Molecular detection and characterization of Anaplasmataceae, Bartonellaceae and Hepatozoidae agents in Passeriforms in the Brazilian Pantanal

Abstract

The influence of geoclimatic changes in the epidemiology of zoonotic diseases is notable for its variations in the dynamics of pathogen transmission between reservoirs, susceptible hosts and vectors. This effect can be seen in large migrations of animals, especially during the bird migration, exposing humans to emerging pathogens. Among birds, the most representative group comprises the Order of Passerines, which consists of almost 5,700 species. Although birds are considered reservoirs of a wide range of zoonotic agents, there are no studies involving Anaplasmataceae , Bartonellaceae and Hepatozoidae agents in Passeriformes in Brazil. The present study aims to verify, using molecular techniques, the occurrence and genetic diversity of Anaplasmataceae, Bartonellaceae and Hepatozoidae agents in Passerine birds in Brazil. For this purpose, 500 blood samples from passerines captured in the Pantanal of the States of Mato Grosso and Mato Grosso do Sul will be analyzed. The samples will be submitted to real-time and conventional PCR assays based on the groEL, gltA, dsb, intergenic region 23S- 5S, omp-1 and sodB for Anaplasmataceae agents; nuoG, gltA, rpoB, ftsZ, pap31 and rib-C for Bartonellaceae agents and 18S rRNA for Hepatozoidae. phylograms and Splistree network will be built to phylogenetically position the sequences, in order to investigate the genetic diversity of the agents under study. The present research will contribute to the study of the genetic diversity of tick-borne agents wild Passerines of Brazil. (AU)