Epidemiologia descritiva de carrapatos (Acari: Ixodidae), piolhos (Phthiraptera: Trichodectidae) e Rickettsia spp. em quatis (Nasua nasua) de hábitos sinantrópicos no Parque Nacional do Iguaçu, Paraná, Brasil

Abstract

Different species of the genus Rickettsia have been confirmed in the Brazil, such as Rickettsia rickettsii, Rickettsia parkeri, Rickettsia bellii, Rickettsia felis and Rickettsia amblyommatis, being the first most important as causing disease in humans. There is extensive knowledge about the importance of ticks in the ecology of these bacteria, but there is still limited knowledge about some wild mammalian hosts. We aimed to evaluate the diversity of ticks parasites of coatis, as well as perform the molecular detection of Rickettsia spp. in ticks and coatis of sylvatic and synanthropic habits in the Iguaçu National Park (INP), state of Paraná, south of Brazil. Skin samples and ectoparasites were obtained from coatis that frequent the tourist areas of the INP. The ectoparasites were identified morphologically and samples of each species were deposited in the CAVAISC of FIOCruz. For analysis of Rickettsia spp. DNA, PCR was performed for fragments of the htrA, gltA, ompA and ompB genes. Positive samples were sequenced in both directions and submitted to homology research by Genbank. Among the coatis evaluated, 99% (85/86) were infested by ectoparasites, and ticks were observed in 99% of the animals, of which Amblyomma spp. larvae (n=23), nymphs of Amblyomma brasiliense(n=77), Amblyomma coelebs (n=427) e Haemaphysalis juxtakochi (n=6), as well as Amblyomma ovale adults (n=46). Lice were found in a lower prevalence (13%, 11/86), with nymphs (n=31) and adults (n=9) of Neotrichodectes pallidus. In relation to Rickettsia spp. infection, 3.00% (17/566) of the evaluated ticks amplified DNA of Rickettsia sp., Rickettsia amblyommatis and Rickettsia bellii. In skin samples, 1% (1/75) amplified Rickettsiarhipicephali DNA. Coatis with sylvatic and synanthropic habits, as well as the ticks that infest them, are infected by Rickettsia spp. in the INP, state of Paraná, southern Brazil.