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Research detects high levels of Anaplasma spp. in coatis, indicating their role as reservoirs for diverse lineages.
This study aimed to detect the DNA of Anaplasma spp., Ehrlichia spp., Borrelia spp. and protozoa of the order Piroplasmida in blood samples from 73 coatis captured at three sites in the Iguaçu National Park. PCR assays revealed a high prevalence of Anaplasma spp., with 47.9% (35/73) of animals testing positive for the 16S rRNA and 23S rRNA genes. None of the samples tested positive for Borrelia spp., Ehrlichia spp. or protozoa of the order Piroplasmida. Sequencing analyses indicated that all positive samples were genetically identical and closely related to Anaplasma platys and lineages previously described in cattle and ticks. Phylogenetic analyses based on multiple loci revealed distinct clades, supporting the circulation of a unique Anaplasma variant in coatis. Comparisons with tick-derived sequences showed genetic divergence, suggesting distinct strains infecting hosts and vectors. These findings provide novel insights into the epidemiology of haemoparasites in wildlife and highlight the role of coatis as potential reservoirs of diverse Anaplasma lineages in the Atlantic Forest.
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Cordeiro et al. (2026) studied this question.
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