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Home / Equine Research Bank / PLoS One / High Seroprevalence for Rickettsia rickettsii in Equines Sug...
PloS one2016; 11(4); e0153303; doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0153303

High Seroprevalence for Rickettsia rickettsii in Equines Suggests Risk of Human Infection in Silent Areas for the Brazilian Spotted Fever.

Abstract: Equines play a role in the epidemiology of Brazilian spotted fever (BSF) since they are a primary host for the tick Amblyomma sculptum. We studied the seroprevalence for three species of Rickettsia in equines in four endemic (with human cases) and in four non-endemic areas (no human cases) in the Piracicaba River Basin, São Paulo, Brazil. A serological survey of 504 equines was performed: around 63 animals were sampled in each area and tested through indirect immunofluorescence assay for R. rickettsii, R. parkeri, and R. bellii in 2012-2013. Blood samples were seropositive for 183 equines (36.3%) in which 73 (39.9%) were from non-endemic areas. In the studied sites equines were highly exposed to Rickettsia infection ranging from 6.1% to 54.7%, with Geometric Mean Titers greater in endemic area (p = 0.012). Results suggest that Rickettsia may be more widespread than the surveillance of BSF has detected. These results highlight the need to include data on the seroprevalence of sentinel animals to improve human diagnoses and surveillance in areas with no reported human cases.
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Publication Date: 2016-04-11 PubMed ID: 27064788PubMed Central: PMC4827800DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0153303Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Journal Article
  • Research Support
  • Non-U.S. Gov't

Summary

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This research study investigates the prevalence of Rickettsia rickettsii—a bacteria causing Brazilian spotted fever—among equines in areas of Brazil with and without reported human cases. The findings suggest that the bacteria may be more widespread than indicated by human case reports, highlighting the importance of including data from sentinel animals in disease surveillance and diagnosis.

Background

  • The study focuses on the Brazilian spotted fever (BSF), a deadly infection caused by the bacterium Rickettsia rickettsii and primarily transmitted by the tick Amblyomma sculptum.
  • Researchers note that equines are a crucial host for this tick, suggesting their potential role in Rickettsia’s epidemiology.

Methodology

  • The research team conducted serological tests on 504 equines from eight areas within São Paulo, Brazil’s Piracicaba River Basin—four with reported human cases of BSF (endemic) and four without reports (non-endemic).
  • Each area saw about 63 equines sampled and tested for R. rickettsii, R. parkeri, and R. bellii using an indirect immunofluorescence assay in the period 2012-2013.

Findings

  • The tests revealed 183 equines (36.3% of the total) to be seropositive for Rickettsia, including 73 (39.9%) from non-endemic areas.
  • Exposure to Rickettsia infection among the equines ranged from 6.1% to 54.7% across the study sites, with Geometric Mean Titers higher in the endemic area (p = 0.012).

Implications

  • The researchers propose that the Rickettsia bacterium may be more widespread than its surveillance based solely on human BSF cases has detected.
  • Given the high seroprevalence of R. rickettsii in equines, even in areas with no reported human cases, the team suggests incorporating sentinel animal data into improved disease surveillance and diagnostic procedures.

Cite This Article

APA
Souza CE, Camargo LB, Pinter A, Donalisio MR. (2016). High Seroprevalence for Rickettsia rickettsii in Equines Suggests Risk of Human Infection in Silent Areas for the Brazilian Spotted Fever. PLoS One, 11(4), e0153303. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0153303

Publication

PloS one
ISSN: 1932-6203
NlmUniqueID: 101285081
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 11
Issue: 4
Pages: e0153303
PII: e0153303

Researcher Affiliations

Souza, Celso Eduardo
  • Reference Rickettsial Diseases Laboratory, Superintendence for Control of Endemic Diseases, São Paulo, Brazil.
Camargo, Luciana Bonato
  • Department of Public Health, State University of Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil.
Pinter, Adriano
  • Reference Rickettsial Diseases Laboratory, Superintendence for Control of Endemic Diseases, São Paulo, Brazil.
Donalisio, Maria Rita
  • Department of Public Health, State University of Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Antibodies, Bacterial / blood
  • Brazil / epidemiology
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Endemic Diseases / statistics & numerical data
  • Endemic Diseases / veterinary
  • Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect
  • Horse Diseases / blood
  • Horse Diseases / epidemiology
  • Horses / immunology
  • Humans
  • Rickettsia Infections / diagnosis
  • Rickettsia Infections / epidemiology
  • Rickettsia Infections / transmission
  • Rickettsia Infections / veterinary
  • Rickettsia rickettsii / immunology
  • Risk Factors
  • Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever / blood
  • Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever / epidemiology
  • Seroepidemiologic Studies

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

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