Rickettsial infections of dogs, horses and ticks in Juiz de Fora, southeastern Brazil, and isolation of Rickettsia rickettsii from Rhipicephalus sanguineus ticks.
Abstract: The present study was performed in an area endemic for Brazilian spotted fever (BSF) in Juiz de Fora, state of Minas Gerais, Brazil, during the years 2007 and 2008, when fatal cases of BSF (caused by Rickettsia rickettsii) were reported. Adult ticks (Acari: Ixodidae) identified as Rhipicephalus sanguineus (Latreille) and Amblyomma cajennense (Fabricius) were collected from dogs and horses, respectively, and tested by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Overall, 13.1% of the Rh. sanguineus ticks and none of the A. cajennense were found to be infected with R. rickettsii. Two isolates of R. rickettsii were successfully established in Vero cell culture from two Rh. sanguineus ticks. An indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFA) using R. rickettsii antigens detected blood serological reaction to R. rickettsii in 67.9% (53/78) of dogs and 41.0% (16/39) of horses living in the study area. Larval offspring from two Rh. sanguineus engorged females, naturally infected by R. rickettsii, were reared to adult stage in the laboratory. All active stages (larvae, nymphs, adults) remained 100% infected by R. rickettsii, which was efficiently transmitted to naïve rabbits. Overall, the results of the present study indicate a potential risk for transmission of R. rickettsii to humans by Rh. sanguineus, an occurrence yet to be documented in Brazil.
Publication Date: 2010-10-18 PubMed ID: 20950356DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2915.2010.00915.xGoogle Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
Summary
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This research conducted in Brazil from 2007 to 2008 reveals a high prevalence of the bacteria Rickettsia rickettsii, the cause of Brazilian spotted fever, in ticks of the species Rhipicephalus sanguineus found on dogs. This raises concerns about potential transmission to humans in the region.
Study Objectives and Methodology
- The study was undertaken in an area known for Brazilian spotted fever, a severe and often fatal tick-borne disease caused by Rickettsia rickettsii.
- The study aimed to find out the infection rates of this bacterium in ticks from animals, and to ascertain if these ticks can potentially transmit the bacteria to humans.
- The researchers collected adult ticks from dogs and horses which were identified as Rhipicephalus sanguineus and Amblyomma cajennense, respectively.
- The DNA of these ticks was then tested using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to find instances of R. rickettsii infection.
Findings
- 13.1% of the Rhipicephalus sanguineus ticks collected from dogs were found to be carrying R. rickettsii, whereas none of the ticks collected from horses were found to be infected.
- R. rickettsii was successfully isolated and grown in lab conditions from two of the ticks that were found to be infected.
- A significant percentage of both dogs (67.9%) and horses (41.0%) from the studied area showed a blood serological reaction to R. rickettsii. This suggests they had been exposed to the bacteria.
- In a controlled laboratory condition, embryos from two infected Rh. sanguineus ticks were allowed to mature into adults. At all life stages, the ticks remained 100% infected by the bacteria and successfully transmitted the infection to rabbits, proving transmission of R. rickettsii by this tick species is possible.
Conclusion and Implications
- The findings of this study raise concerns about the potential threat Rhipicephalus sanguineus ticks pose in spreading Brazilian spotted fever to humans.
- While previous documentation of transmission of R. rickettsii by Rh. sanguineus to humans in Brazil remains absent, this increase of infection in ticks on dogs could potentially lead to more human cases in the future.
- Preventive measures including tick control on domestic animals and awareness programmes may be beneficial in controlling the spread of this fatal disease.
Cite This Article
APA
Pacheco RC, Moraes-Filho J, Guedes E, Silveira I, Richtzenhain LJ, Leite RC, Labruna MB.
(2010).
Rickettsial infections of dogs, horses and ticks in Juiz de Fora, southeastern Brazil, and isolation of Rickettsia rickettsii from Rhipicephalus sanguineus ticks.
Med Vet Entomol, 25(2), 148-155.
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2915.2010.00915.x Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Basic Sciences and Animal Production, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Federal University of Mato Grosso, Cuiabá, MT, Brazil.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Antibodies, Bacterial / blood
- Antibodies, Bacterial / immunology
- Brazil / epidemiology
- Cells, Cultured
- Chlorocebus aethiops
- Dog Diseases / blood
- Dog Diseases / epidemiology
- Dog Diseases / microbiology
- Dogs
- Female
- Fluorescent Antibody Technique
- Horse Diseases / blood
- Horse Diseases / epidemiology
- Horse Diseases / microbiology
- Horses
- Ixodidae / microbiology
- Lagomorpha / blood
- Lagomorpha / microbiology
- Male
- Polymerase Chain Reaction
- Rhipicephalus sanguineus / microbiology
- Rickettsia rickettsii / genetics
- Rickettsia rickettsii / isolation & purification
- Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever / blood
- Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever / epidemiology
- Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever / microbiology
- Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever / veterinary
- Vero Cells
Citations
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