Molecular investigation of vector-borne pathogens in foxes and associated fleas from remote areas of Argentinean Patagonia

JAVIER MILLÁN; A. CEVIDANES; A.D. CHIRIFE; C. BARRÍA; D. PROCOPIO; J.V. LÓPEZ-BAO; A. TRAVAINI; A. RODRÍGUEZ

St Augustine, Florida

Conferencia; 67th Annual International Conference of the Wildlife Disease Association; 2018

Wildlife Disease Association

With humans and their domestic animals inhabiting almost every corner of the planet, investigating infection with pathogens in carnivores in the absence of dogs is a challenge. Between 2010 and 2015, we captured and sampled 47chilla (Lycalopex griseus) and 2 culpeo (L. culpaeus) foxes in two remote and inhospitable areas in Southern Patagonia (Argentina) where dogs are almost absent, namely Bosques Petrificados (n=26) and Monte León (n=23)National Parks. A set of primers were used to analyze fox blood samples preserved in FTA cards (n=49) and flea pools (n=78, from 46 foxes) for the presence of DNA belonging to Rickettsia,Anaplasmataceae(Ehrlichia/Anaplasma), hemotropicMycoplasma(aka hemoplasmas), and Hepatozoon. DNA of hemoplasma was detected in four chilla foxes (8.2%, two positives from each area). Interestingly, all the chilla foxes from Bosques Petrificados were positive for Hepatozoon sp., whereas all resulted negative in Monte León. Amblyommatigrinumn, the only tick species retrieved from these foxes, might be a competent vector for this parasite. All samples resulted negative for Anaplasmataceae. As for the flea pools, one pool was positive for aRickettsia sp., and the PCR for Anaplasmataceae revealed the presence of endosimbionts in 47 pools (60%). Molecular characterization of the positive cases is pending.