Ehrlichia and Anaplasma species are tickborne bacteria that infect animals and humans worldwide. To date, 6 Ehrlichia species have been described (E. canis, E. chaffeensis, E. ewingii, E. muris, E. ruminantium, and E. minasensis), and 8 Anaplasma species have been described (A. bovis, A. capra, A. centrale, A. marginale, A. odocoilei, A. ovis, A. platys, and A. phagocytophilum). In addition, other native Ehrlichia species have been described in wild animals from Brazil (1).

Although capybaras (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris), the largest living rodents in the world, have been implicated as a major amplifying host of Rickettsia rickettsii (the etiologic agent of Brazilian spotted fever) for Amblyomma sculptum ticks, studies focusing on other tickborne diseases agents are lacking in this rodent. Accordingly, we conducted a comprehensive survey for the detection of Ehrlichia and Anaplasma species in a population of capybaras from Pinhais Municipality, Paraná State, southern Brazil.

We retrieved blood samples from 17 capybaras and salivary glands from 11 Amblyomma dubitatum ticks from these capybaras that were collected for a previous study conducted in southern Brazil (2). We screened blood samples by using PCR targeting of the 16S rRNA gene of Ehrlichia and Anaplasma (3,4). We then tested samples positive by PCR by using PCR that targeted a fragment of the dsb and sodB genes of Ehrlichia species (1,5) and the groEL gene of Ehrlichia and Anaplasma species (6). We used blood samples from dogs positive for E. canis as positive controls and nuclease-free water samples as negative controls.

The Ehrlichia 16S rRNA PCR assay yielded amplicons in 16/17 (94.12% [95% CI 73.02%–98.95%]) capybaras, from which we generated amplicons by the sodB PCR (300 bp) and groEL PCR (1,100 bp) assays. No sample yielded amplicon by the dsb PCR assay. We sequenced amplicons obtained from 4 16S rRNA, 5 sodB, and 4 groEL PCR-positive samples in both directions by using the Sanger method. We submitted all nucleotide sequences obtained to GenBank (Appendix).

We observed infestations by A. dubitatum ticks in all capybaras, from which we collected 26 males, 16 females, and 122 nymphs. Among salivary glands from 11 adult ticks, 1 (9.09%) tested positive for Ehrlichia species by the 16S rRNA PCR. However, multiple attempts to sequence the 16S rRNA gene detected in tick salivary glands were unsuccessful because of the faint bands.

We observed neither abnormalities nor inclusion-like bodies of Ehrlichia or Anaplasma during the evaluation of Giemsa-stained thin blood smears of the capybaras. We tested Ehrlichia antibodies in capybara serum samples with an indirect immunofluorescent assay using E. canis (São Paulo and Cuiabá strains) as antigens; serum samples were positive if reacting at a dilution >1:40 (7). A total of 6/17 (35.29% [95% CI 17.31%–58.70%]) capybaras showed antibodies against >1 of the E. canis antigens. When we used the Cuiabá strain of E. canis as antigen, 4/17 (23.53% [95% CI 9.56%–47.26%]) capybaras were seropositive, whereas 6/17 (35.29%) were positive when we used the São Paulo strain. Four capybaras were seropositive for both E. canis strains. Antibody endpoint titers ranged from 40 to 640 for both E. canis antigens.

According to serologic testing, PCR amplification, and DNA sequencing results, A. dubitatum tick–infested capybaras in southern Brazil may be infected with a novel Ehrlichia agent and a novel Anaplasma species. Serologic screening showed exposure to Ehrlichia species in 35% of the capybaras. A previous study failed to detect Ehrlichia DNA in spleen tissue of capybaras from southeastern Brazil (8), and we know of no previous study of Anaplasma species that has been performed in this rodent species.

Figure

Figure. Phylogenetic analysis of 16S rRNA, sodB, and groEL partial sequences of Candidatus Ehrlichia hydrochoerus and Anaplasma spp. obtained from capybaras (...

Partial sequences of 16S rRNA and 2 protein-coding genes (sodB and groEL) obtained from capybaras indicate a novel Ehrlichia species. Partial 16S rRNA gene sequences from capybara no. II showed that the detected Ehrlichia agent shared 95.67% identity with A. phagocytophilum, whereas sequences from capybara no. III showed that the detected Ehrlichia agent shared 94.28% identity with E. chaffeensis. Partial sodB genes showed 82.23%–85.07% identity with E. chaffeensis or E. ruminantium, whereas partial groEL genes showed identity with 76.52% with A. phagocytophilum. A previous study stated that different bacterial isolates showing <97% similarity in the 16S rRNA gene belong to different species (9). In addition, protein-coding genes should be used in addition to the 16S rRNA gene for identification of novel species (10). Our genetic findings support the infection of capybaras in Brazil with a novel Ehrlichia species, herein named Candidatus Ehrlichia hydrochoerus (Figure).

Partial sequences of 16S rRNA gene obtained from capybaras VI and VII demonstrated a novel Anaplasma species. Partial 16S rRNA gene sequences showed identity of 96.76% with Anaplasma sp. detected in dogs from the Philippines and 97.93% with A. phagocytophilum, with 100% query coverage. Bayesian inference showed that the capybara Anaplasma species detected was related to A. odocoilei from North America, which indicates a novel Anaplasma species infecting capybaras in Brazil.

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