Ocorrência de Rangelia vitalii em canídeos da região nordeste do Rio Grande do Sul

Abstract

Rangeliosis is a reemerging disease caused by the protozoan Rangelia vitalii. Recently, some South American research groups have sought to clarify aspects about its epidemiology, biological cycle and pathogenesis. The disease causes in dogs anemia and severe thrombocytopenia. Over many years, it belived that wildlife could be used as reservoirs and sources of protozoan transmission to vectors. This dissertation aims to relate a case of clinical presentation of rangeliosis in a Cerdocyon thous and to determine the occurrence of Rangelia vitalii in dogs from the northeast of Rio Grande do Sul. The wild canid was activated at the University of Caxias do Sul Zoo, presented signs of hemolytic anemia and has received clinical support, having dying after 24 hours. R. vitalii it was identified in the ear smear and in molecular analysis for PCR. The report suspected the occurrence of R. vitalii in domestic dogs of the northeast of the state, suggesting need more studies. To determine the occurrence of R. vitalii, 380 tubes of whole blood of domiciled dogs were used, provided by two clinical analysis laboratories in Caxias do Sul (RS) city. Aliquots with 1 ml of EDTA whole blood were sent to the Protozoology Laboratory of the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS) for PCR molecular analysis to Rangelia vitalii. The protozoan was confirmed in two animals, revealing its occurrence in the city of 0.52%. Stands out the importance of the first clinic case report of rangeliosis in a wild animal and the first molecular study of the R. vitalii occurrence in dogs from the region of Caxias do Sul city, Rio Grande do Sul. [resumo fornecido pelo autor]