Molecular survey and genetic characterization of tick-borne pathogens in dogs in metropolitan Recife (north-eastern Brazil).

To identify DNA of the main tick-borne pathogens in dogs from Recife (Brazil), polymerase chain reactions were carried out on blood samples of dogs treated at the Veterinary Hospital of the Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco from March 2007 to June 2008. The detection of DNA was performed using specific primers. Amplicons were analyzed through electrophoresis and sequencing. A phylogenetic tree was constructed using the UPGMA method, revealing that the sequences were closely related to those of strains from other geographic regions. Among the 205 blood samples analyzed, 48.78% was positive for Anaplasma platys; 38.04% was positive for Ehrlichia canis; 7.31% was positive for Babesia canis vogeli; and 0.49% was positive for Hepatozoon canis and Mycoplasma haemocanis. Coinfection of two or three pathogens was found in 23.9% (49/205) of the dogs. The subspecies B. canis vogeli was identified. Infection by H. canis and M. haemocanis is reported for the first time in dogs in the state of Pernambuco (Brazil). The data indicate that the main tick-borne pathogens in dogs in this region are E. canis and/or A. platys, followed by B. canis vogeli.

Detection of Rupestris stem pitting associated virus in seedlings of virus - infected maternal grapevine plants.

Rupestris stem pitting associated virus (RSPaV) is a species in the genus Foveavirus (Martelli and Jelkman, 1998) and the family Flexiviridae. The virion has a positive sense, single stranded, polyadenylated RNA genome of 8.7kb in size and a coat protein of 28kD (Martelli and Jelkman, 1998). The virus has been reported to be present in pollen (Rowhani et aI., 2000) and seeds (Stewart and Nassuth, 2001), however, it has not been proved to be seed-transmitted. In our investigation reported here we have proven that RSPaV transmits by seed from RSPaV-infected mother plants to their siblings.