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de Almeida RFC, Garcia MV, Cunha RC, Matias J, e Silva EA, de Fatima Cepa Matos M, Andreotti R. Ixodid fauna and zoonotic agents in ticks from dogs: first report of Rickettsia rickettsii in Rhipicephalus sanguineus in the state of Mato Grosso do Sul, mid-western Brazil. EXPERIMENTAL & APPLIED ACAROLOGY 2013; 60:63-72. [PMID: 23229491 DOI: 10.1007/s10493-012-9641-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2012] [Accepted: 11/29/2012] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
Ticks from 148 dogs from the urban area of the municipality of Campo Grande, state of Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil, were collected, classified and analyzed using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for the identification of Rickettsia spp., Trypanosoma cruzi and Leishmania spp. A total of 2015 ticks were collected. The species Rhipicephalus sanguineus (98.9 %) and Amblyomma cajennense (1.1 %) were identified. Molecular analysis revealed that no tick samples were infected by T. cruzi. Regarding Leishmania spp., tick samples from 36 dogs spread across all regions of the municipality were positive for L. chagasi. One tick sample was positive for Rickettsia spp. (gltA gene) in the PCR reaction. This sample was submitted to further PCR based on the ompA gene and the amplicon was sequenced. Identity of 100 % was found with homologous sequences of R. rickettsii available in GenBank. This paper is the first to report the natural infection of R. sanguineus by R. rickettsii in the municipality of Campo Grande, state of Mato Grosso do Sul, mid-western Brazil.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robson Ferreira Cavalcante de Almeida
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Doenças Infecciosas e Parasitárias, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso do Sul, Campo Grande, MS, Brazil
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Medeiros AP, Souza APD, Moura ABD, Lavina MS, Bellato V, Sartor AA, Nieri-Bastos FA, Richtzenhain LJ, Labruna MB. Spotted fever group Rickettsia infecting ticks (Acari: Ixodidae) in the state of Santa Catarina, Brazil. Mem Inst Oswaldo Cruz 2011; 106:926-30. [DOI: 10.1590/s0074-02762011000800005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2011] [Accepted: 09/12/2011] [Indexed: 03/29/2023] Open
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Toledo RS, Tamekuni K, Silva Filho MDF, Haydu VB, Pacheco RC, Labruna MB, Dumler JS, Vidotto O. Study of infection by Rickettsiae of the spotted fever group in humans and ticks in an urban park located in the City of Londrina, State of Paraná, Brazil. Rev Soc Bras Med Trop 2011; 44:313-7. [DOI: 10.1590/s0037-86822011005000037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Spotted fevers are emerging zoonoses caused by Rickettsia species in the spotted fever group (SFG). Rickettsia rickettsii is the main etiologic agent of Brazilian spotted fever (BSF) and it is transmitted by Amblyomma spp. ticks. METHODS: The study aimed to investigate SFG rickettsiae in the Arthur Thomas Municipal Park in Londrina, PR, by collecting free-living ticks and ticks from capybaras and blood samples from personnel working in these areas. Samples from A. dubitatum and A. cajennense were submitted for PCR in pools to analyze the Rickettsia spp. gltA (citrate synthase gene). RESULTS: All the pools analyzed were negative. Human sera were tested by indirect immunofluorescence assay with R. rickettsii and R. parkeri as antigens. Among the 34 sera analyzed, seven (20.6%) were reactive for R. rickettsii: four of these had endpoint titers equal to 64, 2 titers were 128 and 1 titer was 256. None of the samples were reactive for R. parkeri. An epidemiological questionnaire was applied to the park staff, but no statistically significant associations were identified. CONCLUSIONS: The serological studies suggest the presence of Rickettsiae related to SFG that could be infecting the human population studied; however, analysis of the ticks collected was unable to determine which species may be involved in transmission to humans.
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Pacheco RC, Moraes-Filho J, Guedes E, Silveira I, Richtzenhain LJ, Leite RC, Labruna MB. Rickettsial infections of dogs, horses and ticks in Juiz de Fora, southeastern Brazil, and isolation of Rickettsia rickettsii from Rhipicephalus sanguineus ticks. MEDICAL AND VETERINARY ENTOMOLOGY 2011; 25:148-155. [PMID: 20950356 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2915.2010.00915.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
Abstract
The present study was performed in an area endemic for Brazilian spotted fever (BSF) in Juiz de Fora, state of Minas Gerais, Brazil, during the years 2007 and 2008, when fatal cases of BSF (caused by Rickettsia rickettsii) were reported. Adult ticks (Acari: Ixodidae) identified as Rhipicephalus sanguineus (Latreille) and Amblyomma cajennense (Fabricius) were collected from dogs and horses, respectively, and tested by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Overall, 13.1% of the Rh. sanguineus ticks and none of the A. cajennense were found to be infected with R. rickettsii. Two isolates of R. rickettsii were successfully established in Vero cell culture from two Rh. sanguineus ticks. An indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFA) using R. rickettsii antigens detected blood serological reaction to R. rickettsii in 67.9% (53/78) of dogs and 41.0% (16/39) of horses living in the study area. Larval offspring from two Rh. sanguineus engorged females, naturally infected by R. rickettsii, were reared to adult stage in the laboratory. All active stages (larvae, nymphs, adults) remained 100% infected by R. rickettsii, which was efficiently transmitted to naïve rabbits. Overall, the results of the present study indicate a potential risk for transmission of R. rickettsii to humans by Rh. sanguineus, an occurrence yet to be documented in Brazil.
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Affiliation(s)
- R C Pacheco
- Department of Basic Sciences and Animal Production, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Federal University of Mato Grosso, Cuiabá, MT, Brazil
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Toledo RS, Tamekuni K, Filho MFS, Haydu VB, Barbieri ARM, Hiltel AC, Pacheco RC, Labruna MB, Dumler JS, Vidotto O. Infection by spotted fever rickettsiae in people, dogs, horses and ticks in Londrina, Parana State, Brazil. Zoonoses Public Health 2011; 58:416-23. [PMID: 21824336 DOI: 10.1111/j.1863-2378.2010.01382.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Spotted fever is a disease caused by bacteria from the genus Rickettsia of the spotted fever group (SFG). Rickettsia rickettsii is likely the main agent of Brazilian spotted fever (BSF). With the objective of gathering information on the circulation of SFG rickettsiae in Londrina, Parana state, ticks from dogs and horses and also blood from dogs, horses and humans were collected in a neighbourhood of the city which presented potential for circulation of rickettsiae between hosts and vectors. Amblyomma cajennense, Dermacentor nitens, and Rhipicephalus sanguineus ticks were subjected to Polymerase Chain Reaction targeting a fragment of the Rickettsia gltA gene. This specific gene encodes the enzyme citrate synthase of Rickettsia spp., and results on all ticks were negative. Human and animal sera were tested by Indirect Immunofluorescence Assay in which R. rickettsii and R. parkeri were used as antigens. Sera from 4.7% human, 2.7% canine and 38.5% equine were positive for R. rickettsii. For R. parkeri, 0.9% human, 2.7% canine and 11.5% equine samples were positive. All samples reactive to R. parkeri also reacted to R. rickettsii. An epidemiological questionnaire was applied, but there were no statistically significant results. Comparison of our serological results with previous studies in Brazil, among BSF endemic and non-endemic areas, indicates that there is no established rickettsial infection in the study area, a statement corroborated with our molecular analysis. Nonetheless, as humans of the present study are highly exposed to tick infestations, health education within the population is needed to obtain efficient tick control.
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Affiliation(s)
- R S Toledo
- Programa de Pos Graduação em Ciência Animal, Universidade Estadual de Londrina, PR, Brazil
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Marrelli MT, Souza LF, Marques RC, Labruna MB, Matioli SR, Tonon AP, Ribolla PEM, Marinotti O, Schumaker TTS. Taxonomic and phylogenetic relationships between neotropical species of ticks from genus Amblyomma (Acari: Ixodidae) inferred from second internal transcribed spacer sequences of rDNA. JOURNAL OF MEDICAL ENTOMOLOGY 2007; 44:222-8. [PMID: 17427690 DOI: 10.1603/0022-2585(2007)44[222:taprbn]2.0.co;2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/14/2023]
Abstract
The accurate specific identification of ticks is essential for the study, control and prevention of tick-borne diseases. Herein, we determined ribosomal nucleotide sequences of the second internal transcribed spacer (ITS2) of 15 Neotropical hard tick species of the genus Amblyomma Koch found in Brazil. Most of the studied ticks accidentally parasite humans and potentially act as vectors of zoonoses. Lengths of the ITS2 sequences ranged from 956 to 1,207 bp, whereas GC content varied from 62.4 to 66.9%. A matrix of ITS2 divergence was calculated with the ITS2 sequence data obtained showing divergence levels varying from 1.5 to 28.8%. The analysis indicated that this molecular marker can be useful for Amblyomma-specific identification. Phylogenetic inferences based on the ITS2 sequences were used to assess some issues in subgenus taxonomy.
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Affiliation(s)
- M T Marrelli
- Departamento de Parasitologia, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, Universidade de São Paulo, Av. Prof. Lineu Prestes, 1374, 05508-900, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
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Gehrke FS, Mendes do Nascimento EM, Rodrigues de Souza E, Colombo S, Jacintho da Silva L, Schumaker TTS. Detection of Rickettsia rickettsii and Rickettsia sp. in blood clots in 24 patients from different municipalities of the State of Sao Paulo, Brazil. Ann N Y Acad Sci 2007; 1078:260-2. [PMID: 17114719 DOI: 10.1196/annals.1374.047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
The authors detected Rickettsia genus organisms using shell vial and polymerase chain reaction (PCR)/sequencing analysis in blood clots in patients suspected of having Brazilian spotted fever (BSF). DNA was detected using PCR with three sets of primers to access the gltA, ompA, and ompB genes. Sequence analysis was carried out using an automatic sequencer with Bioedit software. Seventy-five percent of the culture samples were positive and all samples amplified rickettsial gene fragments. To date, 46% of the samples have been sequenced.
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Affiliation(s)
- Flávia Sousa Gehrke
- Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas II, Av. Prof. Lineu Prestes, 1374, Cidade Universtitária, 05508-900 São Paulo, Brazil.
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Estrada DA, Schumaker TTS, Souza CED, Rodrigues Neto EJ, Linhares AX. [Rickettsiae detection in Amblyomma ticks (Acari: Ixodidae) collected in the urban area of Campinas City, SP]. Rev Soc Bras Med Trop 2006; 39:68-71. [PMID: 16501770 DOI: 10.1590/s0037-86822006000100013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
The city of Campinas is located in an endemic area for Brazilian spotted fever in São Paulo State, where several cases have recently occurred. Capybaras have been associated with the cycle of this disease, for they present positive serology and serve as host for ticks of the genus Amblyomma, the main vectors of Brazilian spotted fever. Ticks were collected both from Capybaras and from the vegetation in the city park Lago do Café, located in the urban area of Campinas City, SP, a site associated with suspected human cases of Brazilian spotted fever. The ticks collected were examinated for the presence of rickettsiae using polymerase chain reaction and the haemolymph test. Through analysis of the gene gltA nucleotide sequence, adults of Amblyomma cajennense and Amblyomma cooperi were found to be infected with the non pathogenic Rickettsia bellii. However, no rickettsiae of the Spotted Fever Group were detected. These results indicate that the role of capybaras as reservoirs of rickettsiae of the Spotted Fever Group is still uncertain and further studies are required.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dora Amparo Estrada
- Departamento de Parasitologia, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Campinas, SP
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