[Characterization of Rickettsia spp. circulating in a silent peri-urban focus for Brazilian spotted fever in Caratinga, Minas Gerais, Brazil].
Abstract: The present study was intended to characterize Rickettsia spp. circulating in arthropod vectors in Caratinga, Minas Gerais, Brazil, by PCR and to investigate the presence of antibodies against the spotted fever Rickettsiae group (SFRG) in dogs and horses. 2,610 arthropods were collected and taxonomically identified. DNA samples obtained from these vectors were submitted to PCR and cycle-sequenced. Ctenocephalides and Amblyomma cajennense showed sequences presenting 100.0% homology with R. felis. A sequence obtained from Rhipicephalus sanguineus showed 99.0% homology with R. felis, and a sequence from A. cajennense showed 97.0% homology with R. honei and R. rickettsii. Canine (73) and equine (18) serum samples were tested by indirect fluorescent antibody (IFA) using R. rickettsii antigen. Only three of the equine sera tested (17.0%) had positive antibody titers. Molecular detection of rickettsiae species potentially pathogenic to humans in arthropod vectors and the presence of seroreactivity to SFRG in horses show the risk of transmission of rickettsiosis in this area and the need to maintain continuous epidemiological surveillance for rickettsial diseases.
Publication Date: 2006-03-27 PubMed ID: 16583093DOI: 10.1590/s0102-311x2006000300004Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary
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This study explores the types of the bacteria Rickettsia present in bug vectors in Caratinga, Brazil, checking the presence of specific antibodies in dogs and horses, and highlights the potential risk of transmission of diseases caused by this bacteria.
Objective of the Study
- The primary aim of this study was to identify and characterize the kinds of Rickettsia species present in various arthropod vectors in Caratinga, Minas Gerais, a region in Brazil.
- The researchers also aimed to investigate the presence of antibodies against spotted fever Rickettsiae group (SFRG) – a group of diseases caused by the bacteria Rickettsia – in dogs and horses within the same area.
Methodology
- In this study, 2,610 arthropods (invertebrate animals with an exoskeleton, segmented body, and paired jointed appendages) were gathered and classified taxonomically.
- The DNA extracted from these insects was subjected to Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) – a method utilized to make several copies of specific DNA segment – and cycle-sequenced – a way to determine the order of nucleotides in a DNA.
- They also collected serum samples from 73 dogs and 18 horses and tested them using an Indirect Fluorescent Antibody (IFA) – a test that detects and measures antibodies against infections in a patient’s serum – with the R. rickettsii antigen.
Findings
- The DNA sequences from insects named Ctenocephalides and Amblyomma cajennense showed 100% similarity with R. felis, a species of Rickettsia.
- A sequence obtained from Rhipicephalus sanguineus showed 99% similarity with R. felis, and a sequence from A. cajennense showed 97% similarity with R. honei and R. rickettsii, species of the bacteria Rickettsia.
- When the canine and equine serum samples were examined, only three of the equine serums (17%) had positive antibody titers, indicating that the horses had been exposed to the R. rickettsii bacteria.
Conclusions
- The presence of potentially disease-carrying Rickettsiae species in arthropod vectors and the detection of antibodies against the SFRG in horses indicated a potential risk of transmission to humans in the examined area.
- Such findings highlight the importance and need for constant epidemiological supervision for diseases caused by Rickettsia to prevent potential rickettsiosis outbreaks.
Cite This Article
APA
Cardoso LD, Freitas RN, Mafra CL, Neves CV, Figueira FC, Labruna MB, Gennari SM, Walker DH, Galvão MA.
(2006).
[Characterization of Rickettsia spp. circulating in a silent peri-urban focus for Brazilian spotted fever in Caratinga, Minas Gerais, Brazil].
Cad Saude Publica, 22(3), 495-501.
https://doi.org/10.1590/s0102-311x2006000300004 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Escola de Nutrição, Universidade Federal de Ouro Preto, Ouro Preto, Brazil.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Animals, Domestic / parasitology
- Arthropod Vectors / microbiology
- Brazil / epidemiology
- Cats
- DNA, Bacterial / genetics
- Dogs
- Endemic Diseases / veterinary
- Horses
- Polymerase Chain Reaction
- Rickettsia / genetics
- Rickettsia Infections / epidemiology
- Rickettsia Infections / microbiology
- Rickettsia Infections / veterinary
- Siphonaptera / microbiology
- Ticks / microbiology
Citations
This article has been cited 9 times.- Danchenko M, Benada O, Škultéty Ľ, Sekeyová Z. Culture Isolate of Rickettsia felis from a Tick. Int J Environ Res Public Health 2022 Apr 4;19(7).
- Souza CE, Camargo LB, Pinter A, Donalisio MR. High Seroprevalence for Rickettsia rickettsii in Equines Suggests Risk of Human Infection in Silent Areas for the Brazilian Spotted Fever. PLoS One 2016;11(4):e0153303.
- Campos SD, da Cunha NC, Almosny NR. Brazilian Spotted Fever with an Approach in Veterinary Medicine and One Health Perspective. Vet Med Int 2016;2016:2430945.
- Panti-May JA, Torres-Castro M, Hernández-Betancourt S, Dzul-Rosado K, Zavala-Castro J, López-Avila K, Tello-Martín R. Detection of Rickettsia felis in Wild Mammals from Three Municipalities in Yucatan, Mexico. Ecohealth 2015 Sep;12(3):523-7.
- Abdad MY, Stenos J, Graves S. Rickettsia felis, an emerging flea-transmitted human pathogen. Emerg Health Threats J 2011 Jul 1;4:7168.
- Ramírez-Hernández A, Montoya V, Martínez A, Pérez JE, Mercado M, de la Ossa A, Vélez C, Estrada G, Correa MI, Duque L, Ariza JS, Henao C, Valbuena G, Hidalgo M. Molecular detection of Rickettsia felis in different flea species from Caldas, Colombia. Am J Trop Med Hyg 2013 Sep;89(3):453-9.
- Milagres BS, Padilha AF, Barcelos RM, Gomes GG, Montandon CE, Pena DC, Nieri Bastos FA, Silveira I, Pacheco R, Labruna MB, Bouyer DH, Freitas RN, Walker DH, Mafra CL, Galvao MA. Rickettsia in synanthropic and domestic animals and their hosts from two areas of low endemicity for Brazilian spotted fever in the eastern region of Minas Gerais, Brazil. Am J Trop Med Hyg 2010 Dec;83(6):1305-7.
- Pérez-Osorio CE, Zavala-Velázquez JE, Arias León JJ, Zavala-Castro JE. Rickettsia felis as emergent global threat for humans. Emerg Infect Dis 2008 Jul;14(7):1019-23.
- Reif KE, Macaluso KR. Ecology of Rickettsia felis: a review. J Med Entomol 2009 Jul;46(4):723-36.
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