Co-infection by multiple vector-borne agents in wild ring-tailed coatis (Nasua nasua) from Iguaçu National Park, southern Brazil

A high prevalence of co-infections by multiple vector-borne agents (VBAs) was detected in wild ring-tailed coatis (Nasua nasua) from Iguaçu National Park, southern Brazil. The study found that 85.7% of the coatis were positive for hemotropic Mycoplasma sp., with notable co-infections involving Bartonella machadoae (24.5%), Anaplasma sp. closely related to 'Candidatus Anaplasma brasiliensis' (14.3%), and Hepatozoon procyonis (6%). The most common co-infections were between hemotropic Mycoplasma sp. and Bartonella sp. (18.3%) or Anaplasma sp. (12.2%), while 4% of the animals presented co-infections by three VBAs. This study expands the host specificity range of B. machadoae, previously isolated only from rodents, highlighting the need for further surveillance due to the unknown zoonotic potential and transmission routes of these agents.

Perles, L., Moraes, M. F., Xavier da Silva, M., Vieira, R. F. C., Machado, R. Z., Lux Hoppe, E. G., & André, M. R. (2023). Co-infection by multiple vector-borne agents in wild ring-tailed coatis (Nasua nasua) from Iguaçu National Park, southern Brazil. Scientific Reports, 13(1). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-29090-1