Serosurvey of spotted fever group Rickettsia in equids from western Pará, Amazon, Brazil.
Abstract: From a previous large epidemiological survey, we randomly selected 474 serum samples (463 horses and 11 mules) distributed among four municipalities of Pará state, Amazon region, Brazil, and from three types: farm animal, urban carthorse, and sport horse. Samples were tested by indirect fluorescence antibody test (IFAT ≥ 64) for antibodies reactive to spotted fever group (SFG) rickettsiae using Rickettsia rickettsii as crude antigens. From the 474 equids tested, 149 (31.4%) had ticks attached during sampling, belonging mostly to the species Dermacentor nitens. The overall seroprevalence for SFG rickettsiae was 31.4% (95% confidence interval: 27.3-35.9%) with 149 seropositive animals out of 474 screened. Notably, 77 equids (16.2%) had high endpoint titers ranging from 512 to 16,384, indicating that they had been exposed to SFG rickettsiae not long before sampling. Animal type affected rickettsial seroprevalence, with significantly higher values among farm horses when compared with urban and sport animals. Presence of dogs and tick infestation were negatively associated with equid seropositivity to R. rickettsii. This is the first report of SFG rickettsiae-reactive antibodies in equids from Pará state, Brazilian Amazon.
© 2022. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Switzerland AG.
Publication Date: 2022-11-04 PubMed ID: 36331665DOI: 10.1007/s10493-022-00753-4Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary
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The study analyses the prevalence of Spotted Fever Group (SFG) rickettsiae in horses and mules in western Pará, a state in the Amazon region of Brazil. The researchers found that about 31.4% of the animals tested were reactive to spotted fever group rickettsiae.
Research Methodology
- The paper is based on a previous large epidemiological survey which provided the 474 serum samples that were tested in this research, specifically, 463 horses and 11 mules.
- These samples came from four municipalities in Pará state, thereby representing a wide geographical spread.
- They were categorised into three types based on the animals’ living conditions and uses; farm animals, urban carthorses, and sport horses.
- To determine exposure to SFG rickettsiae, the researchers tested the samples using the Indirect Fluorescence Antibody Test (IFAT ≥ 64) with Rickettsia rickettsii as crude antigens.
Key Findings
- Out of the 474 animals tested, 149 (or 31.4%) had ticks attached during sampling, which primarily belonged to the species Dermacentor nitens, a known carrier of SFG rickettsiae.
- The overall seroprevalence, or rate of individuals positive for the disease in the tested group, was also 31.4%, suggesting a high level of exposure amongst the tested population.
- Interestingly, 16.2% of the animals had high endpoint titers, indicating recent exposure to SFG rickettsiae.
- It was also observed that the type of animal affected the prevalence of the antibodies, with farm horses showing significantly higher values as compared to urban and sport animals.
- A negative correlation was found between the presence of dogs, tick infestations and the seropositivity to R. rickettsii in horses and mules, indicating a lower likelihood of infection in equids with coexisting dogs or ticks.
Significance of the Study
- This study is significant as the first of its kind to report on the presence of SFG rickettsiae-reactive antibodies in equids from Pará state in the Brazilian Amazon. This could have crucial implications for managing equid health and mitigating the risk of the disease’s spread within this region and potentially beyond.
Cite This Article
APA
Minervino AHH, Andersson E, Norlander E, Moreira TR, Gennari SM, Mercado Caruso N, Moraes Filho J, Marcili A, Martins TF, Labruna MB.
(2022).
Serosurvey of spotted fever group Rickettsia in equids from western Pará, Amazon, Brazil.
Exp Appl Acarol, 88(3-4), 361-370.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10493-022-00753-4 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Laboratory of Animal Health, LARSANA, Federal University of Western Pará, UFOPA, Santarém, Pará, Brazil. ah.minervino@gmail.com.
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden.
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden.
- Laboratory of Animal Health, LARSANA, Federal University of Western Pará, UFOPA, Santarém, Pará, Brazil.
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, FMVZ, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
- Master's and Doctorate in One Health, Santo Amaro University, UNISA, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
- Departamento Productividad e Innovación, Universidad de la Costa, CUC. Calle 58 n.55-66, Barranquilla, Atlántico, Colombia.
- Master's and Doctorate in One Health, Santo Amaro University, UNISA, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, FMVZ, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
- Master's and Doctorate in One Health, Santo Amaro University, UNISA, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, FMVZ, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, FMVZ, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Dogs
- Rickettsia
- Seroepidemiologic Studies
- Brazil / epidemiology
- Spotted Fever Group Rickettsiosis
- Dog Diseases
Grant Funding
- PDJ fellowship / Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Cientu00edfico e Tecnolu00f3gico
- 484507/2012-5 / Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Cientu00edfico e Tecnolu00f3gico
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