Molecular detection and characterization of piroplasms in free-ranging tapirs (Tapirus terrestris) from the Brazilian Cerrado

Abstract

The Brazilian tapir (Tapirus terrestris) is a wide geographic distribuited species that can be found in the Cerrado biome, but also in the Atlantic Forest, Pantanal and Amazon biomes. In the Cerrado regions, the Brazilian tapir is classified as an endangered species due to the extensive anthropic changes suffered by this biome. Piroplasms are vector-borne hemoparasites belonging to the phylum Apicomplexa and order Piroplasmida that can infect animals and humans. In this context, there are few studies about the occurrence and molecular identity of piroplasmids in Brazilian tapirs. Although some studies reported the occurrence of Theileria equi in these hosts, these studies were based on small fragments from the Pirolasmida 18S rRNA gene that may not correctly elucidate the phylogenetic position of these pathogens. Therefore, studies need to be conducted in order to elucidate the real taxonomic position of tapir piroplasmids. The present project aims to investigate, through molecular methods, the occurrence and molecular identity of piroplasms in 47 blood samples of Brazilian tapirs (T. terrestris) from the Brazilian Cerrado. The amplified genetic targets will be based on small fragments from the 18S rRNA gene to screen positive samples and, later, on fragments of the hsp70, cox1, ITS-1 genes and a long fragment of the 18S rRNA gene for molecular characterization and refinement of the phylogenetic positioning of the sequences found, respectively.