

Abstract

According to the World Health Organization, 60% of pathogens are zoonotic, which are responsible for the occurrence of 75% of emerging diseases; of these, 22.8% are carried by arthropod vectors. Anaplasmataceae and Bartonellaceae agents are, respectively, intracellular obligate and facultative, alpha-proteobacteria, Gram-negative, which have been detected in several mammalian species, including humans. Although wild boars are not native to Brazil, they have a wide geographical distribution and are responsible for crop destruction, they can act as reservoirs of pathogens and may favor the extinction of species by the competitive exclusion. There are few studies on the role of these animals as hosts for the above pathogens. The present study aims to verify, using molecular techniques, the occurrence and genetic diversity of Anaplasmataceae and Bartonellaceae agents in free-ranging wild boars in Brazil. To this purpose, 123 wild boar blood samples from the state of São Paulo and 148 ectoparasites (ticks and lice) samples collected from these animals will be analyzed. The blood and ectoparasites samples will be submitted to real-time and conventional PCR assays for Anaplasmataceae (based on groEL, dsb, vlpt, msp-2, groESL, gltA, omp-1 and sodB genes) and Bartonellaceae (based on nuoG, ribC, gltA, rpoB, pap-31, fstZ, ITS genes) agents. The phylogenetic positioning of the sequences obtained will be performed through the construction of dendrograms. Finally, the sequences alignments will be used to calculate the nucleotide diversity and the level of polymorphisms for the analysis of genetic diversity. The genealogy of the nucleotide sequences will be performed using the Splitstree program. Thus, this study will contribute to the understanding of the role of wild boars as hosts for pathogens of zoonotic importance. (AU)