Infection by spotted fever rickettsiae in people, dogs, horses and ticks in Londrina, Parana State, Brazil.
Abstract: Spotted fever is a disease caused by bacteria from the genus Rickettsia of the spotted fever group (SFG). Rickettsia rickettsii is likely the main agent of Brazilian spotted fever (BSF). With the objective of gathering information on the circulation of SFG rickettsiae in Londrina, Parana state, ticks from dogs and horses and also blood from dogs, horses and humans were collected in a neighbourhood of the city which presented potential for circulation of rickettsiae between hosts and vectors. Amblyomma cajennense, Dermacentor nitens, and Rhipicephalus sanguineus ticks were subjected to Polymerase Chain Reaction targeting a fragment of the Rickettsia gltA gene. This specific gene encodes the enzyme citrate synthase of Rickettsia spp., and results on all ticks were negative. Human and animal sera were tested by Indirect Immunofluorescence Assay in which R. rickettsii and R. parkeri were used as antigens. Sera from 4.7% human, 2.7% canine and 38.5% equine were positive for R. rickettsii. For R. parkeri, 0.9% human, 2.7% canine and 11.5% equine samples were positive. All samples reactive to R. parkeri also reacted to R. rickettsii. An epidemiological questionnaire was applied, but there were no statistically significant results. Comparison of our serological results with previous studies in Brazil, among BSF endemic and non-endemic areas, indicates that there is no established rickettsial infection in the study area, a statement corroborated with our molecular analysis. Nonetheless, as humans of the present study are highly exposed to tick infestations, health education within the population is needed to obtain efficient tick control.
© 2011 Blackwell Verlag GmbH.
Publication Date: 2011-01-05 PubMed ID: 21824336DOI: 10.1111/j.1863-2378.2010.01382.xGoogle Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
Summary
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This research examines the presence of Spotted Fever Group (SFG) rickettsiae, a type of bacteria causing Spotted Fever, in ticks, dogs, horses and people in Londrina, Parana, Brazil. The findings suggest that, despite exposure to ticks carrying these bacteria, there is currently no established infection in this area.
Research Methodology
- The researchers collected tick samples from dogs and horses and blood samples from dogs, horses and humans from a neighborhood with potential for circulation of rickettsiae, the bacteria that cause Spotted Fever.
- The ticks tested were of the Amblyomma cajennense, Dermacentor nitens, and Rhipicephalus sanguineus species.
- The research team applied Polymerase Chain Reaction to tick samples to target a fragment of the Rickettsia gltA gene. This gene encodes the enzyme citrate synthase of Rickettsia species.
- Indirect Immunofluorescence Assay testing was conducted with the collected human and animal blood, using R. rickettsii and R. parkeri as antigens.
- An epidemiological questionnaire was also used, although no statistically significant results were found.
Research Findings
- All tick samples tested negative for the Rickettsia gltA gene that would indicate the presence of the bacteria.
- Serum samples revealed that 4.7% of humans, 2.7% of dogs, and 38.5% of horses were positive for R. rickettsii.
- In terms of R. parkeri, 0.9% of human samples, 2.7% of dog samples, and 11.5% of horse samples were positive.
- All samples that reacted to R. parkeri also reacted to R. rickettsii.
Conclusions and Recommendations
- Despite the positive serology results, the absence of ricksettsial DNA in ticks suggests there is currently no established SFG rickettsial infection in the area researched.
- This conclusion contrasts with earlier studies performed in regions where the Brazilian Spotted Fever disease is endemic.
- Regardless, given the high exposure to tick infestations within the human population studied, the researchers recommend education on effective tick control to prevent potential future infection.
Cite This Article
APA
Toledo RS, Tamekuni K, Filho MF, Haydu VB, Barbieri AR, Hiltel AC, Pacheco RC, Labruna MB, Dumler JS, Vidotto O.
(2011).
Infection by spotted fever rickettsiae in people, dogs, horses and ticks in Londrina, Parana State, Brazil.
Zoonoses Public Health, 58(6), 416-423.
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1863-2378.2010.01382.x Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Programa de Pos Graduação em Ciência Animal, Universidade Estadual de Londrina, PR, Brazil.
MeSH Terms
- Adolescent
- Adult
- Animals
- Brazil / epidemiology
- Child
- Child, Preschool
- Dog Diseases / epidemiology
- Dog Diseases / microbiology
- Dogs
- Female
- Horse Diseases / epidemiology
- Horse Diseases / microbiology
- Horses
- Humans
- Infant
- Infant, Newborn
- Male
- Middle Aged
- Rickettsia Infections / epidemiology
- Rickettsia Infections / microbiology
- Rickettsia Infections / veterinary
- Ticks / microbiology
- Young Adult
- Zoonoses / epidemiology
Citations
This article has been cited 10 times.- Bonilla-Aldana DK, Castaño-Betancourt KJ, Ortega-Martínez JM, Ulloque-Badaracco JR, Hernandez-Bustamante EA, Benites-Zapata VA, Rodriguez-Morales AJ. Prevalence of zoonotic and non-zoonotic Rickettsia in horses: A systematic review and meta-analysis. New Microbes New Infect 2023 Jan;51:101068.
- Durães LS, Bitencourth K, Ramalho FR, Nogueira MC, Nunes EC, Gazêta GS. Biodiversity of Potential Vectors of Rickettsiae and Epidemiological Mosaic of Spotted Fever in the State of Paraná, Brazil. Front Public Health 2021;9:577789.
- Sack A, Oladunni FS, Gonchigoo B, Chambers TM, Gray GC. Zoonotic Diseases from Horses: A Systematic Review. Vector Borne Zoonotic Dis 2020 Jul;20(7):484-495.
- Sekeyová Z, Danchenko M, Filipčík P, Fournier PE. Rickettsial infections of the central nervous system. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2019 Aug;13(8):e0007469.
- Maggi RG, Krämer F. A review on the occurrence of companion vector-borne diseases in pet animals in Latin America. Parasit Vectors 2019 Mar 28;12(1):145.
- Quintero V JC, Paternina T LE, Uribe Y A, Muskus C, Hidalgo M, Gil J, Cienfuegos G AV, Osorio Q L, Rojas A C. Eco-epidemiological analysis of rickettsial seropositivity in rural areas of Colombia: A multilevel approach. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2017 Sep;11(9):e0005892.
- Riley SP, Cardwell MM, Chan YG, Pruneau L, Del Piero F, Martinez JJ. Failure of a heterologous recombinant Sca5/OmpB protein-based vaccine to elicit effective protective immunity against Rickettsia rickettsii infections in C3H/HeN mice. Pathog Dis 2015 Dec;73(9):ftv101.
- Argüello AP, Hun L, Rivera P, Taylor L. A fatal urban case of rocky mountain spotted fever presenting an eschar in San Jose, Costa Rica. Am J Trop Med Hyg 2012 Aug;87(2):345-8.
- Grasperge BJ, Wolfson W, Macaluso KR. Rickettsia parkeri infection in domestic dogs, Southern Louisiana, USA, 2011. Emerg Infect Dis 2012 Jun;18(6):995-7.
- Sazmand A, Bahari A, Papi S, Otranto D. Parasitic diseases of equids in Iran (1931-2020): a literature review. Parasit Vectors 2020 Nov 19;13(1):586.
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