Ciência Rural (Apr 2016)

Molecular detection of Trypanosoma evansi (Kinetoplastida: Trypanosomatidae) in procyonids (Carnivora: Procyonidae) in Eastern Amazon, Brazil

  • Paulo Cesar Magalhães-Matos,
  • Rafaelle Cunha-Santos,
  • Paulo Geovani Silva Sousa,
  • Francisco Dantas Sampaio-Júnior,
  • Flávia de Nazaré Leite Barros,
  • Fábio Rodrigo Paixão Mourão,
  • Wanessa Batista Lima Oliveira,
  • Áurea Martins Gabriel,
  • Silvia Gonzalez Monteiro,
  • Gustavo Góes-Cavalcante,
  • Alessandra Scofield

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1590/0103-8478cr20150679
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 46, no. 4
pp. 663 – 668

Abstract

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ABSTRACT: The present study aimed to diagnose the natural infection of captive and free-living procyonids with Trypanosoma evansi in the states of Amapá and Pará, Brazil. From February 2012 to August 2013, whole blood samples and blood smears were obtained from 45 free-living procyonids and from nine procyonids kept in captivity in wild life refuges and zoobotanical parks in the states of Amapá and Pará. Whole blood samples were collected and kept at -20ºC for the detection of T. evansi DNA by PCR using the RoTat 1.2 forward and RoTat 1.2 reverse primers. In addition, the blood smears were processed and examined for the presence of trypomastigote forms of T. evansi. T. evansi DNA was detected in 18.52% (10/54) of the procyonids, namely, in captive crab-eating raccoons and captive and free-living coatis in Pará State. No trypomastigote forms were observed in the blood smears. DNA from T. evansi was detected in P. cancrivorus and N. nasua in Pará State, being this the first such report in P. cancrivorus.

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