Serological Survey on the Occurrence of Bacterial Tick-Borne Pathogens in Cattle and Dogs from Bolivian Chaco

Bacterial tick-borne pathogens (TBPs) have been reported in Latin America, but information on their prevalence in cattle and dogs in Bolivia are scant. In the present survey, blood serum samples from 95 cattle and 67 dogs living in different communities of Bolivian Chaco, a region in southeastern Bolivia, were tested for antibodies against Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato (s.l.), Coxiella burnetii, Ehrlichia canis, and Rickettsia rickettsii. Indirect immunofluorescence assays detected 54/95 (56.84%) cattle sera positive to one or more pathogens: 29/95 (30.5%) to A. phagocytophilum, 27/95 (28.42%) to R. rickettsii, 5/95 (5.26%) to C. burnetii; all sera were negative to B. burgdorferi s.l. Among canine sera, 11/67 (16.41%) were positive to at least one pathogen: 2/67 (2.98%) to C. burnetii, 3/67 (4.48%) to E. canis, 6/67 (8.95%) to R. rickettsii; all sera were negative to A. phagocytophilum and B. burgdorferi s.l. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first serological survey investigating exposure to multiple TBPs in cattle and dogs from the Bolivian Chaco. Our findings suggest the circulation of A. phagocytophilum, E. canis, C. burnetii, and Spotted Fever Group Rickettsia among the animals living in this area. The results are relevant because these pathogens pose a significant threat to human and animal health and may result in substantial economic losses.