Rickettsial Infection in Animals, Humans and Ticks in Paulicéia, Brazil.
Abstract: A previous study in Paulicéia Municipality, south-eastern Brazil, reported 9.7% of the Amblyomma triste ticks to be infected by Rickettsia parkeri, a bacterial pathogen that causes spotted fever in humans. These A. triste ticks were shown to be associated with marsh areas, where the marsh deer Blastocerus dichotomus is a primary host for this tick species. During 2008-2009, blood serum samples were collected from 140 horses, 41 dogs, 5 opossums (Didelphis albiventris) and 26 humans in farms from Pauliceia Municipality. Ticks were collected from these animals, from vegetation and from additional wildlife in these farms. Overall, 25% (35/140) of the horses, 7.3% (3/41) of the dogs, 3.8% (1/26) of the humans and 100% (5/5) of the opossums were seroreactive (titre ≥64) to spotted fever group (SFG) Rickettsia spp. Multivariate statistical analysis indicated that horses that were allowed to forage in the marsh were 4.8 times more likely to be seroreactive to spotted fever group (SFG) Rickettsia spp than horses that did not forage in the marsh. In addition, horses that had been living in the farm for more than 8.5 years were 2.8 times more likely to be seroreactive to SFG Rickettsia spp than horses that were living for ≤8.5 years. Ticks collected from domestic animals or from vegetation included Amblyomma cajennense, Amblyomma coelebs, Amblyomma dubitatum, Dermacentor nitens and Rhipicephalus microplus. By PCR analyses, only one pool of A. coelebs ticks from the vegetation was shown to be infected by rickettsiae, for which DNA sequencing revealed to be Rickettsia amblyommii. Ticks (not tested by PCR) collected from wildlife encompassed A. cajennense and Amblyomma rotundatum on lizards (Tupinambis sp), and A. cajennense and A. triste on the bird Laterallus viridis. Our results indicate that the marsh area of Paulicéia offers risks of infection by SFG rickettsiae.
© 2015 Blackwell Verlag GmbH.
Publication Date: 2015-01-22 PubMed ID: 25643912DOI: 10.1111/zph.12180Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
Summary
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This research investigates the spread and impact of a bacterial pathogen, Rickettsia parkeri, which causes Spotted Fever in humans, in Paulicéia, Brazil. Various animals including horses, dogs, opossums, and humans were tested and some were found to be reactive to the bacterium. The research also found that horses which forage in marshes, where a particular tick species resides, are more prone to the infection.
Study Objectives and Methodology
- The research conducted in Paulicéia Municipality in south-eastern Brazil focused on the spread of Rickettsia parkeri, a bacterial pathogen spread by the Amblyomma triste tick species.
- Blood serum samples were collected from different animals (140 horses, 41 dogs, 5 opossums) and 26 humans in farms in Paulicéia Municipality during the years 2008-2009. Ticks were also collected from these animals, the vegetation, and additional wildlife in these farms for further investigation.
Study Results
- Reactive cases to the Spotted Fever Group Rickettsia spp included 25% of the horses, 7.3% of the dogs, 3.8% of the humans and all the opossums checked.
- Horses that foraged in the marsh were found to be 4.8 times more likely to be reactive to the bacterium than those that did not. Likewise, horses that had been living on the farms for more than 8.5 years were noted to be 2.8 times more likely to be reactive to the bacterium than those that were living for 8.5 years or less.
- Other tick species collected from domestic animals or vegetation included the species Dermacentor nitens and Rhipicephalus microplus. However, only one pool of A. coelebs ticks was found to be infected with rickettsiae. This suggests that only specific tick species carry the bacterium.
Conclusions and Implications
- This research illuminates the widespread nature of Rickettsia parkeri in the marsh area of Paulicéia and identifies marsh areas as high-risk zones for the spread of this pathogen. Controlling tick populations and reducing exposure to tick-infested areas, particularly for horses and other susceptible wildlife, could be important strategies to prevent the spread of this disease.
- The study also highlights the increased likelihood of older horses and those foraging in marshes becoming infected, suggesting the need for specific veterinary checks or protective measures for these groups.
- However, there is a need for further research into other possible carriers and the extent of this disease in different animals and human populations.
Cite This Article
APA
Silveira I, Martins TF, Olegário MM, Peterka C, Guedes E, Ferreira F, Labruna MB.
(2015).
Rickettsial Infection in Animals, Humans and Ticks in Paulicéia, Brazil.
Zoonoses Public Health, 62(7), 525-533.
https://doi.org/10.1111/zph.12180 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Preventive Veterinary Medicine and Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
- Department of Preventive Veterinary Medicine and Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
- Federal University of Uberlândia, Uberlândia, Brazil.
- Tropical Medicine Foundation of Tocantins (Funtrop), Araguaína, Brazil.
- Parasitology Laboratory, Embrapa Dairy Cattle, Rua Eugênio do Nascimento, Juiz de Fora, Brazil.
- Department of Preventive Veterinary Medicine and Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
- Department of Preventive Veterinary Medicine and Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
MeSH Terms
- Agriculture
- Animals
- Antigens, Bacterial
- Arachnid Vectors / microbiology
- Brazil / epidemiology
- Dogs / microbiology
- Female
- Horses / microbiology
- Humans
- Male
- Multivariate Analysis
- Opossums / microbiology
- Polymerase Chain Reaction
- Rickettsia / genetics
- Rickettsia / isolation & purification
- Rickettsia Infections / blood
- Rickettsia Infections / epidemiology
- Rickettsia Infections / microbiology
- Rickettsia Infections / transmission
- Risk Factors
- Tick-Borne Diseases / blood
- Tick-Borne Diseases / epidemiology
- Tick-Borne Diseases / microbiology
- Ticks / microbiology
Citations
This article has been cited 12 times.- Richardson EA, Roe RM, Apperson CS, Ponnusamy L. Rickettsia amblyommatis in Ticks: A Review of Distribution, Pathogenicity, and Diversity. Microorganisms 2023 Feb 16;11(2).
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- Pádua GT, Tavares MA, de Lima NJ, Paula WVF, Dos Santos GC, Neves LC, Bittencourt RBM, Paludo RLDR, Cardoso ERN, da Silva BBF, Pádua BR, Borsanelli AC, Dantas-Torres F, Polo GP, Krawczak FDS. Spatial Distribution of Equid Exposure to Rickettsia spp. in Goiás State, Midwestern Brazil. Pathogens 2025 May 2;14(5).
- Quintero-Vélez JC, Cienfuegos-Gallet AV, Quintero LO, Úsuga AF, Cifuentes S, Solari S, Rodas JD, Diaz FJ, Rojas CA. Epidemiology of Rickettsial Infection in the Municipality of Uramita, Colombia. Am J Trop Med Hyg 2021 Aug 9;105(4):1013-1023.
- Bermúdez SE, Gottdenker N, Krishnvajhala A, Fox A, Wilder HK, González K, Smith D, López M, Perea M, Rigg C, Montilla S, Calzada JE, Saldaña A, Caballero CM, Lopez JE. Synanthropic Mammals as Potential Hosts of Tick-Borne Pathogens in Panama. PLoS One 2017;12(1):e0169047.
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