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Experimental & applied acarology2019; 78(3); 431-442; doi: 10.1007/s10493-019-00397-x

Serologic and molecular survey of Rickettsia spp. in dogs, horses and ticks from the Atlantic rainforest of the state of Bahia, Brazil.

Abstract: Tick-borne spotted fever in Brazil is known to be caused by two agents, Rickettsia rickettsii and Rickettsia parkeri. Nothing was known about these agents in one area of the Atlantic rainforest biome of Bahia state, where during March to June 2016, 356 rural dogs and 69 horses were sampled and their sera were processed through indirect immunofluorescence assay against antigens of R. rickettsii, R. parkeri, Rickettsia amblyommatis and Rickettsia bellii. Ticks collected from these dogs and horses were molecularly tested for the presence of rickettsial DNA. Overall, 16.4% (58/356) dogs and 24.6% (17/69) horses were seroreactive to Rickettsia spp. Five tick species, Rhipicephalus sanguineus sensu lato (s.l.), Amblyomma ovale, A. sculptum, R. microplus, and A. naponense, were collected from dogs, whereas horses were infested by A. sculptum and Dermacentor nitens. A total of 242 ticks from dogs and 62 from horses were analyzed by PCR targeting rickettsiae, which were detected in only 4/27 (14.8%) A. ovale. Fragments of the rickettsial gltA and ompA genes from these four ticks were 100% identical to the Atlantic rainforest strain of R. parkeri. The presence of A. ovale on dogs was positively associated with local canine seroreactivity to R. parkeri. Our results provide evidence for the transmission of R. parkeri strain Atlantic rainforest from A. ovale to domestic dogs within the rural area of Ilhéus, similarly to other areas of the Atlantic rainforest biome of Brazil, where human cases of R. parkeri-caused spotted fever have been reported.
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Publication Date: 2019-07-03 PubMed ID: 31270640DOI: 10.1007/s10493-019-00397-xGoogle Scholar: Lookup
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  • Journal Article

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.

This research examines the prevalence of certain microorganisms known as Rickettsia in dogs, horses, and ticks within a specific region of Brazil’s Atlantic rainforest. It finds that both the Rickettsia rickettsii and Rickettsia parkeri strains are present in this area, suggesting they could potentially pose a health risk to humans and animals.

Introduction

  • The study deals with Rickettsia, a type of bacteria that is often carried by ticks and can cause diseases in humans and animals. The particular focus is on the Rickettsia rickettsii and Rickettsia parkeri species which are known to cause tick-borne spotted fever in Brazil.
  • The research was conducted in the state of Bahia within the Atlantic rainforest biome, an area where prior information on these bacterial agents was limited.

Methodology

  • The study took place from March to June 2016. Blood samples were collected from 356 dogs and 69 horses living in rural areas. Ticks were also collected from these animals for molecular testing.
  • The collected sera from animals was subjected to indirect immunofluorescence assay, a method that detects antibodies against antigens of various Rickettsia species.
  • The ticks were tested for the presence of rickettsial DNA using a technique known as polymerase chain reaction (PCR).

Results

  • Of the animals tested, 16.4% of dogs and 24.6% of horses were found to be seroreactive to Rickettsia, meaning they had antibodies against the bacteria, indicating exposure.
  • Five different species of ticks were collected from dogs, and two were collected from horses. In total, 242 ticks from the dogs and 62 from the horses were analyzed.
  • Rickettsiae were detected in only 4 out of 27 of the A. ovale ticks. The segments of the rickettsial gltA and ompA genes found in these ticks were shown to be 100% identical to the Atlantic rainforest strain of R. parkeri. This suggests that these ticks had been exposed to this specific bacterial strain.

Conclusions

  • The results show a correlation between the presence of A. ovale ticks on dogs and canine seroreactivity to R. parkeri, suggesting that these ticks may transmit the bacteria to dogs.
  • The findings imply that R. parkeri strain Atlantic rainforest transmission is present in rural areas of Ilhéus, similar to other areas of the Atlantic rainforest biome of Brazil. This is important as it stands as evidence for areas reporting human cases of R. parkeri-caused spotted fever.

Cite This Article

APA
de Oliveira PB, Harvey TV, Fehlberg HF, Rocha JM, Martins TF, da Acosta ICL, Labruna MB, Faccini JLH, Albuquerque GR. (2019). Serologic and molecular survey of Rickettsia spp. in dogs, horses and ticks from the Atlantic rainforest of the state of Bahia, Brazil. Exp Appl Acarol, 78(3), 431-442. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10493-019-00397-x

Publication

Experimental & applied acarology
ISSN: 1572-9702
NlmUniqueID: 8507436
Country: Netherlands
Language: English
Volume: 78
Issue: 3
Pages: 431-442

Researcher Affiliations

de Oliveira, Philipe B
  • Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Veterinárias da Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro, Seropédica, RJ, Brazil.
Harvey, Tatiani V
  • Departamento de Ciências Agrárias e Ambientais, Universidade Estadual de Santa Cruz, Rodovia Jorge Amado, km 16, Bairro Salobrinho, Ilhéus, BA, CEP: 45.662-900, Brazil.
Fehlberg, Hllytchaikra F
  • Departamento de Ciências Agrárias e Ambientais, Universidade Estadual de Santa Cruz, Rodovia Jorge Amado, km 16, Bairro Salobrinho, Ilhéus, BA, CEP: 45.662-900, Brazil.
Rocha, Josiane M
  • Departamento de Ciências Agrárias e Ambientais, Universidade Estadual de Santa Cruz, Rodovia Jorge Amado, km 16, Bairro Salobrinho, Ilhéus, BA, CEP: 45.662-900, Brazil.
Martins, Thiago F
  • Departamento de Medicina Veterinária Preventiva e Saúde Animal, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia da Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
da Acosta, Igor C L
  • Departamento de Medicina Veterinária Preventiva e Saúde Animal, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia da Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
Labruna, Marcelo B
  • Departamento de Medicina Veterinária Preventiva e Saúde Animal, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia da Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
Faccini, João L H
  • Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Veterinárias da Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro, Seropédica, RJ, Brazil.
Albuquerque, George R
  • Departamento de Ciências Agrárias e Ambientais, Universidade Estadual de Santa Cruz, Rodovia Jorge Amado, km 16, Bairro Salobrinho, Ilhéus, BA, CEP: 45.662-900, Brazil. gralbu@uesc.br.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Brazil / epidemiology
  • DNA, Bacterial / analysis
  • Dog Diseases / epidemiology
  • Dog Diseases / microbiology
  • Dog Diseases / parasitology
  • Dogs
  • Female
  • Horse Diseases / epidemiology
  • Horse Diseases / microbiology
  • Horse Diseases / parasitology
  • Horses
  • Ixodidae / growth & development
  • Ixodidae / microbiology
  • Larva / growth & development
  • Larva / microbiology
  • Male
  • Nymph / growth & development
  • Nymph / microbiology
  • Prevalence
  • Rhipicephalus / growth & development
  • Rhipicephalus / microbiology
  • Rickettsia / isolation & purification
  • Rickettsia Infections / epidemiology
  • Rickettsia Infections / microbiology
  • Rickettsia Infections / veterinary
  • Tick Infestations / epidemiology
  • Tick Infestations / parasitology
  • Tick Infestations / veterinary

Grant Funding

  • Finance Code 001 / Coordenau00e7u00e3o de Aperfeiu00e7oamento de Pessoal de Nu00edvel Superior
  • PNE0001/2014 / Fundau00e7u00e3o de Amparo u00e0 Pesquisa do Estado da Bahia
  • 306308/2015-0 / Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Cientu00edfico e Tecnolu00f3gico

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This article has been cited 10 times.
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