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Pathogens (Basel, Switzerland)2025; 14(4); 305; doi: 10.3390/pathogens14040305

One Health Approach to Brazilian Spotted Fever: Capybaras, Horses, and Rural Areas as Predictors for Human Disease.

Abstract: (1) Background: Brazilian spotted fever (BSF) is a tick-borne disease that has occurred in several Brazilian regions, caused by spp. bacteria and mainly transmitted by ticks. Despite the high BSF lethality in several Brazilian endemic areas, predictors and associated risk factors remain to be fully established. Accordingly, the retrospective study herein aimed to assess BSF cases and associated factors in an endemic area of western São Paulo state. (2) Methods: Notified cases identified by the System for Epidemiological Surveillance of São Paulo (CVE), from January 2007 to December 2021, were gathered and analyzed by Logistic Multivariate Regression (LMR) to assess potential risk factors for BSF. (3) Results: Overall, 74/1121 (6.6%; 95% CI: 5.29-8.21) individuals were considered positive for BSF. Univariate analysis showed previous contact with capybaras (OR: 1.89; 95% CI: 1.0-3.55; < 0.001) and raising horses (OR = 1.4; 95% CI: 0.66-2.67; = 0.45), while LMR revealed living in rural areas (OR = 2.0; 95% CI: 1.02-3.73; = 0.037) as an associated risk factor for BSF. (4) Conclusions: The results herein show that the geographically studied area still shows high occurrence of BSF, mostly for individuals living or visiting areas overlapping free-ranging capybaras.
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Publication Date: 2025-03-23 PubMed ID: 40333062PubMed Central: PMC12030754DOI: 10.3390/pathogens14040305Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

Overview

  • This study investigates factors that predict Brazilian spotted fever (BSF) in an endemic region of western São Paulo, Brazil, focusing on the influence of capybara contact, horse raising, and rural residency on human infection risk.

Background

  • Brazilian spotted fever (BSF) is a serious, often fatal disease caused by the bacterium Rickettsia spp., transmitted primarily by ticks.
  • BSF occurs in various parts of Brazil, with some regions showing high lethality rates, but the detailed risk factors and predictors of disease are not fully understood.
  • The study aimed to retrospectively analyze BSF cases and associated risk factors in an endemic area of western São Paulo state over a 15-year period (2007–2021).

Methods

  • Data on suspected BSF cases were collected from the epidemiological surveillance system in São Paulo (CVE).
  • The study analyzed 1121 reported cases from January 2007 to December 2021.
  • Logistic Multivariate Regression (LMR) was used to identify which factors were significantly associated with confirmed BSF diagnoses.
  • Risk factors examined included contact with capybaras, raising horses, and living in rural areas.

Results

  • Out of 1121 suspected cases, 74 (6.6%) were confirmed to have BSF, with a 95% confidence interval of 5.29% to 8.21%.
  • Univariate analysis found:
    • Previous contact with capybaras significantly increased the odds of BSF infection (Odds Ratio [OR] 1.89, 95% CI: 1.0–3.55, p < 0.001).
    • Raising horses showed a non-significant trend towards increased risk (OR 1.4, 95% CI: 0.66–2.67, p = 0.45).
  • Multivariate analysis (which adjusts for multiple factors simultaneously) identified living in rural areas as a significant predictor of BSF (OR 2.0, 95% CI: 1.02–3.73, p = 0.037).
  • Findings indicate that individuals who live or spend time in rural environments where capybaras freely roam are at higher risk of contracting BSF.

Conclusions

  • The endemic area of western São Paulo continues to experience a notable number of BSF cases.
  • Close interaction with or proximity to capybaras, which serve as hosts for the disease-carrying ticks, appears to be associated with increased risk.
  • Living in rural areas, where these animals are commonly found and where exposure to ticks is more likely, significantly predicts BSF infection risk.
  • The study supports a One Health approach, integrating human, animal (capybaras and horses), and environmental factors to better understand and control BSF risk.
  • Understanding these predictors can help inform surveillance, public health interventions, and strategies to reduce human incidence of BSF in endemic rural regions.

Cite This Article

APA
Rosa-Xavier IG, Pinter A, Giuffrida R, Biondo AW, Kmetiuk LB, Santarém VA. (2025). One Health Approach to Brazilian Spotted Fever: Capybaras, Horses, and Rural Areas as Predictors for Human Disease. Pathogens, 14(4), 305. https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens14040305

Publication

Pathogens (Basel, Switzerland)
ISSN: 2076-0817
NlmUniqueID: 101596317
Country: Switzerland
Language: English
Volume: 14
Issue: 4
PII: 305

Researcher Affiliations

Rosa-Xavier, Iara Giordano
  • Graduate College in Animal Sciences, University of Western São Paulo (UNOESTE), Presidente Prudente 19026-310, SP, Brazil.
Pinter, Adriano
  • Veterinary Medicine and Zootecnic, Veterinary Medicine School, University of São Paulo, São Paulo 05508-270, SP, Brazil.
Giuffrida, Rogério
  • Graduate College in Animal Sciences, University of Western São Paulo (UNOESTE), Presidente Prudente 19026-310, SP, Brazil.
Biondo, Alexander Welker
  • Department of Veterinary Medicine, Federal University of Paraná, Curitiba 80035-050, PR, Brazil.
Kmetiuk, Louise Bach
  • Zoonosis Surveillance Unit, City Secretary of Health, Curitiba 81265-320, PR, Brazil.
Santarém, Vamilton Alvares
  • Graduate College in Animal Sciences, University of Western São Paulo (UNOESTE), Presidente Prudente 19026-310, SP, Brazil.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Horses / microbiology
  • Brazil / epidemiology
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Female
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Rural Population
  • Middle Aged
  • Risk Factors
  • Adult
  • Adolescent
  • One Health
  • Child
  • Young Adult
  • Aged
  • Child, Preschool
  • Rickettsia
  • Infant
  • Spotted Fever Group Rickettsiosis / epidemiology

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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