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Baggio-Souza V, Adenilson May-Junior J, Fagundes-Moreira R, Reis AO, de Almeida BA, Fragoso CE, Rampim LE, Sartorelo LR, Haberfeld MB, Martins TF, Labruna MB, Soares JF. A long-term study on free-ranging jaguar-tick interactions, featuring a novel report of Amblyomma incisum adult infestation. Vet Res Commun 2024; 48:1779-1784. [PMID: 38231369 DOI: 10.1007/s11259-024-10305-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2023] [Accepted: 01/10/2024] [Indexed: 01/18/2024]
Abstract
Over nearly 12 years, we collected ticks from free-ranging jaguars (Panthera onca) and performed statistical analyses to comprehend the vector-host relationship throughout the seasons. We evaluated the presence and number of ticks, as well as their association with weight, age, and gender of captured jaguars in the Pantanal and Amazon biomes. Out of 100 captured jaguars (comprising 72 initial captures and 28 recaptures, with 41 females and 31 males), 77 were found to be infested by different tick species. We gathered a total of 1,002 ticks, categorized by the following species in descending order of abundance: Amblyomma sculptum, Amblyomma ovale, Rhipicephalus microplus, Amblyomma triste, Amblyomma cajennense sensu stricto, Amblyomma incisum, and Amblyomma spp. larvae. Apart from weight, statistical analysis indicated that age, gender and seasonality does not significantly affect the presence of different tick species in free ranging jaguars. Notably, A. sculptum adults were more abundant in the first semester, while A. sculptum nymphs and Amblyomma spp. larvae were mainly found during dry months, aligning with their expected life cycle stages. This is the first long-term study in jaguars to correlate seasonality and host factors and also the first time an adult of A. incisum is reported infesting a jaguar.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vinícius Baggio-Souza
- Laboratory of Protozoology and Vector-Borne Rickettsiosis, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Avenida Bento Gonçalves 9090, Porto Alegre, 91540-000, Brazil
| | - Joares Adenilson May-Junior
- Laboratory of Protozoology and Vector-Borne Rickettsiosis, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Avenida Bento Gonçalves 9090, Porto Alegre, 91540-000, Brazil
- Onçafari Association, São Paulo, SP, Brasil
- Panthera Corporation, New York, NY, USA
| | - Renata Fagundes-Moreira
- Laboratory of Protozoology and Vector-Borne Rickettsiosis, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Avenida Bento Gonçalves 9090, Porto Alegre, 91540-000, Brazil
| | - Adeyldes Oliveira Reis
- Laboratory of Protozoology and Vector-Borne Rickettsiosis, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Avenida Bento Gonçalves 9090, Porto Alegre, 91540-000, Brazil
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Thiago Fernandes Martins
- Department of Preventive Veterinary Medicine and Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
- Pasteur Institute, São Paulo State Department of Health, São Paulo, SP, Brasil
| | - Marcelo Bahia Labruna
- Department of Preventive Veterinary Medicine and Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - João Fabio Soares
- Laboratory of Protozoology and Vector-Borne Rickettsiosis, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Avenida Bento Gonçalves 9090, Porto Alegre, 91540-000, Brazil.
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Gomes IRC, Gurgel-Gonçalves R, Gazeta GS, Borsoi ABP, Bitencourth K, Leite LF, Coelho NGSS, Dislich R, Wiederhecker HC, Santos EG, Guimarães M. Effect of environmental variables on the abundance of Amblyomma ticks, potential vectors of Rickettsia parkeri in central Brazil. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0301685. [PMID: 38748697 PMCID: PMC11095677 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0301685] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2024] [Accepted: 03/20/2024] [Indexed: 05/19/2024] Open
Abstract
Amblyomma ticks are vectors of both Rickettsia rickettsii and R. parkeri in the Americas, where capybaras (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris) are the main hosts in urban areas, thus contributing to the transmission of spotted fever. Herein, we studied: (i) the seasonal dynamics and abundance of ticks in areas where capybaras live, (ii) the effect of environmental variables on tick abundance, and (iii) the presence of Rickettsia-infected ticks. Between September 2021 and September 2022, we sampled ticks using cloth-dragging at 194 sites on the shore of Lake Paranoá in Brasília, Brazil. We measured environmental data (season, vegetation type, canopy density, temperature, humidity, and presence or vestige of capybara) at each site. Nymphs and adults were morphologically identified to the species level, and a selected tick sample including larvae was subjected to genotypic identification. We investigated Rickettsia-infected ticks by PCR (gltA, htrA, ompB, and ompA genes) and associations between tick abundance and environmental variables using Generalized Linear Models. A total of 30,334 ticks (96% larvae) were captured. Ticks were identified as Amblyomma, with A. sculptum comprising 97% of the adult/nymphs. Genotype identification of a larval sample confirmed that 95% belonged to A. dubitatum. Seasonal variables showed significant effects on tick abundance. Most larvae and nymphs were captured during the early dry season, while the adults were more abundant during the wet season. Vegetation variables and the presence of capybaras showed no association with tick abundance. Rickettsia parkeri group and R. bellii were identified in A. dubitatum, while A. sculptum presented R. bellii. We conclude that: (i) Amblyomma ticks are widely distributed in Lake Paranoá throughout the year, especially larvae at the dry season, (ii) the abundance of Amblyomma ticks is explained more by climatic factors than by vegetation or presence of capybaras, and (iii) A. dubitatum ticks are potential vectors of R. parkeri in Brasília.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isadora R. C. Gomes
- Biological Sciences Course, Catholic University of Brasília, Federal District, Brasília, Brazil
- Faculty of Medicine, Laboratory of Medical Parasitology and Vector Biology, University of Brasília, Federal District, Brasília, Brazil
| | - Rodrigo Gurgel-Gonçalves
- Faculty of Medicine, Laboratory of Medical Parasitology and Vector Biology, University of Brasília, Federal District, Brasília, Brazil
| | - Gilberto S. Gazeta
- National Reference Laboratory for Rikettsiosis Vectors, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Ana B. P. Borsoi
- National Reference Laboratory for Rikettsiosis Vectors, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Karla Bitencourth
- National Reference Laboratory for Rikettsiosis Vectors, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Letícia F. Leite
- Biological Sciences Course, Catholic University of Brasília, Federal District, Brasília, Brazil
| | | | - Ricardo Dislich
- Ministry of Planning and Budget, Esplanade of Ministries, Federal District, Brasília, Brazil
| | | | - Eduardo G. Santos
- Post Graduation Program in Ecology, Institute of Biological Sciences, University of Brasília, Federal District, Brasília, Brazil
| | - Melina Guimarães
- Biological Sciences Course, Catholic University of Brasília, Federal District, Brasília, Brazil
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3
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Szabó MPJ, Queiroz CL, Suzin A, Rodrigues VDS, Vieira RBK, Martins MM, Rezende LM, Sousa ACP, Ramos VDN, Muraro FM, Fernandes LK, Santos LCM, Maia RDC, Rezende AF. Density and behavior of capybara (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris) ticks (Acari: Ixodidae) Amblyomma sculptum and Amblyomma dubitatum with notes on Rickettsia bellii infection: Assessing human exposure risk. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2024; 15:102330. [PMID: 38460340 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2024.102330] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2023] [Revised: 02/25/2024] [Accepted: 03/01/2024] [Indexed: 03/11/2024]
Abstract
In several urban and peri‑urban areas of Brazil, populations of Amblyomma sculptum and Amblyomma dubitatum ticks are maintained by capybaras (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris). In some of these areas, this host and these tick species are associated with Brazilian spotted fever (BSF), a lethal human disease caused by the bacterium Rickettsia rickettsii. In this work, we evaluated the risk of human exposure to these tick species using four collection techniques to discern host-seeking behavior. The study was carried out in 10 urban sites inhabited by capybaras in Uberlândia, a BSF-free municipality in southeastern Brazil. Ticks were collected in areas of 400 m2 at each site and at three seasons. Within the same municipality, the distance and speed of A. sculptum nymphs moving towards the CO2 traps were evaluated. In a sample of ticks Rickettsia DNA was investigated. During the study period, 52,953 ticks were collected. Among these, 83.4 % were A. sculptum (1,523 adults, 10,545 nymphs and 32,104 larvae) and 16.6 % were A. dubitatum (464 adults, 2,153 nymphs and 6,164 larvae). An average annual questing tick density of 4.4/m² was observed, with the highest density recorded at one site in autumn (31.8/m²) and the lowest in summer at another site (0.03/m²). The visual search yielded the highest proportion of A. sculptum larvae, constituting 47 % of the total and 63.6 % of all A. sculptum larvae. In contrast, CO2 traps collected a greater proportion of nymphs and adults of A. sculptum ticks. In the case of A. dubitatum, the CO2 trap was the most efficient technique with 57.7 % of captures of this species, especially of nymphs (94.5 % of captures) and adults (97.8 % of captures). Ticks' ambush height on vegetation (9 to 77 cm), observed by visual search 30 times, yielded a total of 20,771 ticks. Of these, 28 (93 %) were A. sculptum ticks, with only two (7 %) identified as A. dubitatum ticks. Among A. sculptum ticks, the nymph was the most attracted stage to humans and larva in the case of A. dubitatum. Amblyomma sculptum adults and nymphs were significantly more attracted to humans than those of A. dubitatum, but A. dubitatum larvae were significantly more attracted than the same stage of A. sculptum. The maximum distance and speed of horizontal displacement for A. sculptum nymphs were five meters and 2.0 m/h, respectively. The only species of Rickettsia detected in ticks, exclusively in A. dubitatum, was R. bellii. Importantly, it was observed that the higher the proportion of A. sculptum in the community of ticks, the lower the rate of infection of A. dubitatum by R. bellii. In conclusion, host-seeking behavior differed between the two tick species, as well as between stages of the same species. A greater restriction of A. dubitatum ticks to the soil was observed, while larvae and nymphs of A. sculptum dispersed higher in the vegetation. The behavior presented by A. sculptum provides greater opportunities for contact with the hosts, while A. dubitatum depends more on an active search for a host, the hunter behavior. Taken together, these observations show that a human being crossing an area infested with A. sculptum and A. dubitatum ticks will have almost exclusive contact with A. sculptum larvae and/or nymphs. Humans in a stationary position (sitting, lying or immobile) are exposed to both tick species, but they are more attractive to adults and mainly nymphs of A. sculptum compared to the corresponding stages of the tick A. dubitatum. The negative effect of A. sculptum on A. dubitatum infection by R. bellii deserves further studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matias P J Szabó
- Laboratório de Ixodologia, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária, Universidade Federal de Uberlândia, Av. Pará, Campus Umuarama-Bloco 6T, CEP 38405-302, Uberlândia, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
| | - Caroline Lopes Queiroz
- Laboratório de Ixodologia, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária, Universidade Federal de Uberlândia, Av. Pará, Campus Umuarama-Bloco 6T, CEP 38405-302, Uberlândia, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Adriane Suzin
- Laboratório de Ixodologia, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária, Universidade Federal de Uberlândia, Av. Pará, Campus Umuarama-Bloco 6T, CEP 38405-302, Uberlândia, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Vinicius da Silva Rodrigues
- Laboratório de Ixodologia, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária, Universidade Federal de Uberlândia, Av. Pará, Campus Umuarama-Bloco 6T, CEP 38405-302, Uberlândia, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Raíssa Brauner Kamla Vieira
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Clínica e Reprodução, Animal da Universidade Federal Fluminense. Niterói, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Maria Marlene Martins
- Laboratório de Ixodologia, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária, Universidade Federal de Uberlândia, Av. Pará, Campus Umuarama-Bloco 6T, CEP 38405-302, Uberlândia, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Lais Miguel Rezende
- Laboratório de Ixodologia, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária, Universidade Federal de Uberlândia, Av. Pará, Campus Umuarama-Bloco 6T, CEP 38405-302, Uberlândia, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Ana Carolina P Sousa
- Laboratório de Ixodologia, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária, Universidade Federal de Uberlândia, Av. Pará, Campus Umuarama-Bloco 6T, CEP 38405-302, Uberlândia, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Vanessa do Nascimento Ramos
- Laboratório de Ixodologia, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária, Universidade Federal de Uberlândia, Av. Pará, Campus Umuarama-Bloco 6T, CEP 38405-302, Uberlândia, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Fernanda Marinho Muraro
- Laboratório de Ixodologia, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária, Universidade Federal de Uberlândia, Av. Pará, Campus Umuarama-Bloco 6T, CEP 38405-302, Uberlândia, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Lais Keocheguerian Fernandes
- Laboratório de Ixodologia, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária, Universidade Federal de Uberlândia, Av. Pará, Campus Umuarama-Bloco 6T, CEP 38405-302, Uberlândia, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Lorena C M Santos
- Laboratório de Ixodologia, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária, Universidade Federal de Uberlândia, Av. Pará, Campus Umuarama-Bloco 6T, CEP 38405-302, Uberlândia, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Rodrigo da Costa Maia
- Laboratório de Ixodologia, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária, Universidade Federal de Uberlândia, Av. Pará, Campus Umuarama-Bloco 6T, CEP 38405-302, Uberlândia, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Amanda Ferreira Rezende
- Laboratório de Ixodologia, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária, Universidade Federal de Uberlândia, Av. Pará, Campus Umuarama-Bloco 6T, CEP 38405-302, Uberlândia, Minas Gerais, Brazil
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Caixeta BT, Tolesano-Pascoli GV, Mundim FL, Pascoal JDO, Rodrigues VDS, Martins MM, Ramos VDN, Torga K, Costa LF, Miranda VC, Benfatti LR, Silva LM, Limongi JE, Szabó MPJ, Yokosawa J. Survey of Rickettsia spp. in ticks (Acari: Ixodidae) infesting opossums (Didelphis albiventris) and capybaras (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris) from an urban park in southeastern Brazil. EXPERIMENTAL & APPLIED ACAROLOGY 2024; 92:463-477. [PMID: 38361037 DOI: 10.1007/s10493-023-00885-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2023] [Accepted: 12/29/2023] [Indexed: 02/17/2024]
Abstract
Ticks are hematophagous arthropods and, during feeding, may transmit pathogens to vertebrate hosts, including humans. This study aimed to investigate the presence of Rickettsia spp. in ticks collected between 2010 and 2013 from free-ranging capybaras (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris) and opossums (Didelphis albiventris) that inhabit Sabiá Park in Uberlândia, Brazil. Overall, 1,860 ticks were collected: 1,272 (68.4%) from capybaras (487 of the species Amblyomma sculptum, 475 adults and 12 nymphs; 778 Amblyomma dubitatum, 727 adults and 51 nymphs; and seven larva clusters of the genus Amblyomma); and 588 (31.6%) from opossums (21 A. sculptum, one adult and 20 nymphs; 79 A. dubitatum, all nymphs; 15 Ixodes loricatus, 12 adults and three nymphs; 457 Amblyomma sp. larva clusters; 15 Ixodes sp. larva clusters; and one Argasidae larva cluster). Out of 201 DNA samples tested for the presence of Rickettsia spp. DNA using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) 12 showed amplification of a gtlA gene segment that was specific to Rickettsia bellii, a bacterium non-pathogenic to humans. As there has been a report showing serological evidence of infections caused by Rickettsia species of the spotted fever group (SFG) in capybaras and opossums in the park, including Rickettsia rickettsii, the etiological agent of Brazilian spotted fever, and considering the presence of A. sculptum ticks, which are aggressive to humans, as well as these vertebrate hosts, which are amplifiers of R. rickettsii, it is important to monitor the presence of SFG rickettsiae in the Sabiá Park, which is visited daily by thousands of people.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bruno Tolentino Caixeta
- Laboratory of Microorganisms of Cerrado (Brazilian Savannah), Department of Microbiology, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, UFU, Uberlândia, Brazil.
| | | | - Flávia Lúcio Mundim
- Laboratory of Microorganisms of Cerrado (Brazilian Savannah), Department of Microbiology, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, UFU, Uberlândia, Brazil
| | - Jamile de Oliveira Pascoal
- Laboratory of Ixodology, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária, Universidade Federal de Uberlândia (UFU), Uberlândia, Brazil
| | - Vinícius da Silva Rodrigues
- Laboratory of Ixodology, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária, Universidade Federal de Uberlândia (UFU), Uberlândia, Brazil
| | - Maria Marlene Martins
- Laboratory of Ixodology, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária, Universidade Federal de Uberlândia (UFU), Uberlândia, Brazil
| | - Vanessa do Nascimento Ramos
- Laboratory of Ixodology, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária, Universidade Federal de Uberlândia (UFU), Uberlândia, Brazil
| | - Khelma Torga
- Laboratory of Ixodology, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária, Universidade Federal de Uberlândia (UFU), Uberlândia, Brazil
| | - Lourenço Faria Costa
- Instituto Acadêmico de Ciências da Saúde e Biológicas, Universidade Estadual de Goiás, Quirinópolis, Brazil
| | - Vinícius Campos Miranda
- Laboratory of Microorganisms of Cerrado (Brazilian Savannah), Department of Microbiology, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, UFU, Uberlândia, Brazil
| | - Luisa Rodrigues Benfatti
- Laboratory of Microorganisms of Cerrado (Brazilian Savannah), Department of Microbiology, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, UFU, Uberlândia, Brazil
| | - Leticia Maria Silva
- Laboratory of Microorganisms of Cerrado (Brazilian Savannah), Department of Microbiology, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, UFU, Uberlândia, Brazil
| | | | - Matias Pablo Juan Szabó
- Laboratory of Ixodology, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária, Universidade Federal de Uberlândia (UFU), Uberlândia, Brazil.
| | - Jonny Yokosawa
- Laboratory of Microorganisms of Cerrado (Brazilian Savannah), Department of Microbiology, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, UFU, Uberlândia, Brazil.
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5
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da Gama BC, Martins TF, Labruna MB, Vieira RFDC, de Almeida JC. First report of Amblyomma sculptum ( Amblyomma cajennense complex) in a Brazilian state classified as a silent area for human rickettsiosis. Vet World 2023; 16:2200-2204. [PMID: 38152277 PMCID: PMC10750745 DOI: 10.14202/vetworld.2023.2200-2204] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2023] [Accepted: 10/10/2023] [Indexed: 12/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Background and Aim Studies on ticks of public health concern in equine husbandry are scarce in the Northeastern region of Brazil. This study aimed to investigate the presence of ticks on horses in the State of Alagoas, which is classified as a silent area for human rickettsiosis. Materials and Methods Ticks infesting horses were collected using anatomical tweezers or a commercial hook and kept in ethanol-labeled tubes for taxonomic identification. Results A total of 2,238 ticks were found. Ticks were identified as 2,215 (98.89%, 95% CI: 98.41-99.28) Dermacentor nitens, 19 (0.98%, 95% CI: 0.05-1.38) Amblyomma sculptum, and 4 (0.18%; 95% CI: 0.007-0.46) Rhipicephalus microplus. Conclusion This is the first study to report A. sculptum and D. nitens in the State of Alagoas. The presence of A. sculptum should draw the attention of public health managers once Alagoas State is considered a silent area for rickettsial diseases, which means the absence of local surveillance programs for these pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bruna Costa da Gama
- Centro de Engenharia e Ciências Agrárias, Universidade Federal de Alagoas, Viçosa, Alagoas, Brazil
| | - Thiago Fernandes Martins
- Departamento de Medicina Veterinária Preventiva e Saúde Animal, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
- Instituto Pasteur, Área Técnica de Doenças Vinculadas a Vetores e Hospedeiros Intermediários, Secretaria de Estado da Saúde de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Marcelo Bahia Labruna
- Departamento de Medicina Veterinária Preventiva e Saúde Animal, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Rafael Felipe da Costa Vieira
- Department of Public Health Sciences, College of Health and Human Services, The University of North Carolina at Charlotte, North Carolina, USA
- Center for Computational Intelligence to Predict Health and Environmental Risks, The University of North Carolina at Charlotte, North Carolina, USA
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6
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de la Fuente J, Estrada-Peña A, Rafael M, Almazán C, Bermúdez S, Abdelbaset AE, Kasaija PD, Kabi F, Akande FA, Ajagbe DO, Bamgbose T, Ghosh S, Palavesam A, Hamid PH, Oskam CL, Egan SL, Duarte-Barbosa A, Hekimoğlu O, Szabó MPJ, Labruna MB, Dahal A. Perception of Ticks and Tick-Borne Diseases Worldwide. Pathogens 2023; 12:1258. [PMID: 37887774 PMCID: PMC10610181 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens12101258] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2023] [Revised: 10/16/2023] [Accepted: 10/18/2023] [Indexed: 10/28/2023] Open
Abstract
In this comprehensive review study, we addressed the challenge posed by ticks and tick-borne diseases (TBDs) with growing incidence affecting human and animal health worldwide. Data and perspectives were collected from different countries and regions worldwide, including America, Europe, Africa, Asia, and Oceania. The results updated the current situation with ticks and TBD and how it is perceived by society with information bias and gaps. The study reinforces the importance of multidisciplinary and international collaborations to advance in the surveillance, communication and proposed future directions to address these challenges.
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Affiliation(s)
- José de la Fuente
- SaBio, Instituto de Investigación en Recursos Cinegéticos, IREC-CSIC-UCLM-JCCM, Ronda de Toledo 12, 13005 Ciudad Real, Spain;
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, Center for Veterinary Health Sciences, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK 74078, USA
| | - Agustín Estrada-Peña
- Department of Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zaragoza, 50013 Zaragoza, Spain
- Research Group in Emerging Zoonoses, Instituto Agroalimentario de Aragón-IA2, Universidad de Zaragoza-CITA, 50013 Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Marta Rafael
- SaBio, Instituto de Investigación en Recursos Cinegéticos, IREC-CSIC-UCLM-JCCM, Ronda de Toledo 12, 13005 Ciudad Real, Spain;
| | - Consuelo Almazán
- Facultad de Ciencias Naturales, Universidad Autonóma de Querétaro, Avenida de las Ciencias S/N Juriquilla, Querétaro 76230, Mexico;
| | - Sergio Bermúdez
- Medical Entomology Research Department, Gorgas Memorial Institute for Health Research, Panama City 0816-02593, Panama;
| | - Abdelbaset E. Abdelbaset
- Laboratory of Parasitology, Graduate School of Infectious Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido University, Kita-18, Nishi-9, Sapporo 060-0818, Hokkaido, Japan;
| | - Paul D. Kasaija
- National Livestock Resources Research Institute (NaLIRRI/NARO), Kampala P.O. Box 5704, Uganda; (P.D.K.); (F.K.)
| | - Fredrick Kabi
- National Livestock Resources Research Institute (NaLIRRI/NARO), Kampala P.O. Box 5704, Uganda; (P.D.K.); (F.K.)
| | - Foluke Adedayo Akande
- Department of Veterinary Parasitology and Entomology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta 111101, Ogun State, Nigeria;
| | - Dorcas Oluwakemi Ajagbe
- Department of Pure and Applied Zoology, College of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta 111101, Ogun State, Nigeria;
| | - Timothy Bamgbose
- Department of Biological Sciences, Microbiology Unit, Faculty of Science, Kings University, Ode-Omu City 221102, Osun State, Nigeria;
| | - Srikant Ghosh
- Entomology Laboratory, Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar, Bareilly 243122, Uttar Pradesh, India;
- IVRI-Eastern Regional Station, 37, Belgachia Road, Kolkata 700037, West Bengal, India
| | - Azhahianambi Palavesam
- Translational Research Platform for Veterinary Biologicals, Centre for Animal Health Studies, Tamil Nadu Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Chennai 600051, Tamil Nadu, India;
| | - Penny H. Hamid
- Department of Animal Science, Universitas Sebelas Maret, Surakarta 57126, Indonesia;
| | - Charlotte L. Oskam
- School of Medical, Molecular and Forensic Sciences, Murdoch University, Perth, WA 6150, Australia; (C.L.O.); (S.L.E.)
- Centre for One Health and Biosecurity, Harry Butler Institute, Murdoch University, Perth, WA 6150, Australia;
| | - Siobhon L. Egan
- School of Medical, Molecular and Forensic Sciences, Murdoch University, Perth, WA 6150, Australia; (C.L.O.); (S.L.E.)
- Centre for One Health and Biosecurity, Harry Butler Institute, Murdoch University, Perth, WA 6150, Australia;
| | - Amanda Duarte-Barbosa
- Centre for One Health and Biosecurity, Harry Butler Institute, Murdoch University, Perth, WA 6150, Australia;
- School of Veterinary Medicine, Murdoch University, Perth, WA 6150, Australia
| | - Olcay Hekimoğlu
- Division of Ecology, Faculty of Science, Hacettepe University, Beytepe, Ankara 06800, Turkey;
| | - Matias P. J. Szabó
- Laboratório de Ixodologia, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária, Universidade Federal de Uberlândia, Av. Pará, 1720/Campus Umuarama-Bloco 2T, Uberlândia 38400-902, Brazil;
| | - Marcelo B. Labruna
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, University of São Paulo, Sao Paulo 05508-220, Brazil;
| | - Ananta Dahal
- Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Animal Science, Veterinary Science and Fisheries, Agriculture and Forestry University, Chitwan 44200, Nepal;
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Prati AC, Maia MO, Martins TF, Morgado TO, Corrêa SHR, Mendes EJF, Ferraz RHDS, Mudrek JR, Strüssmann C, Ramos DGDS, Semedo TBF, Minetto MK, Aguiar DMD, Pacheco RC, Melo ALT. Diversity of rickettsiae in ticks (Acari: Ixodidae) collected from wild vertebrates in part of the Amazon, Cerrado, and Pantanal biomes in Brazil. REVISTA BRASILEIRA DE PARASITOLOGIA VETERINARIA = BRAZILIAN JOURNAL OF VETERINARY PARASITOLOGY : ORGAO OFICIAL DO COLEGIO BRASILEIRO DE PARASITOLOGIA VETERINARIA 2023; 32:e008023. [PMID: 37851794 DOI: 10.1590/s1984-29612023059] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2023] [Accepted: 08/18/2023] [Indexed: 10/20/2023]
Abstract
Ticks parasitizing 102 wild animals in the states of Mato Grosso and Goiás, Brazil were collected between 2015 and 2018. A total of 2338 ticks (865 males, 541 females, 823 nymphs, and 109 larvae) belonging to four genera (Amblyomma, Dermacentor, Haemaphysalis, and Rhipicephalus) and at least 21 species were identified. DNA extraction and a molecular survey for rickettsial agents were performed on 650 ticks. The results revealed parasitism by the following species: Rickettsia amblyommatis in Amblyomma cajennense s.s., A. cajennense s.l., Amblyomma coelebs, Amblyomma humerale, Amblyomma longirostre, Amblyomma nodosum, Amblyomma scalpturatum, Amblyomma sculptum, and Amblyomma romitii; Rickettsia parkeri in Amblyomma nodosum, Amblyomma ovale, Amblyomma scalpturatum, and Amblyomma triste; Rickettsia rhipicephali in Haemaphysalis juxtakochi; Rickettsia sp. in A. cajennense s.s., A. nodosum, and A. sculptum, and lastly, 'Candidatus Rickettsia andeanae' in Amblyomma parvum and Rhipicephalus microplus. This study expands the body of knowledge about tick parasitism among wild animals, including new data concerning tick-host associations, and provides information about the epidemiology of tick-borne pathogens in the Center-West region of Brazil.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anny Carolina Prati
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Biociência Animal, Universidade de Cuiabá - UNIC, Cuiabá, MT, Brasil
| | - Maerle Oliveira Maia
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Ciências Veterinárias - PPGVET, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária - FAVET, Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso - UFMT, Cuiabá, MT, Brasil
| | - Thiago Fernandes Martins
- Departamento de Medicina Veterinária Preventiva e Saúde Animal, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, Universidade de São Paulo - USP, São Paulo, SP, Brasil
- Instituto Pasteur, Secretaria de Estado da Saúde de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brasil
| | - Thaís Oliveira Morgado
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Ciências Veterinárias - PPGVET, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária - FAVET, Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso - UFMT, Cuiabá, MT, Brasil
| | - Sandra Helena Ramiro Corrêa
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Ciências Veterinárias - PPGVET, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária - FAVET, Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso - UFMT, Cuiabá, MT, Brasil
| | - Edson Junior Figueiredo Mendes
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Ciências Veterinárias - PPGVET, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária - FAVET, Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso - UFMT, Cuiabá, MT, Brasil
| | - Rosa Helena Dos Santos Ferraz
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Ciências Veterinárias - PPGVET, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária - FAVET, Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso - UFMT, Cuiabá, MT, Brasil
| | - Jessica Rhaiza Mudrek
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Zoologia, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso - UFMT, Cuiabá, MT, Brasil
| | - Christine Strüssmann
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Zoologia, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso - UFMT, Cuiabá, MT, Brasil
| | - Dirceu Guilherme de Souza Ramos
- Laboratório de Parasitologia e Análises Clínicas Veterinária, Programa de Pós-graduação em Biociência Animal, Unidade Acadêmica de Ciências Veterinárias, Universidade Federal de Jataí - UFJ, Jataí, GO, Brasil
| | - Thiago Borges Fernandes Semedo
- Departamento de Biologia, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
- InBIO Laboratório Associado, Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos - CIBIO, Universidade do Porto, Vairão, Portugal
- Programa BIOPOLIS em Genómica, Biodiversidade e Ordenamento do Território, CIBIO, de Vairão, Vairão, Portugal
| | - Make Kawatake Minetto
- Instituto de Defesa Agropecuária do Estado de Mato Grosso - INDEA-MT, Cuiabá, MT, Brasil
| | - Daniel Moura de Aguiar
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Ciências Veterinárias - PPGVET, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária - FAVET, Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso - UFMT, Cuiabá, MT, Brasil
| | - Richard Campos Pacheco
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Ciências Veterinárias - PPGVET, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária - FAVET, Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso - UFMT, Cuiabá, MT, Brasil
- Laboratório de Parasitologia Veterinária e Doenças Parasitárias dos Animais Domésticos e Silvestres, Hospital Veterinário - HOVET, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária - FAVET, Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso - UFMT, Cuiabá, MT, Brasil
| | - Andréia Lima Tomé Melo
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Biociência Animal, Universidade de Cuiabá - UNIC, Cuiabá, MT, Brasil
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Martins-Filho PR, Góes MADO, Sá SLCS, Teles RDCCC, Cavalcante TF, Carneiro MSDS, Bezerra GVB, Sena LOC, Moura KD, Teixeira DCP, Santos VS, Dos Santos CA. First autochthonous case of spotted fever in Sergipe State, Northeast Brazil. Travel Med Infect Dis 2023; 55:102640. [PMID: 37673130 DOI: 10.1016/j.tmaid.2023.102640] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2023] [Accepted: 09/03/2023] [Indexed: 09/08/2023]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Marco Aurélio de Oliveira Góes
- Epidemiological Surveillance, State Health Department, Government of Sergipe State, Aracaju, SE, Brazil; Department of Medicine, Federal University of Sergipe, Lagarto, SE, Brazil
| | | | | | - Taise Ferreira Cavalcante
- Investigative Pathology Laboratory, Federal University of Sergipe, Aracaju, SE, Brazil; Epidemiological Surveillance, Municipal Health Department, Aracaju, SE, Brazil
| | | | | | | | - Karine Dantas Moura
- Central Laboratory of Public Health (LACEN/SE), Government of Sergipe State, Aracaju, SE, Brazil
| | | | | | - Cliomar Alves Dos Santos
- Central Laboratory of Public Health (LACEN/SE), Government of Sergipe State, Aracaju, SE, Brazil
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Xavier DR, Albuquerque MPD, Sousa-Carmo SVTD, Pinter A. Evaluation of completeness and timeliness of data in the National Information System for Notifiable Diseases for spotted fever in the state of São Paulo, Brazil, 2007-2017. EPIDEMIOLOGIA E SERVIÇOS DE SAÚDE 2023; 32:e2022416. [PMID: 37466563 PMCID: PMC10355991 DOI: 10.1590/s2237-96222023000200011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2022] [Accepted: 01/08/2023] [Indexed: 07/20/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE to evaluate the completeness and timeliness of notifications of cases of spotted fever (SF) held on the Notifiable Health Conditions Information System (SINAN) in São Paulo State, Brazil, from 2007 to 2017. METHODS this was a descriptive and ecological study of confirmed human cases of SF regarding completeness and timeliness of ten fields of the notification form (good if ≥ 90% for most variables); time series analysis was performed using the Prais-Winsten technique. RESULTS we analyzed 736 records; among essential fields, only "Discharge date" showed poor completeness (68.5%). Timeliness was good for the "Investigation" and "Closure" fields; other time lapses were not adequate. CONCLUSION in São Paulo state, data completeness was good for most variables, whereas timeliness was not adequate (except for "Closure" and "Investigation"), pointing to the need for health education and communication actions about SF.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniele Rosa Xavier
- Universidade de São Paulo, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Saúde Pública, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | | | | | - Adriano Pinter
- Superintendência de Controle de Endemias, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
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10
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Magalhães AR, Codeço CT, Svenning JC, Escobar LE, Van de Vuurst P, Gonçalves-Souza T. Neglected tropical diseases risk correlates with poverty and early ecosystem destruction. Infect Dis Poverty 2023; 12:32. [PMID: 37038199 PMCID: PMC10084676 DOI: 10.1186/s40249-023-01084-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2022] [Accepted: 03/19/2023] [Indexed: 04/12/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Neglected tropical diseases affect the most vulnerable populations and cause chronic and debilitating disorders. Socioeconomic vulnerability is a well-known and important determinant of neglected tropical diseases. For example, poverty and sanitation could influence parasite transmission. Nevertheless, the quantitative impact of socioeconomic conditions on disease transmission risk remains poorly explored. METHODS This study investigated the role of socioeconomic variables in the predictive capacity of risk models of neglected tropical zoonoses using a decade of epidemiological data (2007-2018) from Brazil. Vector-borne diseases investigated in this study included dengue, malaria, Chagas disease, leishmaniasis, and Brazilian spotted fever, while directly-transmitted zoonotic diseases included schistosomiasis, leptospirosis, and hantaviruses. Environmental and socioeconomic predictors were combined with infectious disease data to build environmental and socioenvironmental sets of ecological niche models and their performances were compared. RESULTS Socioeconomic variables were found to be as important as environmental variables in influencing the estimated likelihood of disease transmission across large spatial scales. The combination of socioeconomic and environmental variables improved overall model accuracy (or predictive power) by 10% on average (P < 0.01), reaching a maximum of 18% in the case of dengue fever. Gross domestic product was the most important socioeconomic variable (37% relative variable importance, all individual models exhibited P < 0.00), showing a decreasing relationship with disease indicating poverty as a major factor for disease transmission. Loss of natural vegetation cover between 2008 and 2018 was the most important environmental variable (42% relative variable importance, P < 0.05) among environmental models, exhibiting a decreasing relationship with disease probability, showing that these diseases are especially prevalent in areas where natural ecosystem destruction is on its initial stages and lower when ecosystem destruction is on more advanced stages. CONCLUSIONS Destruction of natural ecosystems coupled with low income explain macro-scale neglected tropical and zoonotic disease probability in Brazil. Addition of socioeconomic variables improves transmission risk forecasts on tandem with environmental variables. Our results highlight that to efficiently address neglected tropical diseases, public health strategies must target both reduction of poverty and cessation of destruction of natural forests and savannas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arthur Ramalho Magalhães
- Laboratory of Ecological Synthesis and Biodiversity Conservation (ECOFUN), Federal Rural University of Pernambuco, Recife, PE, Brazil
| | - Cláudia Torres Codeço
- Scientific Computation Program (PROCC), Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (Fiocruz), Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Jens-Christian Svenning
- Center for Ecological Dynamics in a Novel Biosphere (ECONOVO) & Center for Biodiversity Dynamics in a Changing World (BIOCHANGE), Department of Biology., Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Luis E Escobar
- Department of Fish and Wildlife Conservation, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, USA
- Center for Emerging Zoonotic and Arthropod-Borne Pathogens, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, USA
| | - Paige Van de Vuurst
- Center for Emerging Zoonotic and Arthropod-Borne Pathogens, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, USA
- Translational Biology, Medicine and Health Program, Virginia Tech Graduate School, Blacksburg, VA, USA
| | - Thiago Gonçalves-Souza
- Laboratory of Ecological Synthesis and Biodiversity Conservation (ECOFUN), Federal Rural University of Pernambuco, Recife, PE, Brazil.
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11
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Rodrigues AC, de Castro MB, Labruna MB, Szabó MPJ. The inoculation eschar of Rickettsia parkeri rickettsiosis in Brazil: Importance and cautions. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2023; 14:102127. [PMID: 36693294 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2023.102127] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2022] [Revised: 01/06/2023] [Accepted: 01/19/2023] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
Two well characterized tick-borne rickettsioses occur in Brazil. Rickettsia rickettsii caused spotted-fever, transmitted by Amblyomma sculptum and Amblyomma aureolatum, is a severe disease with a high case-fatality rate in the southeastern region of the country. Rickettsia parkeri strain Atlantic rainforest infections transmitted by adult Amblyomma ovale ticks cause a milder non-lethal febrile disease with an eschar (necrosis) at the tick bite site. Clinical diagnosis of rickettsiosis is challenging, particularly during the early stages of the illness when signs and symptoms are non-specific. Since eschar at the tick bite site has emerged as the main clinical feature of mild R. parkeri infections and used to differentiate it from severe R. rickettsii infection, its proper recognition, distinction from other tick bite lesions, and boundaries as a clinical tool must be highlighted. Of importance, eschars induced by Rickettsia must be differentiated from dermatoses caused by other tick-borne skin infections as well from lesions caused by the tick bite itself. We herein highlight information on eschar in rickettsial diseases in Brazil and discuss the need for further research on its clinical relevance and application in the diagnosis of spotted fever caused by R. parkeri strain Atlantic rainforest. In particular, we draw attention to diagnosis of other febrile diseases in the presence of concomitant tick bites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessandra Castro Rodrigues
- Laboratório de Ixodologia, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária, Universidade Federal de Uberlândia, Av. Pará, 1720/Campus Umuarama-Bloco 2T, CEP 38400-902, Uberlândia, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Márcio Botelho de Castro
- Laboratório de Patologia Veterinária, Universidade de Brasília, Av. L4 Norte, Hospital Veterinário - Campus Universitário Darcy Ribeiro, CP. 4508, Asa Norte, CEP 70910-970, Brasília, Distrito Federal, Brazil
| | - Marcelo Bahia Labruna
- Departamento de Medicina Veterinária Preventiva e Saúde Animal, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, Universidade de São Paulo, Av. Prof. Orlando Marques de Paiva, 87, Cidade Universitária, CEP 05508-270, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Matias Pablo Juan Szabó
- Laboratório de Ixodologia, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária, Universidade Federal de Uberlândia, Av. Pará, 1720/Campus Umuarama-Bloco 2T, CEP 38400-902, Uberlândia, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
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12
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Krawczak FDS, Binder LC, Sobotyk C, Costa FB, Gregori F, Martins TF, Pádua GT, Sponchiado J, Melo GL, Polo G, Labruna MB. Rickettsial infection in ticks from a natural area of Atlantic Forest biome in southern Brazil. EXPERIMENTAL & APPLIED ACAROLOGY 2022; 88:371-386. [PMID: 36344862 DOI: 10.1007/s10493-022-00754-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2022] [Accepted: 10/10/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
From June 2013 to January 2014, blood sera samples and ticks were collected from domestic dogs and wild small mammals, and ticks from the vegetation in a preservation area of the Atlantic Forest biome (Turvo State Park), and the rural area surrounding the Park in Derrubadas municipality, state of Rio Grande do Sul, southern Brazil. Dogs were infested by Amblyomma ovale and Amblyomma aureolatum adult ticks, whereas small mammals were infested by immature stages of A. ovale, Amblyomma yucumense, Amblyomma brasiliense, Ixodes loricatus, and adults of I. loricatus. Ticks collected on vegetation were A. brasiliense, A. ovale, A. yucumense, Amblyomma incisum, and Haemaphysalis juxtakochi. Three Rickettsia species were molecularly detected in ticks: Rickettsia bellii in I. loricatus (also isolated through cell culture inoculation), Rickettsia amblyommatis in A. brasiliense, and Rickettsia rhipicephali in A. yucumense. The latter two are tick-rickettsia associations reported for the first time. Seroreactivity to Rickettsia antigens were detected in 33.5% (55/164) small mammals and 8.3% (3/36) canine sera. The present study reveals a richness of ticks and associated-rickettsiae in the largest Atlantic Forest Reserve of the state of Rio Grande do Sul, which is characterized by a rich fauna of wild mammals, typical of more preserved areas of this biome. Noteworthy, none of the detected Rickettsia species have been associated to human or animal diseases. This result contrasts to other areas of this biome in Brazil, which are endemic for tick-borne spotted fever caused by Rickettsia rickettsii or Rickettsia parkeri.
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Affiliation(s)
- Felipe da Silva Krawczak
- Setor de Medicina Veterinária Preventiva, Departamento de Medicina Veterinária, Escola de Veterinária e Zootecnia, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Rod. Goiânia - Nova Veneza, km8, Campus Samambaia, 74690-900, Goiânia, GO, Brazil.
| | - Lina C Binder
- Departamento de Medicina Veterinária Preventiva e Saúde Animal, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, Universidade de São Paulo, Av. Prof. Orlando Marques de Paiva, 87, Cidade Universitária, 05508-270, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Caroline Sobotyk
- Department of Pathobiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, 19104, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Francisco B Costa
- Departamento de Patologia, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária, Universidade Estadual do Maranhão, São Luís, MA, Brazil
| | - Fábio Gregori
- Departamento de Medicina Veterinária Preventiva e Saúde Animal, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, Universidade de São Paulo, Av. Prof. Orlando Marques de Paiva, 87, Cidade Universitária, 05508-270, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Thiago F Martins
- Departamento de Medicina Veterinária Preventiva e Saúde Animal, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, Universidade de São Paulo, Av. Prof. Orlando Marques de Paiva, 87, Cidade Universitária, 05508-270, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Gracielle T Pádua
- Setor de Medicina Veterinária Preventiva, Departamento de Medicina Veterinária, Escola de Veterinária e Zootecnia, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Rod. Goiânia - Nova Veneza, km8, Campus Samambaia, 74690-900, Goiânia, GO, Brazil
| | - Jonas Sponchiado
- Instituto Federal de Educação, Ciência e Tecnologia Farroupilha, Campus Alegrete, Alegrete, RS, Brazil
| | - Geruza L Melo
- Instituto Federal de Educação, Ciência e Tecnologia Farroupilha, Campus Alegrete, Alegrete, RS, Brazil
| | - Gina Polo
- Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia. Fundación Universitaria San Martin, Bogotá DC, Colombia
| | - Marcelo B Labruna
- Departamento de Medicina Veterinária Preventiva e Saúde Animal, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, Universidade de São Paulo, Av. Prof. Orlando Marques de Paiva, 87, Cidade Universitária, 05508-270, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
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13
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Antibody Prevalence and Risk Factors Associated with Rickettsia spp. in a Pediatric Cohort: SFGR Remains Underdiagnosed and Underreported in El Salvador. Pathogens 2022; 11:pathogens11111241. [DOI: 10.3390/pathogens11111241] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2022] [Revised: 10/24/2022] [Accepted: 10/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Spotted fever group rickettsioses (SFGR) are caused by a group of tick-borne pathogens that are increasing in incidence globally. These diseases are typically underreported and undiagnosed in low- and middle-income countries, and thus, have been classified as neglected bacterial pathogens. Countries with high poverty, low human development index score, and limited health infrastructure—like El Salvador in Central America—lack necessary surveillance for SFGR and other tick-borne pathogens. This paucity of baseline SFGR infection prevalence leaves vulnerable populations at risk of misdiagnosis. Further, tick-borne disease burdens in El Salvador are severely limited. To lay the foundation for tick-borne disease epidemiology in El Salvador, our team conducted two different enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) on banked human sera samples from a cohort of approximately 1000 pediatric participants from a high-risk vector-borne disease population. Eleven percent of all tested banked pediatric sera were positive for at least one ELISA assay at the time of enrollment: 10.7% were positive for only IgM antibodies (acute SFGR infection), and 2.5% were positive for IgG antibodies (a past SFGR infection). Older, male, children enrolled during the wet season, with a household history of infectious disease and higher maternal education level had higher odds of SFGR antibodies. Additionally, children from households with domestic poultry birds and previous knowledge of other vector-borne diseases had significantly reduced odds of SFGR antibodies. The large percentage of acute SFGR infections indicates that it continues to remain an underreported and undiagnosed issue in El Salvador and the Central American region. Much is still unknown regarding the complexity of the tick, animal host, and human host ecology transmission cycle of SFGR in El Salvador.
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Moreira Magela S, Flávia do Nascimento A, Macena Pereira de Souza B. Capybara Ticks and the Urban Context of Spotted Fever in Brazil: An Overview. Infect Dis (Lond) 2022. [DOI: 10.5772/intechopen.106639] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Spotted fever is caused by Rickettsia rickettsii and is transmitted through tick’s saliva. Humans, ticks, and capybaras (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris) are often coexisting in environments that favor the spread of Brazilian spotted fever (BSF). Although capybaras do not transmit R. rickettsii, they can amplify these bacteria among tick vector populations, playing a significant role in the one health approach and epidemiology of the disease. Urban populations of capybaras have increased, especially in Southeast Brazil, as well as the number of cases and lethality of BSF have increased in the country since the 1980s. This expansion is mainly determined by the availability of food and the absence of predators. Thus, urban areas, including parks and university campuses, provide an abundance of food and protection against predators, ensuring the multiplication of the species and increasing the risk of transmission to humans due to the proximity of man with animals in the urban environment. Therefore, this chapter aims to address aspects of spotted fever, considering the many dimensions of the species involved, contributing to public strategies and policies.
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15
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Ixodid diversity and detection of spotted fever group Rickettsia spp. in ticks collected on birds in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest. Acta Trop 2022; 236:106673. [PMID: 36041496 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2022.106673] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2022] [Revised: 08/22/2022] [Accepted: 08/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
The Brazilian Atlantic Forest helds one of the most diverse and unique avifauna in the world. Many vertebrate species are reservoirs of tick-borne pathogens, and birds are an important group among them due to their mobility which facilitates the dispersion of ticks and the infectious agents they carry. This study brings data on the tick diversity parasitizing birds and the molecular detection of Rickettsia spp. in these arthropods. Birds (n = 773) were captured, identified, and banded at Mata do Paraíso Research, Training, and Environmental Education Center located in Viçosa, Minas Gerais, Brazil. Birds were checked for the presence of ticks, which were individually collected, identified, and molecularly processed through Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) for the detection of Rickettsia spp. A total of 130 individuals were infested by ticks, and 479 tick specimens were collected, showing a seasonal distribution of the life stages throughout the year. Ticks were identified as Amblyomma longirostre (59/479); Amblyomma calcaratum (20/479); Amblyomma varium (3/479); Amblyomma sculptum (2/479) and Amblyomma spp. larvae (395/479). Seasonal distribution of the life stages of ticks was observed along the year and significant negative correlations were found between temperature and collected ticks and temperature and infested birds. From the evaluated samples of ticks, 25.44% (n= 43/169) scored positive for Rickettsia spp., and sequence analysis indicated high nucleotide identity with Rickettsia rhipicephali, R. massiliae, R. africae and R. honei marmionii. The potential for dispersal of ticks by birds added to the aggressiveness of species of the genus Amblyomma and the zoonotic potential of some species of Rickettsia are quite worrying when we consider that the study area is widely attended by students, researchers, people from the city and neighboring municipalities.
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16
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Nogueira BCF, Campos AK, Muñoz-Leal S, Pinter A, Martins TF. Soft and hard ticks (Parasitiformes: Ixodida) on humans: A review of Brazilian biomes and the impact of environmental change. Acta Trop 2022; 234:106598. [PMID: 35841953 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2022.106598] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2022] [Revised: 07/05/2022] [Accepted: 07/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Records of accidental parasitism by ticks in humans from Brazil are scarce, with most being reported by researchers who are parasitized during their research and by professionals who work with animals. In order to compile these records, an extensive literature review was carried out. Our revision includes studies published between 1909 and 2022, including nine species of the Argasidae family and 32 species of the Ixodidae family that were reported biting humans in the six biomes of the Brazilian territory. The species with the highest number of records of human parasitism was Amblyomma sculptum, followed by Amblyomma coelebs, Amblyomma cajennense sensu stricto, and Amblyomma brasiliense. The Atlantic Forest was the most frequent biome where human parasitism occurred, probably due to the greater number of inhabitants, universities, and researchers in the region; however, this does not mean that this biome is more conducive to the development of ticks and their parasitism in humans. In addition to Amblyomma ovale, a vector of Rickettsia parkeri in the country, two of the main species that act as vectors of Rickettsia rickettsii, A. sculptum, and Amblyomma aureolatum, have been reported, which is quite worrying considering that the wide distribution of the species and life stages most frequently mentioned in parasitism (i.e., nymphs and adults) are the ones that favour pathogen transmission. This research provides a significant contribution to the knowledge of tick species associated with human parasitism in Brazil; however, due to environmental change potentiated by deforestation and fires, it is expected that there will be a geographic expansion of some tick species and the pathogens that use them as a vector and an increase in human parasitism.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Artur Kanadani Campos
- Departamento de Medicina Veterinária, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Viçosa, Minas Gerais, Brasil
| | - Sebastián Muñoz-Leal
- Departamento de Ciencia Animal, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad de Concepción, Chillán, Chile
| | - Adriano Pinter
- Departamento de Laboratórios Especializados, Superintendência de Controle de Endemias, Secretaria de Estado da Saúde de São Paulo, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brasil
| | - Thiago Fernandes Martins
- Departamento de Laboratórios Especializados, Superintendência de Controle de Endemias, Secretaria de Estado da Saúde de São Paulo, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brasil; Departamento de Medicina Veterinária Preventiva e Saúde Animal, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brasil.
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Mapping potential risks for the transmission of spotted fever rickettsiosis: The case study from the Rio de Janeiro state, Brazil. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0270837. [PMID: 35793374 PMCID: PMC9258828 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0270837] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2021] [Accepted: 06/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Spotted fever rickettsiosis is a zoonosis transmitted by ticks, having a varied clinical course that can lead to death if not managed properly. In Brazil it is more commonly observed in the Southeast, being an emerging public health problem. Hazard mapping models are common in different areas of knowledge, including public health, as a way of inferring reality and seeking to reduce or prevent damage. The aim of this study is to offer a spatial heuristic methodology for assessing the potential risk of transmission of spotted fever in the Rio de Janeiro state, located in the southeastern region of Brazil. For this, we used geospatial tools associated with eco-epidemiological data related to the clinical profile of the disease. The results achieved were substantially encouraging, considering that there are territories with greater or lesser expectation of risk for spotted fever in the study area. We observed that there are important distinctions between the two rickettsiosis scenarios in the same geographic space and that the areas where there is a greater potential risk of contracting rickettsiosis coincide with the administrative regions that concentrated the cases of hospitalization and deaths from the disease, concluding that the scenery found are relevant to the case series for the disease and that the planning of surveillance actions can gain in quality if the use of this spatial analysis tool is incorporated into the routine of local health management.
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Prado RFS, Araújo IM, Cordeiro MD, Baêta BDA, da Silva JB, da Fonseca AH. Diversity of tick species (Acari: Ixodidae) in military training areas in Southeastern Brazil. REVISTA BRASILEIRA DE PARASITOLOGIA VETERINARIA = BRAZILIAN JOURNAL OF VETERINARY PARASITOLOGY : ORGAO OFICIAL DO COLEGIO BRASILEIRO DE PARASITOLOGIA VETERINARIA 2022; 31:e001322. [PMID: 35648978 PMCID: PMC9901875 DOI: 10.1590/s1984-29612022027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2022] [Accepted: 04/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Tick-borne pathogens belong to one of the two main groups of occupational biohazards, and occupational exposure to such agents puts soldiers at risk of zoonotic infections, such as those caused by rickettsiae. There are few studies on acarological fauna and occupational risk in military areas in Brazil. Thus, the present study aimed to analyze the diversity of ticks present in the military training areas of municipalities in the Southeast Region of Brazil. The ticks were collected from the selected areas using the dragging and flagging techniques as well as by visual detection on the operators' clothing, and environmental information was also recorded. A total of ten species were collected from the 66 surveyed areas, belonging to five genera and nine species: Amblyomma sculptum, Amblyomma dubitatum, Amblyomma brasiliense, Amblyomma longirostre, Amblyomma aureolatum, Dermacentor nitens, Rhipicephalus spp., Ixodes spp. and Haemaphysalis spp. The frequent presence of tick species in military training areas along with traces and sightings of wild animals, most commonly capybaras (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris), in most of the studied areas, indicates high levels of exposure of the military to tick vectors of spotted fever group rickettsiae and the possible occurrence of infections among the troops.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rubens Fabiano Soares Prado
- Hospital Veterinário, Academia Militar das Agulhas Negras – AMAN, Resende, RJ, Brasil
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Ciências Veterinárias, Instituto de Veterinária, Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro – UFRRJ, Seropédica, RJ Brasil
| | - Izabela Mesquita Araújo
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Ciências Veterinárias, Instituto de Veterinária, Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro – UFRRJ, Seropédica, RJ Brasil
| | - Matheus Dias Cordeiro
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Ciências Veterinárias, Instituto de Veterinária, Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro – UFRRJ, Seropédica, RJ Brasil
| | - Bruna de Azevedo Baêta
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Ciências Veterinárias, Instituto de Veterinária, Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro – UFRRJ, Seropédica, RJ Brasil
| | - Jenevaldo Barbosa da Silva
- Instituto de Ciências Agrárias, Universidade Federal dos Vales do Jequitinhonha e Mucuri – UFVJM, Unaí, MG, Brasil
| | - Adivaldo Henrique da Fonseca
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Ciências Veterinárias, Instituto de Veterinária, Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro – UFRRJ, Seropédica, RJ Brasil
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da Costa IN, Oliveira MA, de Paulo PFM, Carioca ALPM, Garcia MV, Aguirre ADAR, de Medeiros JF. Amblyomma ticks in animal carcasses hunted in Mapinguari National Park, Western Amazon, Brazil: new records on species and host-parasite relationships. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2022; 13:101973. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2022.101973] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2021] [Revised: 05/21/2022] [Accepted: 05/26/2022] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
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Suzin A, da Silva Rodrigues V, Nascimento Ramos VD, Szabó MPJ. Comparing scapular morphology of Amblyomma sculptum and Amblyomma dubitatum nymphs allows a fast and practical differential diagnosis of ticks in highly infested areas with dominance of these two species. EXPERIMENTAL & APPLIED ACAROLOGY 2022; 86:455-463. [PMID: 35235094 DOI: 10.1007/s10493-022-00702-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2020] [Accepted: 02/15/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Rickettsia rickettsii infection causes the highest human fatality rate among all Rickettsia species of the world and is endemic in Southeast Brazil. In this part of the country most human spotted fever cases are related to unnaturally high populations of ticks, usually a mix of two species, Amblyomma dubitatum Neumann and Amblyomma sculptum Berlese and their local host, capybara (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris). At the same time, an increase in the number of SF notifications as well as its urbanization was observed, and a better characterization of disease epidemiology is mandatory for control measures and to halt its expansion. It was recently noticed in southeast Brazil that SF endemic areas were characterized by overgrowth populations of A. sculptum and decreased populations of A. dubitatum. Hence, characterization of areas with potential to endemicity, eco-epidemiological studies and control measures may rely on the evaluation of A. sculptum/A. dubitatum rate. However, in potentially endemic scenarios, discriminating the two tick species, particularly the nymphs considered the main vector stage, is a challenge in face of several hundreds to thousands of ticks that should be examined for quantitative studies. We herein present additional morphological features to an existing identification key for Amblyomma nymphs that considerably diminishes the labor to distinguish nymphs of these two tick species. Specifically, the oval-shaped scutum of A. dubitatum and a conspicuous scapula of A. sculptum are prominent discriminating features.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adriane Suzin
- Laboratório de Ixodologia, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária, Universidade Federal de Uberlândia, Av. Pará, 1720/Campus Umuarama-Bloco 6T, Uberlândia, Minas Gerais, CEP 38400-902, Brazil.
- Graduate Program in Ecology and Conservation of Natural Resources, Institute of Biology, Federal University of Uberlândia, Av. Pará, 1720 Uberlândia/Campus Umuarama-Bloco 2D, CEP: 38405-320, Uberlândia, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
| | - Vinicius da Silva Rodrigues
- Laboratório de Ixodologia, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária, Universidade Federal de Uberlândia, Av. Pará, 1720/Campus Umuarama-Bloco 6T, Uberlândia, Minas Gerais, CEP 38400-902, Brazil
- Postgraduate Program in Applied Immunology and Parasitology, Federal University of Uberlândia, Av. Amazonas/Campus Umuarama, Bloco 4C, CEP: 38405-320, Uberlândia, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Vanessa do Nascimento Ramos
- Laboratório de Ixodologia, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária, Universidade Federal de Uberlândia, Av. Pará, 1720/Campus Umuarama-Bloco 6T, Uberlândia, Minas Gerais, CEP 38400-902, Brazil
- Post-Doctoral Program in Veterinary Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, Federal University of Uberlândia, Av. Pará/Campus Umuarama, 1720, CEP: 38400-902, Uberlândia, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Matias Pablo Juan Szabó
- Laboratório de Ixodologia, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária, Universidade Federal de Uberlândia, Av. Pará, 1720/Campus Umuarama-Bloco 6T, Uberlândia, Minas Gerais, CEP 38400-902, Brazil
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21
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de Carvalho Nunes E, de Moura-Martiniano NO, de Lima Duré AÍ, de Melo Iani FC, de Oliveira SV, de Mello FL, Gazêta GS. Spotted Fever in the Morphoclimatic Domains of Minas Gerais State, Brazil. FRONTIERS IN TROPICAL DISEASES 2022. [DOI: 10.3389/fitd.2021.718047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
In Brazil, the tick-borne rickettsiosis known as Spotted Fever (SF) has been recorded from 59% of the Federative Units, however, the knowledge of the epidemiology and dynamics of human infection remains incipient in certain areas, complicating appropriate public health actions to inform the general population and control the disease. Here, we improved the interpretation of epidemiological information of SF cases recorded for an important endemic area. A descriptive epidemiological study was carried out based on records in the SINAN (Notifiable Diseases Information System) SF case databases. Data analysis was performed using Python programming language, Pandas library and Qgis map making. To evaluate the sociodemographic, clinical, assistance, laboratory and epidemiological characteristics, simple and relative nominal values of occurrences, means and standard deviations, and molecular analyzes were performed to identify the bioagent present in biological samples collected during each case investigation. Of the 298 confirmed cases, 98 resulted in death, the number of cases increased from 2011, and the disease scenario had 32.8% lethality. Overall, 207 cases involved men, and lethality was higher in this group. The most affected age group was 30 to 59 years old. The majority of patients reported having had contact with animals such as ticks, capybara and domestic animals such as dogs and cats. The results corroborate existing studies in areas of severe SF cases in Brazil. Despite reports of SF cases from the Cerrado Biome, analyses show that serious cases occur in anthropized areas of the Atlantic Forest biome, and in a transition area between this and the Cerrado. Complex, longitudinal, multidisciplinary studies, with an eco-epidemiological focus, should be carried out to allow the construction of algorithms capable of predicting, in time and space, the risk factors associated with severe cases and deaths from SF, with the aim of avoiding their expansion.
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22
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Silva-Ramos CR, Faccini-Martínez ÁA. Clinical, epidemiological, and laboratory features of Rickettsia africae infection, African tick-bite fever: A systematic review. LE INFEZIONI IN MEDICINA 2022; 29:366-377. [PMID: 35146341 DOI: 10.53854/liim-2903-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2021] [Accepted: 07/27/2021] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
African tick-bite fever (ATBF), caused by Rickettsia africae, is the main tick-borne rickettsiosis and the second most frequent cause of fever after malaria in travelers returning from sub-Saharan Africa. General descriptions on ATBF were made in the first two decades after recognized as a new infectious entity, and since then, many authors have contributed to the knowledge of the disease by reporting clinical cases in scientific literature. We developed a systematic review that evaluated all available evidence in the literature regarding clinical, epidemiological, and laboratory features of confirmed R. africae rickettsiosis cases. We followed the recommendations made by the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guide. A total of 48 scientific publications (108 confirmed cases) were analyzed in order to extract data for developing this review. Overall, our results show that R. africae rickettsiosis is more frequent in males in the age group of 18-64 years, more than 80% of the cases occurred in European travelers, South Africa was the country where most infections were acquired, and almost 40% of cases occurred in clusters. Clinically, more than 80% of the cases had fever and eschar (55% developed multiple eschars), rash was present in less than the half of cases, and lymphangitis was not a common sign (11%). Headache, myalgia and regional lymphadenopathy were predominant nonspecific clinical manifestation (mean of 60%, 49% and 51%, respectively). Our results show that at least 70% of R. africae cases had altered laboratory parameters, most often showing an increase in transaminases and C-reactive protein. Tetracycline-class antibiotics, as monotherapy, were used in most (>90%) of the patients. Overall, only 4% of cases had complications, 12% required hospitalization, and there was a 100% rate of clinical recovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlos Ramiro Silva-Ramos
- Grupo de Enfermedades Infecciosas, Departamento de Microbiología, Facultad de Ciencias, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Álvaro A Faccini-Martínez
- Department of Pathology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA.,Committee of Tropical Medicine, Zoonoses and Travel Medicine, Asociación Colombiana de Infectología, Bogotá, Colombia
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Fonsêca ADV, Oliveira LMBD, Jorge FR, Cavalcante RO, Bevilaqua CML, Pinto FJM, Santos JMLD, Teixeira BM, Rodrigues AKPP, Braz GF, Viana GA, Costa EC, Serpa MCDA, Weck BC, Labruna MB. Occurrence of tick-borne pathogens in dogs in a coastal region of the state of Ceará, northeastern Brazil. REVISTA BRASILEIRA DE PARASITOLOGIA VETERINARIA = BRAZILIAN JOURNAL OF VETERINARY PARASITOLOGY : ORGAO OFICIAL DO COLEGIO BRASILEIRO DE PARASITOLOGIA VETERINARIA 2022; 31:e021321. [PMID: 35239843 PMCID: PMC9901873 DOI: 10.1590/s1984-29612022010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2021] [Accepted: 01/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
The aim of this study was to determine the occurrence of tick-borne pathogens (Ehrlichia canis, Babesia vogeli, Hepatozoon spp. and Rickettsia spp.) in dogs in Vila de Jericoacoara, coastal region of Ceará, Brazil. Blood samples were collected from 153 animals and analyzed using molecular and serological methods. Sixty animals were found to be infected or exposed to at least one of the pathogens studied. Babesia vogeli was the most prevalent pathogen (15%), followed by E. canis (13.7%) and Hepatozoon spp. (11.8%), which was identified as Hepatozoon canis through sequencing. Twenty dogs (13%) were seroreactive to Rickettsia spp. Rhipicephalus sanguineus sensu lato was observed on 11.8% of the animals. There were associations between age (< 3 years old) and positivity for B. vogeli, and between habitation (stray dogs) and positivity for H. canis. There were also associations between anemia and infection with H. canis, and between leukopenia and exposure to Rickettsia spp. No association was detected between clinical alterations and infection with or exposure to the pathogens studied. The results confirmed that pathogens of veterinary importance are circulating in northeastern Brazil and showed that dogs are exposed to Rickettsia species with zoonotic potential, thus indicating a need for vector control measures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arícia Débora Vasconcelos Fonsêca
- Laboratório de Doenças Parasitárias, Programa de Pós-graduação em Ciências Veterinárias, Universidade Estadual do Ceará - UECE, Fortaleza, CE, Brasil
| | - Lorena Mayana Beserra de Oliveira
- Laboratório de Doenças Parasitárias, Programa de Pós-graduação em Ciências Veterinárias, Universidade Estadual do Ceará - UECE, Fortaleza, CE, Brasil
| | - Felipe Rodrigues Jorge
- Laboratório de Doenças Parasitárias, Programa de Pós-graduação em Ciências Veterinárias, Universidade Estadual do Ceará - UECE, Fortaleza, CE, Brasil
| | - Ramuelly Olinda Cavalcante
- Laboratório de Doenças Parasitárias, Programa de Pós-graduação em Ciências Veterinárias, Universidade Estadual do Ceará - UECE, Fortaleza, CE, Brasil
| | - Claudia Maria Leal Bevilaqua
- Laboratório de Doenças Parasitárias, Programa de Pós-graduação em Ciências Veterinárias, Universidade Estadual do Ceará - UECE, Fortaleza, CE, Brasil
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Geysa Almeida Viana
- Centro de Ciências da Saúde, Centro Universitário INTA - UNINTA, Sobral, CE, Brasil
| | - Edmara Chaves Costa
- Instituto de Ciências da Saúde, Universidade da Integração Internacional da Lusofonia Afro-Brasileira - UNILAB, Redenção, CE, Brasil
| | - Maria Carolina de Azevedo Serpa
- Departamento de Medicina Veterinária Preventiva e Saúde Animal, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, Universidade de São Paulo - USP, São Paulo, SP, Brasil
| | - Bárbara Conte Weck
- Departamento de Medicina Veterinária Preventiva e Saúde Animal, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, Universidade de São Paulo - USP, São Paulo, SP, Brasil
| | - Marcelo Bahia Labruna
- Departamento de Medicina Veterinária Preventiva e Saúde Animal, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, Universidade de São Paulo - USP, São Paulo, SP, Brasil
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Martiniano NODM, Sato TP, Vizzoni VF, Ventura SDF, Oliveira SVD, Amorim M, Gazêta GS. A new focus of spotted fever caused by Rickettsia parkeri in Brazil. Rev Inst Med Trop Sao Paulo 2022; 64:e22. [PMID: 35293560 PMCID: PMC8916588 DOI: 10.1590/s1678-9946202264022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2021] [Accepted: 09/23/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Spotted fever (SF) is a tick-borne zoonosis caused by bacteria of the genus Rickettsia . The disease varies in severity from mild clinical forms to severe cases. In Brazil, Rickettsia rickettsii SF is the most serious rickettsiosis and can result in death if not diagnosed and treated at the onset of symptoms. The SF mild form is caused by Rickettsia parkeri strain Atlantic Rainforest, and this etiological agent has been reported in the South, Southeast and Northeast regions of the country, in areas of preserved or little antropized Atlantic Rainforest. Amblyomma ovale is the proven vector and dogs are the hosts associated with the bioagent cycle. During a SF case investigation in Paraty municipality, Rio de Janeiro State, an Atlantic Rainforest biome area in Southeastern Brazil, the human pathogen R. parkeri strain Atlantic Rainforest was detected by PCR in a sample of human skin inoculation eschar and in a female A. ovale tick collected from a dog. These results expand the known area of occurrence of this mild form rickettsiosis in Brazil. In addition, the results of the present study indicate the importance of implementing programs to control canine ectoparasites and to raise awareness of the risks of infection, signs and symptoms of SF caused by R. parkeri strain Atlantic Rainforest.
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Kmetiuk LB, Martins TF, Bach RVW, Martins CM, de Barros-Filho IR, Lipinski LC, Fávero GM, Dos Santos AP, Biondo AW. Risk factors associated with ticks and Rickettsia spp. exposure in wild boars ( Sus scrofa), hunting dogs, and hunters of Brazil. Vet World 2021; 14:2745-2749. [PMID: 34903935 PMCID: PMC8654740 DOI: 10.14202/vetworld.2021.2745-2749] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2021] [Accepted: 08/30/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Background and Aim: Wild boars have recently been implicated as the maintainers and carriers of Amblyomma spp. ticks, which are essential for Rickettsia spp. transmission. Consequently, wild boar hunting may increase the risk of tick exposure and subsequent human tick-borne infection and disease. Therefore, this study was conducted to evaluate the risk factors for ticks and Rickettsia spp. exposure in wild boars, hunting dogs, and hunters in Brazilian biomes. Materials and Methods: The statistical relationship of Rickettsia spp. antibodies were evaluated using the Chi-square test in 80 wild boars, 170 hunting dogs, and 49 hunters. Results: The only statistically significant difference in seropositivity found in this study was between male and female wild boars (p=0.034), probably associated with in-park exposure to Amblyomma brasiliense infected with Rickettsia spp. Conclusion: The absence of statistical differences in the associated risk factors for hunting dogs and hunters may indicate a random exposure to Rickettsia spp.
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Affiliation(s)
- Louise Bach Kmetiuk
- Graduate College of Cellular and Molecular Biology, Federal University of Paraná (UFPR), Coronel Francisco Heráclito dos Santos Avenue, 100, Curitiba, Paraná State, 81531-970, Brazil
| | - Thiago Fernandes Martins
- Department of Preventive Veterinary Medicine and Animal Health, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, University of São Paulo, Orlando de Paiva Street, 87, São Paulo, SP, 05508 270, Brazil
| | - Renato van Wilpe Bach
- Department of Medicine, State University of Ponta Grossa, Carlos Cavalcante Avenue, 4748, Ponta Grossa, PR, 84030-900, Brazil
| | - Camila Marinelli Martins
- Department of Medicine, State University of Ponta Grossa, Carlos Cavalcante Avenue, 4748, Ponta Grossa, PR, 84030-900, Brazil
| | - Ivan Roque de Barros-Filho
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Federal University of Paraná State, Funcionários Street, 1540, Curitiba, Paraná State, 80035-050, Brazil
| | - Leandro Cavalcante Lipinski
- Department of Medicine, State University of Ponta Grossa, Carlos Cavalcante Avenue, 4748, Ponta Grossa, PR, 84030-900, Brazil
| | - Giovani Marino Fávero
- Department of General Biology, State University of Ponta Grossa, General Carlos Cavalcanti, 4748, Ponta Grossa, Paraná State, 84030-900, Brazil
| | - Andrea Pires Dos Santos
- Department of Comparative Pathobiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, Purdue University, Harrison Street, 725, West Lafayette, Indiana, 47907-2027, USA
| | - Alexander Welker Biondo
- Graduate College of Cellular and Molecular Biology, Federal University of Paraná (UFPR), Coronel Francisco Heráclito dos Santos Avenue, 100, Curitiba, Paraná State, 81531-970, Brazil.,Department of Veterinary Medicine, Federal University of Paraná State, Funcionários Street, 1540, Curitiba, Paraná State, 80035-050, Brazil
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Aguirre ADAR, da Costa IN, de Paulo PFM, Garcia MV, Medeiros JF. Rickettsia parkeri strain Atlantic rainforest infecting Amblyomma ovale (Acari: Ixodidae) in the Amazon Biome (Acre state, Brazil). Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2021; 13:101836. [PMID: 34610526 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2021.101836] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2021] [Revised: 09/04/2021] [Accepted: 09/13/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
There is a lack of studies regarding tick-associated Rickettsia in the Amazon biome. Aiming to contribute to this knowledge, our research group collected ticks in the Western Amazon to better understand the tick fauna and their associated Rickettsia. In this study, we detected Rickettsia parkeri strain Atlantic rainforest DNA in the tick Amblyomma ovale Koch, 1844 in Rio Branco municipality, Acre state, northern Brazil. This is the first time that the R. parkeri strain Atlantic rainforest has been reported in the Amazon biome and is the first evidence of the circulation of a pathogenic spotted fever group (SFG) Rickettsia in this biome. This finding provides substantial information to help public health authorities understand which species of Rickettsia may be related to Amazon spotted fever cases.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Ivaneide Nunes da Costa
- Laboratório de Entomologia, Fiocruz Rondônia, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Porto Velho, RO, Brazil; Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biologia Parasitária, turma especial de Doutorado em Ciências parceria IOC/Fiocruz Rondônia, Porto Velho, RO, Brazil
| | | | - Marcos Valério Garcia
- Bolsista Fundapam / Laboratório de Biologia do Carrapato, Embrapa Gado de Corte, Campo Grande, MS, Brazil
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Ruiz-Tagle NM, Nogueira-Filho SLG, Knowles TG, Siqueira da Cunha Nogueira S. Using predator feces as a repellent for free-ranging urban capybaras (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris). Acta Ethol 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/s10211-021-00377-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
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Codeço CT, Dal'Asta AP, Rorato AC, Lana RM, Neves TC, Andreazzi CS, Barbosa M, Escada MIS, Fernandes DA, Rodrigues DL, Reis IC, Silva-Nunes M, Gontijo AB, Coelho FC, Monteiro AMV. Epidemiology, Biodiversity, and Technological Trajectories in the Brazilian Amazon: From Malaria to COVID-19. Front Public Health 2021; 9:647754. [PMID: 34327184 PMCID: PMC8314010 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2021.647754] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2020] [Accepted: 06/14/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The Amazon biome is under severe threat due to increasing deforestation rates and loss of biodiversity and ecosystem services while sustaining a high burden of neglected tropical diseases. Approximately two thirds of this biome are located within Brazilian territory. There, socio-economic and environmental landscape transformations are linked to the regional agrarian economy dynamics, which has developed into six techno-productive trajectories (TTs). These TTs are the product of the historical interaction between Peasant and Farmer and Rancher practices, technologies and rationalities. This article investigates the distribution of the dominant Brazilian Amazon TTs and their association with environmental degradation and vulnerability to neglected tropical diseases. The goal is to provide a framework for the joint debate of the local economic, environmental and health dimensions. We calculated the dominant TT for each municipality in 2017. Peasant trajectories (TT1, TT2, and TT3) are dominant in ca. fifty percent of the Amazon territory, mostly concentrated in areas covered by continuous forest where malaria is an important morbidity and mortality cause. Cattle raising trajectories are associated with higher deforestation rates. Meanwhile, Farmer and Rancher economies are becoming dominant trajectories, comprising large scale cattle and grain production. These trajectories are associated with rapid biodiversity loss and a high prevalence of neglected tropical diseases, such as leishmaniasis, Aedes-borne diseases and Chagas disease. Overall, these results defy simplistic views that the dominant development trajectory for the Amazon will optimize economic, health and environmental indicators. This approach lays the groundwork for a more integrated narrative consistent with the economic history of the Brazilian Amazon.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudia T. Codeço
- Programa de Computação Científica, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Ana P. Dal'Asta
- Laboratório de Investigação em Sistemas Socioambientais, Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas Espaciais, Sao Jose dos Campos, Brazil
| | - Ana C. Rorato
- Laboratório de Investigação em Sistemas Socioambientais, Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas Espaciais, Sao Jose dos Campos, Brazil
- Centro de Ciência do Sistema Terrestre, Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas Espaciais, Sao Jose dos Campos, Brazil
| | - Raquel M. Lana
- Programa de Computação Científica, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Tatiana C. Neves
- Programa de Computação Científica, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Cecilia S. Andreazzi
- Laboratório de Biologia e Parasitologia de Mamíferos Silvestres Reservatórios, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Milton Barbosa
- Ecologia Evolutiva e Biodiversidade, DGEE, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Maria I. S. Escada
- Laboratório de Investigação em Sistemas Socioambientais, Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas Espaciais, Sao Jose dos Campos, Brazil
| | - Danilo A. Fernandes
- Instituto de Ciências Sociais Aplicadas e Núcleo de Altos Estudos Amazônicos, Universidade Federal do Pará, Belem, Brazil
| | - Danuzia L. Rodrigues
- Instituto de Estudos em Desenvolvimento Agrário e Regional, Universidade Federal do Sul e Sudeste do Pará, Maraba, Brazil
| | - Izabel C. Reis
- Laboratório de Mosquitos Transmissores de Hematozoários, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | | | - Alexandre B. Gontijo
- Laboratório de Produtos Florestais, Serviço Florestal Brasileiro, Brasília, Brazil
| | - Flavio C. Coelho
- Escola de Matemática Aplicada, Fundação Getúlio Vargas, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Antonio M. V. Monteiro
- Laboratório de Investigação em Sistemas Socioambientais, Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas Espaciais, Sao Jose dos Campos, Brazil
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Serra-Medeiros S, Ortega Z, Antunes PC, Miraglia Herrera H, Oliveira-Santos LGR. Space use and activity of capybaras in an urban area. J Mammal 2021. [DOI: 10.1093/jmammal/gyab005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Due to the rapid growth of urban environments, interactions between animals and humans in cities are increasingly common. Large mammals, such as capybaras (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris), provide benefits to people and biodiversity of urban areas, but can also result in conflicts, such as animal–vehicle collisions or disease transmission. As a consequence, understanding the space use of urban capybara, and the effect of human activity on capybaras, is conducive to the promotion of coexistence. We studied the home range and the role of human disturbance on activity and habitat selection of urban capybaras in the city of Campo Grande (Brazil). We monitored nine groups of capybaras living at four parks: two parks subjected to high human visitation on workdays and two on weekends. Home range of the urban capybaras in the study is larger than those reported in previous studies of wild capybaras. The capybaras under study presented a bimodal activity pattern, which was delayed on days of high human presence, increasing animals’ nocturnality. In addition, habitat selection was completely altered on days of high human presence, leading animals to increase avoidance of urban areas and reversing the selectivity patterns for forests, grasslands, and water bodies, that capybaras show on days with low human presence. Even when completely surrounded by an anthropic environment, our results indicate that a mosaic of grasslands near a water body and forested areas will allow capybaras to maintain daily activity and large home ranges. However, human presence significantly altered the daily activity patterns and habitat selection of capybara. Urban planners should account for these data to improve the coexistence of capybaras with humans and thereby minimize the potential for conflicts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samara Serra-Medeiros
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ecologia e Conservação, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso do Sul, Campo Grande, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil
| | - Zaida Ortega
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ecologia e Conservação, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso do Sul, Campo Grande, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil
- Department of Zoology, University of Granada, ZIP, Granada, Spain
| | - Pamela Castro Antunes
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ecologia e Conservação, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso do Sul, Campo Grande, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil
| | - Heitor Miraglia Herrera
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ecologia e Conservação, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso do Sul, Campo Grande, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil
- Department of Parasitology, Universidade Católica Dom Bosco, Campo Grande, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil
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Dantas-Torres F, Melo MF, Sales KGDS, Sousa-Paula LCD, da Silva FJ, Figueredo LA, Labruna MB. Seasonal dynamics and rickettsial infection in free-living Amblyomma dubitatum in the Atlantic forest biome in north-eastern Brazil. Acta Trop 2021; 217:105854. [PMID: 33561429 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2021.105854] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2020] [Revised: 01/30/2021] [Accepted: 02/02/2021] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
The genus Amblyomma is the most representative tick genus in Brazil and some species act as vectors of pathogenic organisms to animals and humans. Information on the seasonal dynamics of Amblyomma spp. as well as on rickettsial organisms infecting these ticks in some regions in Brazil is still fragmentary. Herein, we investigated the seasonal dynamics and rickettsial infections in Amblyomma dubitatum ticks collected in the Atlantic forest biome in north-eastern Brazil. Using carbon dioxide traps, ticks were collected monthly for two consecutive years. In total, 15,789 ticks were collected: 69 females (0.4%), 116 males (0.7%), 1,067 nymphs (6.8%), and 14,537 larvae (92.1%). All nymphs, females and males were identified as A. dubitatum, whereas larvae were identified as Amblyomma spp. Larvae were more frequent in summer (77% of the larvae collected), whereas nymphs were collected with similar frequency in summer (32.8%), autumn (30.0%) and spring (28.4%). Adults were more frequent in spring (47.6%). A total of 648 ticks (485 nymphs, 60 females, and 103 males) were tested by PCR for the gltA gene of Rickettsia spp. and 87 (13.4%; 95% CI: 10.9-16.3%) were positive. A consensus sequence (size, 350 bp) of 66 gltA gene sequences indicate that the organism detected herein is similar to Rickettsia tamurae, Rickettsia monacencis and Rickettsia sp. strain Pampulha. One of these positive samples was also positive for the ompA gene of spotted fever group rickettsiae, but attempts to sequence the amplicon were not successful. We also tested this sample by a PCR targeting the rickettsial htrA gene, but no amplification product could be detected. This study indicates that A. dubitatum may be a common tick in areas where capybaras are present in north-eastern Brazil, occurring during the whole year. It also suggests the circulation of a spotted fever group rickettsia in this A. dubitatum population, whose identity has yet to be determined.
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de Paula LGF, Zeringóta V, Sampaio ALN, Bezerra GP, Barreto ALG, Dos Santos AA, Miranda VC, Paula WVDF, Neves LC, Secchis MV, Alves SDGA, Sevá ADP, Borges LMF, Monteiro C, Dantas-Torres F, Krawczak FDS. Seasonal dynamics of Amblyomma sculptum in two areas of the Cerrado biome midwestern Brazil, where human cases of rickettsiosis have been reported. EXPERIMENTAL & APPLIED ACAROLOGY 2021; 84:215-225. [PMID: 33860867 DOI: 10.1007/s10493-021-00615-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2021] [Accepted: 04/08/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Amblyomma sculptum is a common human-biting tick in Brazil, where it plays an important role as a vector of Rickettsia rickettsii, the agent of the Brazilian spotted fever. Herein, we studied the seasonal dynamics of A. sculptum in an urban area of the Cerrado biome in midwestern Brazil, where human rickettsiosis is endemic. Ticks were collected in two sites located within the campus of Federal University of Goiás. The collections were done by dragging, flagging and visual search. In total, 117,685 ticks were collected, including 100,627 Amblyomma spp. larvae, 10,055 nymphs and 6977 adults of A. sculptum, and one nymph and 25 adults of Amblyomma dubitatum. The highest peak of larvae occurred in June 2018 and in July 2019, whereas nymphs peaked in July 2018 and September 2019. Adults reached their highest numbers in March 2018 and November 2019. These data suggest that A. sculptum develops one generation per year in this urban area of the Cerrado biome in midwestern Brazil. Interestingly, the peak of nymphs occurred during the same period of all confirmed cases of rickettsiosis in Goiás, suggesting a possible relationship between the seasonal dynamics of this tick stage and rickettsiosis transmission in this state.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luiza Gabriella Ferreira de Paula
- Post-graduation Program in Animal Science, Federal University of Goiás (UFG), Avenida Esperança, s/n, Campus Samambaia74.690-900, Goiânia, Goiás, Brazil
| | - Viviane Zeringóta
- Post-graduation Program in Animal Science, Federal University of Goiás (UFG), Avenida Esperança, s/n, Campus Samambaia74.690-900, Goiânia, Goiás, Brazil
| | - Aparecida Lorrany Nunes Sampaio
- Undergraduation in Veterinary Medicine at Federal, University of Goiás, Avenida Esperança, s/n, Campus Samambaia74.690-900, Goiânia, Goiás, Brazil
| | - Giovana Pereira Bezerra
- Undergraduation in Biological Science at Federal University of Goiás, Avenida Esperança, s/n, Campus Samambaia, Goiânia, Goiás, 74.690-900, Brazil
| | - Ana Laura Gonçalves Barreto
- Undergraduation in Veterinary Medicine at Federal, University of Goiás, Avenida Esperança, s/n, Campus Samambaia74.690-900, Goiânia, Goiás, Brazil
| | - Andreza Alves Dos Santos
- Undergraduation in Veterinary Medicine at Federal, University of Goiás, Avenida Esperança, s/n, Campus Samambaia74.690-900, Goiânia, Goiás, Brazil
| | - Vanessa Carvalho Miranda
- Undergraduation in Veterinary Medicine at Federal, University of Goiás, Avenida Esperança, s/n, Campus Samambaia74.690-900, Goiânia, Goiás, Brazil
| | - Warley Vieira de Freitas Paula
- Post-graduation Program in Animal Science, Federal University of Goiás (UFG), Avenida Esperança, s/n, Campus Samambaia74.690-900, Goiânia, Goiás, Brazil
| | - Lucianne Cardoso Neves
- Post-graduation Program in Animal Science, Federal University of Goiás (UFG), Avenida Esperança, s/n, Campus Samambaia74.690-900, Goiânia, Goiás, Brazil
| | - Mirna Vieira Secchis
- Post-graduation Program in Animal Science, Federal University of Goiás (UFG), Avenida Esperança, s/n, Campus Samambaia74.690-900, Goiânia, Goiás, Brazil
| | - Susy das Graças Alecrim Alves
- Undergraduation in Veterinary Medicine at Federal, University of Goiás, Avenida Esperança, s/n, Campus Samambaia74.690-900, Goiânia, Goiás, Brazil
| | - Anaiá da Paixão Sevá
- Department of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Santa Cruz State University (UESC), Rodovia Jorge Amado, km1645.662-900, Ilhéus, Bahia, Salobrinho, Brasil
| | - Lígia Miranda Ferreira Borges
- Post-graduation Program in Animal Science, Federal University of Goiás (UFG), Avenida Esperança, s/n, Campus Samambaia74.690-900, Goiânia, Goiás, Brazil
- Institute of Tropical Pathology and Public Health, Federal University of Goiás, Setor Universitário, Rua 235, s/n, Goiânia, Goiás, 74605-050, Brazil
| | - Caio Monteiro
- Post-graduation Program in Animal Science, Federal University of Goiás (UFG), Avenida Esperança, s/n, Campus Samambaia74.690-900, Goiânia, Goiás, Brazil
- Institute of Tropical Pathology and Public Health, Federal University of Goiás, Setor Universitário, Rua 235, s/n, Goiânia, Goiás, 74605-050, Brazil
| | - Filipe Dantas-Torres
- Department of Immunology, Aggeu Magalhães Institute - IAM, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (Fiocruz), Recife, PE, Brazil
| | - Felipe da Silva Krawczak
- Post-graduation Program in Animal Science, Federal University of Goiás (UFG), Avenida Esperança, s/n, Campus Samambaia74.690-900, Goiânia, Goiás, Brazil.
- Veterinary and Animal Science School at the Federal University of Goiás, Avenida Esperança, s/n, Campus Samambaia74.690-900, Goiânia, Goiás, Brazil.
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Silva-Ramos CR, Hidalgo M, Faccini-Martínez ÁA. Clinical, epidemiological, and laboratory features of Rickettsia parkeri rickettsiosis: A systematic review. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2021; 12:101734. [PMID: 33989945 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2021.101734] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2020] [Revised: 04/05/2021] [Accepted: 04/21/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Rickettsia parkeri rickettsiosis is recognized as the second most prevalent tick-borne disease caused by spotted fever group rickettsiae in the Americas, where two pathogenic strains (R. parkeri sensu stricto and R. parkeri strain Atlantic rainforest) have been related to human infections and transmitted by Amblyomma spp. ticks. We developed a systematic review that evaluated all available evidence in the literature regarding clinical, epidemiological, and laboratory features of R. parkeri rickettsiosis, including confirmed and probable cases. We followed the recommendations made by the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guide. We excluded papers that contained missing information of some variables and publications in which it was not possible to separate data for confirmed and probable cases. A total of 77 clinical cases (32 confirmed cases and 45 probable cases) were considered for this review. Overall, our results show that R. parkeri rickettsiosis is more frequent in males in the age group of 18-64 years and that a history of tick exposure was frequent (>90%). Cases were described in the United States, Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay and Colombia. Clinically, more than 60% of the cases had fever (mean of 93%), eschar (mean of 87%), and rash (mean of 68%). Headache and myalgia were predominant nonspecific symptoms (mean of 67% and 61%, respectively). Our results show that at least 60% of R. parkeri cases had altered laboratory parameters, most often showing an increase in transaminases and leukopenia. Tetracyclines-class antibiotics were used in most (>85%) of the patients. Overall, only 9% of cases required hospitalization and there was a 100% rate of clinical recovery in all of cases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlos Ramiro Silva-Ramos
- Grupo de Enfermedades Infecciosas, Departamento de Microbiología, Facultad de Ciencias, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Marylin Hidalgo
- Grupo de Enfermedades Infecciosas, Departamento de Microbiología, Facultad de Ciencias, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Álvaro A Faccini-Martínez
- Department of Pathology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA; Committee of Tropical Medicine, Zoonoses and Travel Medicine, Asociación Colombiana de Infectología, Bogotá, Colombia.
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da Costa IN, de Abreu Rangel Aguirre A, de Paulo PFM, de Souza Rodrigues MM, da Silva Rodrigues V, Suzin A, Szabó MPJ, Andreotti R, Medeiros JF, Garcia MV. Diversity of free-living ticks and serological evidence of spotted fever group Rickettsia and ticks associated to dogs, Porto Velho, Western Amazon, Brazil. EXPERIMENTAL & APPLIED ACAROLOGY 2021; 83:555-573. [PMID: 33779896 DOI: 10.1007/s10493-021-00604-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2020] [Accepted: 03/01/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Rondônia is the only state in the North Region of Brazil to have registered confirmed cases of Brazilian Spotted Fever (BSF). The present study investigated the epidemiological cycle of Rickettsia spp. by surveying free-living ixodofauna and tick parasitism of dogs in the municipality of Porto Velho, Rondônia State. Ticks and dogs were tested for the presence of Rickettsia spp. DNA and dog serum was tested for reactivity to anti-Rickettsia spp. antibodies. Tick collection and dog blood sampling were performed in peri-urban and rural environments at 11 locations. Eight free-living Amblyomma species and one Haemaphysalis species were collected: A. scalpturatum, A. naponense, A. oblongoguttatum, A. coelebs, A. latepunctatum, A. pacae, A. ovale, Amblyomma sp., and H. juxtakochi. Three tick species were found parasitizing dogs: Rhipicephalus sanguineus sensu lato, A. oblongoguttatum and A. ovale. Molecular analysis did not identify the presence of the gltA gene fragment in any tick specimen. Results from an indirect immunofluorescent assay (IFA) showed that 20.8% of peri-urban and 15.4% of rural dog sera exhibited reactivity to Rickettsia rhipicephali, Rickettsia amblyommatis, Rickettsia bellii and Rickettsia parkeri antigens. Antibody prevalence in dogs was 16.4%. This study is the first to describe the prevalence of Rickettsia spp. infection in dogs from Porto Velho municipality. Our findings enhance current knowledge of Rickettsia spp. circulation in the Western Amazon.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ivaneide Nunes da Costa
- Laboratório de Entomologia, Fiocruz Rondônia, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Porto Velho, RO, Brazil
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biologia Experimental, Universidade Federal de Rondônia, Porto Velho, RO, Brazil
| | | | | | | | - Vinícius da Silva Rodrigues
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Imunologia e Parasitologia Aplicadas-Universidade Federal de Uberlândia, Uberlândia, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Adriane Suzin
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Imunologia e Parasitologia Aplicadas-Universidade Federal de Uberlândia, Uberlândia, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Matías Pablo Juan Szabó
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Imunologia e Parasitologia Aplicadas-Universidade Federal de Uberlândia, Uberlândia, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Renato Andreotti
- Laboratórios de Biologia e Biologia Molecular do Carrapato, Embrapa Gado de Corte, Campo Grande, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil
| | | | - Marcos Valério Garcia
- Bolsista Fundapam/Laboratório de Biologia do Carrapato, Embrapa Gado de Corte, Campo Grande, MS, Brazil
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Vilges de Oliveira S, Faccini-Martínez ÁA, Adelino TER, de Lima Duré AÍ, Barbieri ARM, Labruna MB. Needlestick-Associated Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, Brazil. Emerg Infect Dis 2021; 26:815-816. [PMID: 32187008 PMCID: PMC7101093 DOI: 10.3201/eid2604.191251] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
We report a fatal case of Rocky Mountain spotted fever (RMSF) in a man in Brazil without recent history of tick bites or environmental exposure. He received an accidental needlestick while working as a nurse. The nurse and his patient died. Both cases were confirmed as RMSF by molecular methods.
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Isolate-Dependent Differences in Clinical, Pathological, and Transcriptional Profiles following In Vitro and In Vivo Infections with Rickettsia rickettsii. Infect Immun 2021; 89:IAI.00626-20. [PMID: 33495273 PMCID: PMC8090960 DOI: 10.1128/iai.00626-20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2020] [Accepted: 12/23/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Rickettsia rickettsii, the etiological agent of Rocky Mountain spotted fever (RMSF), a life-threatening tick-borne disease that affects humans and various animal species, has been recognized in medicine and science for more than 100 years. Isolate-dependent differences in virulence of R. rickettsii have been documented for many decades; nonetheless, the specific genetic and phenotypic factors responsible for these differences have not been characterized. Rickettsia rickettsii, the etiological agent of Rocky Mountain spotted fever (RMSF), a life-threatening tick-borne disease that affects humans and various animal species, has been recognized in medicine and science for more than 100 years. Isolate-dependent differences in virulence of R. rickettsii have been documented for many decades; nonetheless, the specific genetic and phenotypic factors responsible for these differences have not been characterized. Using in vivo and in vitro methods, we identified multiple phenotypic differences among six geographically distinct isolates of R. rickettsii, representing isolates from the United States, Costa Rica, and Brazil. Aggregate phenotypic data, derived from growth in Vero E6 cells and from clinical and pathological characteristics following infection of male guinea pigs (Cavia porcellus), allowed separation of these isolates into three categories: nonvirulent (Iowa), mildly virulent (Sawtooth and Gila), and highly virulent (Sheila SmithT, Costa Rica, and Taiaçu). Transcriptional profiles of 11 recognized or putative virulence factors confirmed the isolate-dependent differences between mildly and highly virulent isolates. These data corroborate previous qualitative assessments of strain virulence and suggest further that a critical and previously underappreciated balance between bacterial growth and host immune response could leverage strain pathogenicity. Also, this work provides insight into isolate-specific microbiological factors that contribute to the outcome of RMSF and confirms the hypothesis that distinct rickettsial isolates also differ phenotypically, which could influence the severity of disease in vertebrate hosts.
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Durães LS, Bitencourth K, Ramalho FR, Nogueira MC, Nunes EDC, Gazêta GS. Biodiversity of Potential Vectors of Rickettsiae and Epidemiological Mosaic of Spotted Fever in the State of Paraná, Brazil. Front Public Health 2021; 9:577789. [PMID: 33777873 PMCID: PMC7994328 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2021.577789] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2020] [Accepted: 02/09/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Spotted Fever Rickettsioses (SFR) are diseases caused by bacteria of the genus Rickettsia, and are transmitted mainly by ticks. Its eco-epidemiological scenarios vary spatially, and may also vary over time due to environmental changes. It is the main disease transmitted by ticks to humans in Brazil, with the state of Paraná (PR) having the sixth highest number of notified incidences in the country. However, information is lacking regarding the SFR disease cycles at likely infection sites within PR. During case investigations or environmental surveillance in PR for SFR, 28,517 arthropods were collected, including species known or potentially involved in the SFR cycles, such as Amblyomma sculptum, Amblyomma aureolatum, Amblyomma ovale, Amblyomma dubitatum, Amblyomma parkeri, Ctenocephalides felis felis, and Rhipicephalus sanguineus sensu lato. From these Rickettsia asembonensis, Rickettsia bellii, Rickettsia felis, Rickettsia parkeri strain Atlantic Rainforest and Candidatus Rickettsia paranaensis were detected. Ectoparasite abundance was found to be related with specific hosts and collection environments. Rickettsiae circulation was observed for 48 municipalities, encompassing 16 Health Regions (HR). As for socio-demographic and assistance indicators, circulation occurred largely in the most urbanized HR, with a higher per capita Gross Domestic Product, lower Family Health Strategy coverage, and with a higher ratio of beds in the Unified Health System per thousand inhabitants. For environmental variables, circulation occurred predominantly in HR with a climatic classified as “subtropical with hot summers” (Cfa), and with forest type phytogeographic formations. In terms of land use, circulation was commonest in areas with agriculture, pasture and fields and forest cover. Rickettsiae were circulating in almost all hydrographic basins of PR state. The results of this study provide the first descriptive recognition of SFR in PR, as well as outlining its eco-epidemiological dynamics. These proved to be quite heterogeneous, and analyzed scenarios showed characteristics strongly-associated with the outbreaks, with cases presenting clinical variation in space, so illustrating the complexity of scenarios in PR state. Due to the diversity of the circumstances surrounding SFR infections in PR, public health initiatives are necessary to foster a better understanding of the dynamics and factors effecting vulnerability to SFR in this Brazilian state.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liliane Silva Durães
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biodiversidade e Conservação da Natureza, Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora, Juiz de Fora, Brazil.,Laboratório de Referência Nacional em Vetores das Riquetsioses- Secretaria de Vigilância em Saúde/Ministério da Saúde, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz/Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Karla Bitencourth
- Laboratório de Referência Nacional em Vetores das Riquetsioses- Secretaria de Vigilância em Saúde/Ministério da Saúde, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz/Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Frederico Rodrigues Ramalho
- Laboratório de Referência Nacional em Vetores das Riquetsioses- Secretaria de Vigilância em Saúde/Ministério da Saúde, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz/Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Mário Círio Nogueira
- Departamento de Saúde Coletiva, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora, Juiz de Fora, Brazil
| | - Emília de Carvalho Nunes
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biodiversidade e Conservação da Natureza, Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora, Juiz de Fora, Brazil.,Laboratório de Referência Nacional em Vetores das Riquetsioses- Secretaria de Vigilância em Saúde/Ministério da Saúde, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz/Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Gilberto Salles Gazêta
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biodiversidade e Conservação da Natureza, Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora, Juiz de Fora, Brazil.,Laboratório de Referência Nacional em Vetores das Riquetsioses- Secretaria de Vigilância em Saúde/Ministério da Saúde, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz/Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
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Faccini-Martínez ÁA, Krawczak FDS, Oliveira SVD, Labruna MB, Angerami RN. Rickettsioses in Brazil: distinct diseases and new paradigms for epidemiological surveillance. Rev Soc Bras Med Trop 2021; 54:e07322020. [PMID: 33605381 PMCID: PMC7891565 DOI: 10.1590/0037-8682-0732-2020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2020] [Accepted: 11/24/2020] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Álvaro A Faccini-Martínez
- Asociación Colombiana de Infectología, Committee of Tropical Medicine, Zoonoses and Travel Medicine, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Felipe da Silva Krawczak
- Universidade Federal de Goiás, Escola de Veterinária e Zootecnia, Setor de Medicina Veterinária Preventiva, Goiânia, GO, Brasil
| | - Stefan Vilges de Oliveira
- Universidade Federal de Uberlândia, Faculdade de Medicina, Departamento de Saúde Coletiva, Uberlândia, MG, Brasil
| | - Marcelo Bahia Labruna
- Universidade de São Paulo, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, Departamento de Medicina Veterinária Preventiva e Saúde Animal, São Paulo, SP, Brasil
| | - Rodrigo Nogueira Angerami
- Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Hospital de Clínicas, Seção de Epidemiologia Hospitalar, Campinas, SP, Brasil
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Records of ticks (Acari: Ixodidae) on humans and distribution of spotted-fever cases and its tick vectors in Paraná State, southern Brazil. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2020; 11:101510. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2020.101510] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2019] [Revised: 05/15/2020] [Accepted: 07/07/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
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Abstract
Over the last decades, rickettsioses are emerging worldwide. These diseases are caused by intracellular bacteria. Although rickettsioses can be treated with antibiotics, a vaccine against rickettsiae is highly desired for several reasons. Rickettsioses are highly prevalent, especially in poor countries, and there are indications of the development of antibiotic resistance. In addition, some rickettsiae can persist and cause recurrent disease. The development of a vaccine requires the understanding of the immune mechanisms that are involved in protection as well as in immunopathology. Knowledge about these immune responses is accumulating, and efforts have been undertaken to identify antigenic components of rickettsiae that may be useful as a vaccine. This review provides an overview on current knowledge of adaptive immunity against rickettsiae, which is essential for defense, rickettsial antigens that have been identified so far, and on vaccination strategies that have been used in animal models of rickettsial infections.
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40
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Campos SDE, Cunha NCD, Machado CDSC, Telleria EL, Cordeiro MD, Fonseca AHD, Toma HK, Santos JPCD, Almosny NRP. Rickettsial pathogens circulating in urban districts of Rio de Janeiro, without report of human Brazilian Spotted Fever. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2020; 29:e014220. [PMID: 33111845 DOI: 10.1590/s1984-29612020082] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2020] [Accepted: 07/28/2020] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Spotted fever group rickettsioses are emerging diseases. In some of these diseases, domestic dogs act as sentinels. Canine serological studies have demonstrated that rickettsial dispersion is concentrated in rural areas, seroprevalence being higher where human rickettsioses are endemic. In Rio de Janeiro, the Atlantic forest vegetation has been devastated by urbanization. In this context, we aimed to detect Rickettsia spp. in urban areas of the West Zone of Rio de Janeiro. Sera from 130 dogs were tested by Indirect Immunofluorescence Assay, and ticks collected from these dogs were tested by polymerase chain reaction. We found the rate of serological reactions against R. rickettsii and R. parkeri in our study area to exceed those of rural and non-endemic areas, highlighting the importance of dogs as urban sentinels. The possibility of contact with opossums and capybaras increased the chances of exposure to Rickettsia spp., reinforcing the hypothetical link between the landscape and the rickettsial wild cycle. Rhipicephalus sanguineus sensu lato was the tick most frequently observed. PCR-positive samples showed similarity with R. rickettsii and R. felis, an emerging pathogen rarely reported from ticks. We observed that rickettsiae circulate in urban places and ticks from indoor environments, which may be involved in bacterial epidemiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sabrina Destri Emmerick Campos
- Pós-graduação em Medicina Veterinária, Clínica e Reprodução Animal, Faculdade de Veterinária, Universidade Federal Fluminense - UFF, Niterói, RJ, Brasil
| | - Nathalie Costa da Cunha
- Departamento de Saúde Coletiva Veterinária e Saúde Pública, Faculdade de Veterinária, Universidade Federal Fluminense - UFF, Niterói, RJ, Brasil
| | - Camila de Souza Cerqueira Machado
- Pós-graduação em Medicina Veterinária, Clínica e Reprodução Animal, Faculdade de Veterinária, Universidade Federal Fluminense - UFF, Niterói, RJ, Brasil
| | - Erich Loza Telleria
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Vinicna, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Matheus Dias Cordeiro
- Departamento de Epidemiologia e Saúde Pública, Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro - UFRRJ, Seropédica, RJ, Brasil
| | - Adivaldo Henrique da Fonseca
- Departamento de Epidemiologia e Saúde Pública, Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro - UFRRJ, Seropédica, RJ, Brasil
| | - Helena Keiko Toma
- Centro de Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro - UFRJ, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil
| | | | - Nádia Regina Pereira Almosny
- Pós-graduação em Medicina Veterinária, Clínica e Reprodução Animal, Faculdade de Veterinária, Universidade Federal Fluminense - UFF, Niterói, RJ, Brasil
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41
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Bragagnollo GR, de Camargo RAA, Guimarães MDN, dos Santos TS, Monteiro ELM, Ferreira BR. Development and validation of an interactive educational technology on spotted fever. Rev Lat Am Enfermagem 2020; 28:e3375. [PMID: 33027405 PMCID: PMC7529451 DOI: 10.1590/1518-8345.3678.3375] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2019] [Accepted: 06/13/2020] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE to develop and validate an interactive educational technology on spotted fever, to offer an innovative teaching method. METHOD a methodological study that covered the following stages: analysis and diagnosis; instructional planning, didactic design, review, and validation and production of technology. RESULTS the analysis and diagnosis were obtained from experiences in education and health activities for spotted fever. In the instructional planning, it was defined that the technology would be presented in the form of an Interactive Laboratory, with learning stations. The production of the Laboratory was carried out by a multidisciplinary team made up of a carpenter, an electrician, and a plastic artist, among others. The review and validation process was subdivided into two stages: appearance and content validation by professionals in the fields of biology, and education and semantic validation by students of the Nursing and Pedagogy courses. The results of the appearance and content validation showed a content validity index over 0.8 for the vast majority of the variables. In the semantic validation, the Laboratory was evaluated positively by the students. CONCLUSION the trajectory followed for the construction of the Interactive Laboratory on spotted fever gave academic and scientific support to the product, offering an innovative educational resource with pedagogical potential that values significant learning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriela Rodrigues Bragagnollo
- Universidade de São Paulo, Escola de Enfermagem de Ribeirão Preto,
PAHO/WHO Collaborating Centre for Nursing Research Development, Ribeirão Preto, SP,
Brazil
- Scholarship holder at the Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de
São Paulo (FAPESP), Brazil
| | - Rosangela Andrade Aukar de Camargo
- Universidade de São Paulo, Escola de Enfermagem de Ribeirão Preto,
PAHO/WHO Collaborating Centre for Nursing Research Development, Ribeirão Preto, SP,
Brazil
| | | | | | | | - Beatriz Rossetti Ferreira
- Universidade de São Paulo, Escola de Enfermagem de Ribeirão Preto,
PAHO/WHO Collaborating Centre for Nursing Research Development, Ribeirão Preto, SP,
Brazil
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42
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Natividade UA, Pimenta AP, Cezar RSM, Pereira MH, Gontijo NF, Sant'Anna MRV, Pessoa GD, Koerich LB, Araujo RN. Locomotion activity and its effects on the survival of Amblyomma sculptum (Acari: Ixodidae) nymphs under laboratory conditions. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2020; 12:101562. [PMID: 33011439 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2020.101562] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2020] [Revised: 08/31/2020] [Accepted: 08/31/2020] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
The active locomotion of ticks is directly associated with the epidemiology of tick-borne diseases, as it has important implications for the interaction of ticks with their hosts and their dispersion in the environment. In an attempt to elucidate the factors involved in the dispersion of Amblyomma sculptum, the present work aimed to characterize different aspects of the active locomotion of A. sculptum nymphs under laboratory conditions. To this end, nymphs were placed on a string at a 70° inclination and their walking activity was recorded daily along with their survival period. During their lifetime, ticks walked an average of 110 m. Their locomotion was not in a straight line and nymphs changed direction 142 times throughout their lifetimes. The mean distance walked per experimental day was 1.8 m, while the average walking distance before changing direction was 52 cm. The distance walked per experimental day reduced over time. The survival of ticks was affected by walking; resting nymphs survived for over 6 months, while the survival of those that walked daily was reduced to approximately 62 days. The results showed that A. sculptum nymphs were able to cover distances of over 100 m throughout their lifetimes, but they walked short distances at a time and constantly changed direction. This behavior indicates that ticks are not able to disperse over long distances by means of active locomotion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ulisses A Natividade
- Physiology of Hematophagous Insects Laboratory, Parasitology Department, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
| | - Angelita P Pimenta
- Physiology of Hematophagous Insects Laboratory, Parasitology Department, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
| | - Rodolfo S M Cezar
- Physiology of Hematophagous Insects Laboratory, Parasitology Department, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
| | - Marcos H Pereira
- Physiology of Hematophagous Insects Laboratory, Parasitology Department, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil; Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia em Entomologia Molecular, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Nelder F Gontijo
- Physiology of Hematophagous Insects Laboratory, Parasitology Department, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil; Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia em Entomologia Molecular, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Mauricio R V Sant'Anna
- Physiology of Hematophagous Insects Laboratory, Parasitology Department, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil; Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia em Entomologia Molecular, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Grasielle D Pessoa
- Physiology of Hematophagous Insects Laboratory, Parasitology Department, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
| | - Leonardo B Koerich
- Physiology of Hematophagous Insects Laboratory, Parasitology Department, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
| | - Ricardo N Araujo
- Physiology of Hematophagous Insects Laboratory, Parasitology Department, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil; Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia em Entomologia Molecular, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.
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Ribeiro CM, Costa VM, Carvalho JLB, Mendes RG, Bastos PADS, Katagiri S, Amaku M. Brazilian spotted fever: A spatial analysis of human cases and vectors in the state of São Paulo, Brazil. Zoonoses Public Health 2020; 67:629-636. [DOI: 10.1111/zph.12742] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2019] [Revised: 04/19/2020] [Accepted: 05/18/2020] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Satie Katagiri
- Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso Barra do Garças Brazil
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Romer Y, Borrás P, Govedic F, Nava S, Carranza JI, Santini S, Armitano R, Lloveras S. Clinical and epidemiological comparison of Rickettsia parkeri rickettsiosis, related to Amblyomma triste and Amblyomma tigrinum, in Argentina. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2020; 11:101436. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2020.101436] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2019] [Revised: 03/05/2020] [Accepted: 03/27/2020] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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Mapping Brazilian spotted fever: Linking etiological agent, vectors, and hosts. Acta Trop 2020; 207:105496. [PMID: 32315604 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2020.105496] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2020] [Revised: 04/11/2020] [Accepted: 04/11/2020] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
Brazilian spotted fever (BSF) is a highly lethal disease in southeastern Brazil. BSF is caused by the bacterium Rickettsia rickettsii and is transmitted by the bites of the tick of the genus Amblyomma. The spatial distribution of BSF risk areas is not well known in the country given the complexity of the transmission cycle. This study used the ecological niche modeling (ENM) approach to anticipate the potential distribution of the etiological agent (Rickettsia rickettsii), vectors (Amblyomma sculptum and A. dubitatum), and hosts (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris, Didelphis aurita, and D. marsupialis) of BSF in Brazil. We compiled occurrence records for all vectors, hosts, and BSF from our own field surveillance, online repositories, and literature. ENM identified BSF risk areas in southeastern and southern Brazil, and anticipated other dispersed suitable areas in the western, central, and northeastern coast regions of Brazil. Tick vectors and mammalian hosts were confined to these same areas; however, host species showed broader suitability in northern Brazil. All species ENMs performed significantly better than random expectations. We also tested the BSF prediction based on 253 additional independent cases identified in our surveillance; the model anticipated 251 out of 253 of these independent cases. Background similarity tests comparing the ENMs of R. rickettsii, tick vectors, and mammalian hosts were unable to reject null hypotheses of niche similarity. Finally, we observed close coincidence between independent BSF cases, and areas suitable for combinations of vectors and hosts, reflecting the ability of these model pairs to anticipate the distribution of BSF cases across Brazil.
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Devamani CS, Schmidt WP, Ariyoshi K, Anitha A, Kalaimani S, Prakash JAJ. Risk Factors for Scrub Typhus, Murine Typhus, and Spotted Fever Seropositivity in Urban Areas, Rural Plains, and Peri-Forest Hill Villages in South India: A Cross-Sectional Study. Am J Trop Med Hyg 2020; 103:238-248. [PMID: 32458785 PMCID: PMC7356468 DOI: 10.4269/ajtmh.19-0642] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Scrub typhus and spotted fever group rickettsioses are thought to be common causes of febrile illness in India, whereas they rarely test for murine typhus. This cross-sectional study explored the risk factors associated with scrub typhus, tick-borne spotted fever, and murine typhus seropositivity in three different geographical settings, urban, rural, and hill villages in Tamil Nadu, South India. We enrolled 1,353 participants living in 48 clusters. The study included a questionnaire survey and blood sampling. Blood was tested for Orientia tsutsugamushi (scrub typhus), Rickettsia typhi (murine typhus), and spotted fever group Rickettsia IgG using ELISA. The seroprevalence of scrub typhus, spotted fever, and murine typhus were 20.4%, 10.4%, and 5.4%, respectively. Scrub typhus had the highest prevalence in rural areas (28.1%), and spotted fever was most common in peri-forested areas (14.9%). Murine typhus was more common in rural (8.7%) than urban areas (5.4%) and absent in peri-forested hill areas. Agricultural workers had a higher relative risk for scrub typhus, especially in urban areas. For murine typhus, proximity to a waterbody and owning a dog were found to be major risk factors. The main risk factors for spotted fever were agricultural work and living in proximity to a forest. Urban, rural plains, and hill settings display distinct epidemiological pattern of Orientia and rickettsial infections. Although scrub typhus and spotted fever were associated with known risk factors in this study, the findings suggest a different ecology of murine typhus transmission compared with other studies conducted in Asia.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Wolf-Peter Schmidt
- Department for Disease Control, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Koya Ariyoshi
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki, Japan
| | - Arumugam Anitha
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, Christian Medical College, Vellore, India
| | - Saravanan Kalaimani
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, Christian Medical College, Vellore, India
| | - John A J Prakash
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, Christian Medical College, Vellore, India
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Capybaras (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris) as amplifying hosts of Rickettsia rickettsii to Amblyomma sculptum ticks: Evaluation during primary and subsequent exposures to R. rickettsii infection. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2020; 11:101463. [PMID: 32723630 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2020.101463] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2020] [Revised: 04/10/2020] [Accepted: 05/01/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Rickettsia rickettsii is the agent of Brazilian spotted fever (BSF), the most lethal tick-borne disease in the western hemisphere. Amblyomma sculptum is the main vector of R. rickettsii in southeastern Brazil. Capybaras act as primary hosts for this tick species, and as amplifying hosts for R. rickettsii, creating new infected lineages of A. sculptum in BSF-endemic areas. In a recent study, we demonstrated that capybaras successively exposed to R. rickettsii-infected A. sculptum ticks developed a mean rickettsemic period of 9.2 days during primary infection, but no rickettsemia during subsequent expositions, when capybaras were immune to R. rickettsii. During the primary and subsequent infections, capybaras were also infested with uninfected A. sculptum ticks. These infestations compose the present study, which aimed to evaluate: (i) if either rickettsemic or non-rickettsemic capybaras could serve as infection sources of R. rickettsii for A. sculptum larvae and nymphs; (ii) the vector competence of the subsequent nymphs and adults (molted from the engorged ticks collected from capybaras); and (iii) if there were R. rickettsii-acquisition by uninfected ticks co-feeding with infected ticks on immune capybaras (without rickettsemia). Through experimental infection of capybaras with R. rickettsii via tick feeding, simulating a natural condition, we demonstrated that primarily infected capybaras developed rickettsemia that resulted in successful acquisition feeding of larvae and nymphs of A. sculptum, since part of these ticks maintained R. rickettsii transstadially, and the resultant molted ticks (either nymphs or adults) successfully transmitted the bacterium by feeding on susceptible rabbits. Contrastingly, all rabbit infestations with ticks derived from acquisition feeding on R. rickettsii-immune capybaras (including when acquisition ticks fed in direct contact with donor ticks) evidenced absence of R. rickettsii transmission due to lack of clinical signs and antibody response in those rabbits. Our results indicate that capybaras could serve as R. rickettsii-amplifying hosts for A. sculptum ticks only during the capybara's primary infection, but not during subsequent infections on immune capybaras. Finally, the probable co-feeding nonsystemic transmission of R. rickettsii seems to be irrelevant in the context of BSF epidemiology, in areas where capybaras are incriminated as main amplifying hosts of R. rickettsii for A. sculptum ticks.
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Borsoi ABP, Bitencourth K, de Oliveira SV, Amorim M, Gazêta GS. Human Parasitism by Amblyomma parkeri Ticks Infected with Candidatus Rickettsia paranaensis, Brazil. Emerg Infect Dis 2020; 25:2339-2341. [PMID: 31742531 PMCID: PMC6874247 DOI: 10.3201/eid2512.190988] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Spotted fever is the main rickettsial disease in Brazil. We report 12 cases of human parasitism by Amblyomma parkeri in the Atlantic rainforest, an area of Brazil to which spotted fever is endemic. Nine of the ticks were infected with Candidatus Rickettsia paranaensis.
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49
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Campos SDE, Cunha NCD, Machado CDSC, Nadal NV, Seabra Junior ES, Telleria EL, Cordeiro MD, Toma HK, Almosny NRP. Spotted fever group rickettsial infection in dogs and their ticks from domestic-wildlife interface areas in southeastern Brazil. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2020; 29:e020219. [PMID: 32267390 DOI: 10.1590/s1984-29612020012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2019] [Accepted: 01/31/2020] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Rickettsia rickettsii is the causative agent of Brazilian spotted fever (BSF), for which humans and dogs are both susceptible. Dogs are sentinels in serological surveys, however, canine disease is rarely reported. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate natural infection by spotted fever group (SFG) Rickettsia spp. in dogs and ticks collected from domiciles close to forest fragments, featuring domestic-wildlife interface areas. Samples from 115 dogs and 135 ixodids were assessed by polymerase chain reactions (PCR) targeting the gltA gene for Rickettsia spp. and the ompA gene for the SFG rickettsial species. One dog (0.87%; 1/115) was positive for R. rickettsii. This dog presented nonspecific laboratory and clinical abnormalities (thrombocytopenia, hyperproteinemia, lymph node enlargement, emaciation, anorexia, and lethargy). Rickettsia parkeri was identified in 2.96% (4/135) of the ticks (Amblyomma sculptum, A. aureolatum, and Rhipicephalus sanguineus). This study confirmed the presence of SFG bacteria in non-endemic and preserved locations, where domestic and wild populations interact. We reinforce the fact that the dog is susceptible to natural R. rickettsii infection. Although this is a rare finding, preventive measures should be taken against BSF in the studied areas. Finally, R. parkeri infection is possibly being demonstrated in A. sculptum for the first time.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Niara Vanat Nadal
- Faculdade de Veterinária, Universidade Federal Fluminense - UFF, Niterói, RJ, Brasil
| | | | - Erich Loza Telleria
- Laboratório de Biologia Molecular de Parasitos e Vetores, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz - FIOCRUZ, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil.,Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Vinicna, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Matheus Dias Cordeiro
- Departamento de Epidemiologia e Saúde Pública, Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro - UFRRJ, Seropédica, RJ, Brasil
| | - Helena Keiko Toma
- Centro de Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro - UFRRJ, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil
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COYOTES (CANIS LATRANS) IN ARIZONA, USA, EXHIBIT IMMUNE AND GENETIC EVIDENCE OF RICKETTSIAL INFECTIONS. J Wildl Dis 2020. [DOI: 10.7589/2019-01-012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
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