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Parodi P, Bazzano V, Armúa-Fernández MT, Félix ML, Carvalho LA, Freire J, Venzal JM. Molecular survey of Piroplasmida, Hepatozoon spp. and Anaplasmataceae in anemic and thrombocytopenic dogs from Uruguay. Vet Parasitol Reg Stud Reports 2024; 51:101027. [PMID: 38772643 DOI: 10.1016/j.vprsr.2024.101027] [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: 02/28/2024] [Revised: 04/08/2024] [Accepted: 04/17/2024] [Indexed: 05/23/2024]
Abstract
Canine tick-borne diseases, such as babesiosis, rangeliosis, hepatozoonosis, anaplasmosis and ehrlichiosis, are of veterinarian relevance, causing mild or severe clinical cases that can lead to the death of the dog. The aim of this study was detecting tick-borne protozoan and rickettsial infections in dogs with anemia and/or thrombocytopenia in Uruguay. A total of 803 domestic dogs were evaluated, and 10% were found positive (detected by PCR) at least for one hemoparasite. Sequence analysis confirmed the presence of four hemoprotozoan species: Rangelia vitalii, Babesia vogeli, Hepatozoon canis and Hepatozoon americanum, and the rickettsial Anaplasma platys. The most detected hemoparasite was R. vitalii, followed by H. canis and A. platys. This is the first report of B. vogeli in Uruguay and the second report of H. americanum in dogs from South America. The results highlight the importance for veterinarians to include hemoparasitic diseases in their differential diagnosis of agents causing anemia and thrombocytopenia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pablo Parodi
- Instituto Nacional de Investigación Agropecuaria, Plataforma de Salud Animal, Estación Experimental INIA Tacuarembó, Tacuarembó, Uruguay
| | - Valentin Bazzano
- Laboratorio de Vectores y Enfermedades Transmitidas, Departamento de Ciencias Biológicas, CENUR Litoral Norte, Universidad de la República, Salto, Uruguay
| | - María T Armúa-Fernández
- Unidad de Parasitología Veterinaria, Departamento de Patobiología, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - María L Félix
- Laboratorio de Vectores y Enfermedades Transmitidas, Departamento de Ciencias Biológicas, CENUR Litoral Norte, Universidad de la República, Salto, Uruguay
| | - Luis A Carvalho
- AgResearch, Grasslands Research Centre, Palmerston North, New Zealand
| | - Jorge Freire
- Laclivet, Laboratorio Clínico Veterinario, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - José M Venzal
- Laboratorio de Vectores y Enfermedades Transmitidas, Departamento de Ciencias Biológicas, CENUR Litoral Norte, Universidad de la República, Salto, Uruguay.
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Reis AADL, de Avelar BR, Rocha MBDS, Borges DA, Campos DR, Fiorotti J, Golo PS, Scott FB. Ultrastructural characterization and quantification of hemocytes in engorged female Amblyomma sculptum ticks. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2024; 15:102312. [PMID: 38277717 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2024.102312] [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: 08/29/2023] [Revised: 12/26/2023] [Accepted: 01/03/2024] [Indexed: 01/28/2024]
Abstract
Amblyomma sculptum (formerly Amblyomma cajennense) ticks have been implicated in the transmission of pathogens that cause diseases in animals and humans. Their wide geographic distribution and high impact on animal health and zoonotic disease transmission highlight the importance of studying and implementing effective control measures to mitigate the risks associated with this tick species. The aim of this study was to quantify and characterize the morphology and the ultrastructure of different types of hemocytes in the hemolymph in engorged A. sculptum females fed on rabbits. The hemolymph samples were collected by perforation of the cuticle in the dorsal region. Hemocyte types, sizes, and differential counts were determined using light microscopy, while ultrastructural analysis of hemocytes was performed using transmission electron microscopy. The average number of total hemocytes in the hemolymph was 1024 ± 597.6 cells µL-1. Five morphologically distinct cell types were identified in A. sculptum females: prohemocytes (6 % ± 8.8), plasmatocytes (10 % ± 7.7), granulocytes (78 % ± 12.2), spherulocytes (5 % ± 4.48), and oenocytoids (1 % ± 1.6). In general, prohemocytes were the smallest hemocytes. The ultrastructural morphology of A. sculptum hemocytes described in the present study agrees with the findings for other hard ticks. This is the first study to investigate ultrastructural characteristics of hemocytes of female A. sculptum ticks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andressa Aparecida de Lima Reis
- Department of Animal Parasitology, Veterinary Institute, Federal Rural University of Rio de Janeiro, Km 07, Zona Rural, BR-465, Seropédica, RJ 23890-000, Brazil.
| | - Barbara Rauta de Avelar
- Department of Animal Parasitology, Veterinary Institute, Federal Rural University of Rio de Janeiro, Km 07, Zona Rural, BR-465, Seropédica, RJ 23890-000, Brazil
| | - Marisa Beatriz da Silva Rocha
- Department of Animal Parasitology, Veterinary Institute, Federal Rural University of Rio de Janeiro, Km 07, Zona Rural, BR-465, Seropédica, RJ 23890-000, Brazil
| | - Debora Azevedo Borges
- Department of Animal Parasitology, Veterinary Institute, Federal Rural University of Rio de Janeiro, Km 07, Zona Rural, BR-465, Seropédica, RJ 23890-000, Brazil
| | - Diefrey Ribeiro Campos
- Department of Animal Parasitology, Veterinary Institute, Federal Rural University of Rio de Janeiro, Km 07, Zona Rural, BR-465, Seropédica, RJ 23890-000, Brazil
| | - Jessica Fiorotti
- Department of Biochemistry and Immunology, Ribeirão Preto School of Medicine, University of São Paulo, São Paulo 14040-900, Brazil
| | - Patrícia Silva Golo
- Department of Animal Parasitology, Veterinary Institute, Federal Rural University of Rio de Janeiro, Km 07, Zona Rural, BR-465, Seropédica, RJ 23890-000, Brazil
| | - Fabio Barbour Scott
- Department of Animal Parasitology, Veterinary Institute, Federal Rural University of Rio de Janeiro, Km 07, Zona Rural, BR-465, Seropédica, RJ 23890-000, Brazil
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Nassar MB, Pavanelo DB, Labruna MB, Daffre S, Esteves E, Fogaça AC. The anal pore route is efficient to infect Amblyomma spp. ticks with Rickettsia rickettsii and allows the assessment of the role played by infection control targets. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2023; 13:1260390. [PMID: 37900319 PMCID: PMC10602902 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2023.1260390] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2023] [Accepted: 09/26/2023] [Indexed: 10/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Adult Amblyomma sculptum and Amblyomma aureolatum ticks are partially refractory to Rickettsia rickettsii when fed on infected hosts, hindering the functional characterization of potentially protective targets in the bacterial acquisition. In the current study, we used the anal pore route to infect adult A. sculptum and A. aureolatum ticks with R. rickettsii and to assess the effects of the knockdown of microplusin in infection control. The anal pore route was efficient to infect both species, resulting in a prevalence of around 100% of infected ticks. Higher loads of R. rickettsii were detected in microplusin-silenced A. aureolatum in relation to the control, as previously obtained when microplusin-silenced ticks were fed on R. rickettsii-infected rabbits. This is the first report showing R. rickettsii infection through the anal pore in Amblyomma ticks, highlighting this route as a powerful tool to assess the role played by additional targets in the control of pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcelly Bastos Nassar
- Department of Parasitology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Daniel B. Pavanelo
- Department of Parasitology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Marcelo B. Labruna
- Department of Preventive Veterinary Medicine and Animal Health, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Sirlei Daffre
- Department of Parasitology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Eliane Esteves
- Department of Parasitology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Andréa C. Fogaça
- Department of Parasitology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
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Minervino AHH, Marcili A, Moraes-Filho J, Lima JTR, Soares HS, Malheiros AF, Dias SR, Gennari SM, Labruna MB. Molecular Detection of Tick-Borne Pathogens in Dogs from Indigenous Communities, Amazon, Brazil. Vector Borne Zoonotic Dis 2023; 23:458-464. [PMID: 37566524 DOI: 10.1089/vbz.2023.0014] [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] [Indexed: 08/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: There are few reports of tick-borne pathogens infecting dogs living in indigenous communities of Brazil. Herein, we aimed to molecularly detect vector-borne pathogens in dogs from two indigenous communities in the Brazilian Amazon. Materials and Methods: We surveyed 327 dogs raised in Amazon region at 2 distinct indigenous ethnicities for the molecular detection of tick-borne pathogens (114 from Tapirapé and 213 from Karajá indigenous ethnicity). Whole blood samples were subjected to PCR and sequencing for Ehrlichia, Babesia, and Hepatozoon. Univariate and multivariate analyses were used to investigate the factors affecting the pathogen infection patterns in dogs. Results: Among the 327 blood samples, 40 were positive for Ehrlichia canis (12.2%), 2 for Anaplasma platys (0.61%), and 204 were positive for Hepatozoon canis (66.5%). Binary Logistic Regression showed association between E. canis infection and ethnicity (p = 0.010) and tick attachment (p = 0.041). Karajá dogs were 3.4 times (95% CI 1.3-8.5) more likely to be positive for E. canis than Tapirapé dogs. Dogs with ticks were 2.5 times more likely (95% CI 1.0-7.6) to be positive for E. canis than dogs without ticks. Conclusions: Our survey expands the knowledge regarding the presence of vector-borne pathogens in dogs from indigenous communities in the Amazon region.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Arlei Marcili
- PhD Program in One Health, Santo Amaro University (UNISA), São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Jonas Moraes-Filho
- PhD Program in One Health, Santo Amaro University (UNISA), São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Julia T R Lima
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science (FMVZ), University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Herbert S Soares
- PhD Program in One Health, Santo Amaro University (UNISA), São Paulo, Brazil
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science (FMVZ), University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Antonio F Malheiros
- Faculty of Agricultural and Biological Sciences (FACAB), State University of Mato Grosso, Cáceres, Brazil
| | - Salatiel Ribeiro Dias
- Laboratory of Animal Health (LARSANA), Federal University of Western Pará (UFOPA), Santarém, Brazil
| | - Solange M Gennari
- PhD Program in One Health, Santo Amaro University (UNISA), São Paulo, Brazil
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science (FMVZ), University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Marcelo B Labruna
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science (FMVZ), University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
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Krawczak FS, Binder LC, Gregori F, Martins TF, Pádua GT, Sponchiado J, Melo GL, Polo G, Labruna MB. ‘Candidatus Rickettsia andeanae’ and Probable Exclusion of Rickettsia parkeri in Ticks from Dogs in a Natural Area of the Pampa Biome in Brazil. Pathogens 2023; 12:pathogens12030446. [PMID: 36986368 PMCID: PMC10054268 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens12030446] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2023] [Revised: 03/06/2023] [Accepted: 03/09/2023] [Indexed: 03/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Spotted fever illness caused by the tick-borne pathogen Rickettsia parkeri has emerged in the Pampa biome in southern Brazil, where the tick Amblyomma tigrinum is implicated as the main vector. Because domestic dogs are commonly parasitized by A. tigrinum, this canid is also a suitable sentinel for R. parkeri-associated spotted fever. Herein, we investigate rickettsial infection in ticks, domestic dogs and small mammals in a natural reserve of the Pampa biome in southern Brazil. The ticks A. tigrinum, Amblyomma aureolatum and Rhipicephalus sanguineus were collected from dogs. Molecular analyses of ticks did not detect R. parkeri; however, at least 34% (21/61) of the A. tigrinum ticks were infected by the non-pathogenic agent ‘Candidatus Rickettsia andeanae’. Serological analyses revealed that only 14% and 3% of 36 dogs and 34 small mammals, respectively, were exposed to rickettsial antigens. These results indicate that the study area is not endemic for R. parkeri rickettsiosis. We tabulated 10 studies that reported rickettsial infection in A. tigrinum populations from South America. There was a strong negative correlation between the infection rates by R. parkeri and ‘Candidatus R. andeanae’ in A. tigrinum populations. We propose that high infection rates by ‘Candidatus R. andeanae’ might promote the exclusion of R. parkeri from A. tigrinum populations. The mechanisms for such exclusion are yet to be elucidated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Felipe S. Krawczak
- Setor de Medicina Veterinária Preventiva, Departamento de Medicina Veterinária, Escola de Veterinária e Zootecnia, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Rod. Goiânia—Nova Veneza, km 8, Campus Samambaia, Goiânia 74690-900, GO, Brazil
- Correspondence: (F.S.K.); (M.B.L.)
| | - 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, São Paulo 05508-270, SP, 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, São Paulo 05508-270, 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, São Paulo 05508-270, 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, km 8, Campus Samambaia, Goiânia 74690-900, GO, Brazil
| | - Jonas Sponchiado
- Instituto Federal de Educação, Ciência e Tecnologia Farroupilha, Campus Alegrete, Alegrete 97541-000, RS, Brazil
| | - Geruza L. Melo
- Instituto Federal de Educação, Ciência e Tecnologia Farroupilha, Campus Alegrete, Alegrete 97541-000, RS, Brazil
| | - Gina Polo
- Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Fundación Universitaria San Martin, Bogotá 110110, 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, São Paulo 05508-270, SP, Brazil
- Correspondence: (F.S.K.); (M.B.L.)
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Martínez Díaz HC, Gil-Mora J, Betancourt-Ruiz P, Silva-Ramos CR, Matiz-González JM, Villalba-Perez MA, Ospina-Pinto MC, Ramirez-Hernández A, Olaya-M LA, Bolaños E, Cuervo C, Benavides E, Hidalgo M. Molecular detection of tick-borne rickettsial pathogens in ticks collected from domestic animals from Cauca, Colombia. Acta Trop 2023; 238:106773. [PMID: 36417982 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2022.106773] [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: 08/10/2022] [Revised: 10/26/2022] [Accepted: 11/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Some hard ticks' species can act as vectors of a wide variety of pathogens of human and animal importance such as Anaplasma, Ehrlichia and Rickettsia spp. In Colombia, a total of forty-six tick species have been described, and some of them have been implicated as vectors of some infectious agents. The department of Cauca is one of the thirty-two departments of Colombia. Most of its population lives in rural areas and depends on agriculture as the main economic activity, favoring exposure to ticks and tick-borne pathogens. Thus, the present study aimed to determine the tick species and tick-borne pathogens circulating in this region. From August to November 2017, ticks were collected from dogs, horses and cattle from eight rural areas of four municipalities in the department of Cauca. All collected ticks were classified according to taxonomic keys and organized in pools. DNA was extracted from all tick pools for molecular confirmation of tick species and detection of Anaplasma, Ehrlichia and Rickettsia spp. A total of 2809 ticks were collected which were grouped in 602 pools. Ticks were morphologically identified as Amblyomma cajennense sensu lato, Dermacentor nitens, Rhipicephalus microplus and Rhipicephalus sanguineus sensu lato. The molecular identity of A. cajennense s.l. was confirmed as Amblyomma patinoi. A total of 95% of the pools scored positive for members of the Anaplasmataceae family, of which, 7.8% and 7.3% were positive to Anaplasma and Ehrlichia spp., respectively, being identified as Anaplasma marginale, Ehrlichia minasensis and Ehrlichia canis; and 16.1% were positive for Rickettsia spp. with high identity for Rickettsia asembonensis, Rickettsia felis and Candidatus Rickettsia senegalensis. This is the first report describing the natural infection of ticks with rickettsial pathogens and the occurrence of A. patinoi ticks in Cauca department, Colombia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heidy-Carolina Martínez Díaz
- Grupo de Enfermedades Infecciosas, Departamento de Microbiología, Facultad de Ciencias, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Carrera 7 No. 40 - 62 D.C., Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Juliana Gil-Mora
- Grupo de Enfermedades Infecciosas, Departamento de Microbiología, Facultad de Ciencias, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Carrera 7 No. 40 - 62 D.C., Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Paola Betancourt-Ruiz
- Grupo de Enfermedades Infecciosas, Departamento de Microbiología, Facultad de Ciencias, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Carrera 7 No. 40 - 62 D.C., Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Carlos Ramiro Silva-Ramos
- Grupo de Enfermedades Infecciosas, Departamento de Microbiología, Facultad de Ciencias, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Carrera 7 No. 40 - 62 D.C., Bogotá, Colombia
| | - J Manuel Matiz-González
- Grupo de Enfermedades Infecciosas, Departamento de Microbiología, Facultad de Ciencias, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Carrera 7 No. 40 - 62 D.C., Bogotá, Colombia
| | - María-Alejandra Villalba-Perez
- Grupo de Enfermedades Infecciosas, Departamento de Microbiología, Facultad de Ciencias, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Carrera 7 No. 40 - 62 D.C., Bogotá, Colombia
| | - María Catalina Ospina-Pinto
- Grupo Epidemiología y Salud Pública, Facultad de Ciencias Agropecuarias, Universidad de La Salle, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Alejandro Ramirez-Hernández
- Grupo Parasitología Veterinaria, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogotá, Colombia; Universidad de La Salle, Bogotá, Colombia
| | | | | | - Claudia Cuervo
- Grupo de Enfermedades Infecciosas, Departamento de Microbiología, Facultad de Ciencias, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Carrera 7 No. 40 - 62 D.C., Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Efraín Benavides
- Grupo Epidemiología y Salud Pública, Facultad de Ciencias Agropecuarias, Universidad de La Salle, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Marylin Hidalgo
- Grupo de Enfermedades Infecciosas, Departamento de Microbiología, Facultad de Ciencias, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Carrera 7 No. 40 - 62 D.C., Bogotá, Colombia.
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Epidemiological Study of the Occurrence of Typhus Group Rickettsia Natural Infection in Domiciliated Dogs from a Rural Community in South-Eastern Mexico. Animals (Basel) 2022; 12:ani12202885. [PMID: 36290270 PMCID: PMC9598504 DOI: 10.3390/ani12202885] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2022] [Revised: 10/14/2022] [Accepted: 10/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Rickettsioses are relevant emergent and reemergent zoonoses in the Americas, including Mexico. Murine typhus caused by typhus group (TG) Rickettsia is prevalent in humans and their companion animals, such as dogs. This study found that 23.9% of the dogs (34/142) were infected by TG Rickettsia in Maxcanú, Yucatan (southeastern Mexico). Statistical analyses showed that reduced outdoor activities, age, sex and previous antiparasitic treatment are associated factors with less risk of TG Rickettsia infection in the sampled dogs. Monitoring and controlling these factors could help to restrict the enzootic transmission risk and prevent the potential zoonotic transmission. Abstract The aim is to describe the Typhus group (TG) Rickettsia infection in dogs and to identify factors associated with this infection. We collected blood samples and gathered exposure and clinical data of 142 dogs from a rural community of Yucatan. The Rickettsia group was determined by semi-nested PCR. Generalized linear models with binomial error distribution were used to model the associated factors from the dog sample for risk ratio (RR) estimation. Thirty-four dogs (23.9%) showed molecular evidence of TG Rickettsia DNA. The multivariate model showed that mixed-breed dogs (RR = 0.06) and dogs that had received antiparasitic treatment (RR = 0.049) had a lower risk of getting infected, taking as reference the purebred group and the non-treated dogs, respectively. Looking at variable interactions, adult dogs without outdoor activities had a lower infection risk than puppies (RR = 0.26). Among dogs with antiparasitic treatment, females had a higher infection risk than male dogs (RR = 26.2). The results showed enzootic TG Rickettsia circulation in dogs of a rural community. The factors outdoor activities, age and previous antiparasitic treatment, as well as the clinical variables signs of hemorrhages and epistaxis, were associated with a less chance of natural infection in the studied dogs. Prevention and control of the enzootic transmission risk of TG Rickettsia should help to reduce the potential zoonotic transmission of this pathogen.
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Mesquita JR, Santos-Silva S, de Sousa Moreira A, Baptista MB, Cruz R, Esteves F, Vala H, Barradas PF. Rickettsia massiliae circulation in sheep and attached Rhipicephalus sanguineus in Central Portugal. Trop Anim Health Prod 2022; 54:199. [PMID: 35668327 DOI: 10.1007/s11250-022-03206-7] [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: 12/19/2021] [Accepted: 05/25/2022] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
Rickettsiosis is considered an emerging/re-emerging vector-borne disease that causes significant public health threats. Ticks are reservoirs and vectors of Rickettsia having a significant role in the transmission of rickettsiae. In Portugal, little is known about tick-borne Rickettsia species in sheep. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate rickettsiae infection in ticks and their sheep host from 27 farms in four districts of central Portugal, to clarify the role of the sheep host in the circulation of this zoonotic agent. Between March and May 2021, EDTA blood samples (n = 100) of healthy grazing sheep and their ticks (n = 100, one tick per animal) were collected during a herd health program in central Portugal. Obtained ticks were identified as Rhipicephalus sanguineus sensu lato by PCR targeting a partial sequence of 16S rRNA gene followed by sequence analysis. Rhipicephalus sanguineus s.l. and host sheep blood were tested for the presence of Rickettsia spp. by PCR targeting a partial sequence of ompB and ompA genes. From a total of 100 paired R. sanguineus s.l. and host sheep, Rickettsia massiliae was detected in 62 ticks and 35 grazing sheep blood samples, collected in central Portugal, 2021. All 35 positive sheep had attached positive R. sanguineus s.l., with matching nucleotidic sequences. These findings suggest that sheep may develop rickettsiemia and are likely capable of transmitting and amplifying the infection to uninfected ticks maintaining rickettsiae in circulation in the domestic cycle.
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Affiliation(s)
- João R Mesquita
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences Abel Salazar (ICBAS), University of Porto, Porto, Portugal.,Epidemiology Research Unit (EPIUnit), Instituto de Saúde Pública da Universidade Do Porto, Rua das Taipas 135, 4050-091, Porto, Portugal.,Laboratório Para a Investigação Integrativa E Translacional Em Saúde Populacional (ITR), Porto, Portugal
| | - Sérgio Santos-Silva
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences Abel Salazar (ICBAS), University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | | | | | - Rita Cruz
- Agrarian School of Viseu, Polytechnic Institute of Viseu (ESAV), Viseu, Portugal.,Centre for Studies in Education and Health Technologies (CI&DETS), Viseu, Portugal
| | - Fernando Esteves
- Agrarian School of Viseu, Polytechnic Institute of Viseu (ESAV), Viseu, Portugal.,Centre for Studies in Education and Health Technologies (CI&DETS), Viseu, Portugal
| | - Helena Vala
- Agrarian School of Viseu, Polytechnic Institute of Viseu (ESAV), Viseu, Portugal.,Centre for the Research and Technology of Agro-Environmental and Biological Sciences (CITAB) and Institute for Innovation, Capacity Building and Sustainability of Agri-Food Production (Inov4Agro), UTAD, Vila Real, Portugal
| | - Patrícia F Barradas
- Epidemiology Research Unit (EPIUnit), Instituto de Saúde Pública da Universidade Do Porto, Rua das Taipas 135, 4050-091, Porto, Portugal. .,Laboratório Para a Investigação Integrativa E Translacional Em Saúde Populacional (ITR), Porto, Portugal. .,University Institute of Health Sciences (IUCS), CESPU, CRL, Gandra, Portugal. .,OncoPharma Research Group, Center for Health Technology and Services Research (CINTESIS), Porto, Portugal.
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Gonçalves ES, Cordeiro MD, Dos Santos LMR, Araújo IM, da Fonseca AH, Labruna MB, Guedes E. Research of Rickettsia spp. and Borrelia spp. in dogs in Southeast Brazil. Vet Parasitol Reg Stud Reports 2022; 30:100706. [PMID: 35431064 DOI: 10.1016/j.vprsr.2022.100706] [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: 03/01/2021] [Revised: 12/01/2021] [Accepted: 02/12/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Dogs are important in the epidemiology of tick-borne diseases, playing a significant role mainly in endemic areas of rickettsiosis and borreliosis, and serving as sentinels in epidemiological surveys. We analyzed the distribution of Rickettsia and Borrelia spp. in dogs and their ticks in the municipalities of Guaxupé, Minas Gerais, and Tapiratiba, São Paulo, Brazil, two areas non-endemic for Baggio-Yoshinari Syndrome (BYS) and rickettsiosis. Serum from 242 dogs of different ages (>12 months) and breeds were tested by the Indirect Immunofluorescence Assay (IFA) using specific antigens for Rickettsia rickettsii, Rickettsia parkeri, Rickettsia amblyommatis, Rickettsia rhipicephali, and Rickettsia bellii, and by an indirect Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) for the detection of homologous IgG antibodies against Borrelia burgdorferi American strain G39/40. Ticks were collected from the animals and subjected to PCR and nested PCR for detection of Rickettsia spp. (synthase citrate gene) and Borrelia spp. (flagellin gene). Serological data showed that 7.85% (19/242) of the analyzed dogs were seropositive for at least one of the five Rickettsia antigens tested; one (0.41%) was considered seropositive for R. parkeri (1:64) and one (0.41%) for R. rickettsii (1:256). Nine (3.72%) were considered seropositive for R. bellii and one (0.41%) for R. amblyommatis; a seroprevalence of 13.64% (33/242) for IgG class immunoreactive antibodies against B. burgdorferi was observed. A total of 148 ticks were collected from the dogs; among these 3.40% were identified as larvae of the genus Rhipicephalus and 0.70% of the genus Amblyomma; 89.8% were identified as Rhipicephalus sanguineus, 4.70% Amblyomma sculptum and 1.40% Amblyomma ovale; all negative for PCR of Rickettsia spp. and nested PCR for Borrelia spp.. The serological findings of this study suggest the circulation of Rickettsiae associated with the spotted fever group and vector ticks, just like Borrelia spp. in a non-endemic Brazilian area, drawing attention to the possibility of a zoonotic cycle in the region.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elaine Santana Gonçalves
- Postgraduate Program in Reproduction, Health and Animal Welfare of the José do Rosário Vellano University (UNIFENAS), Alfenas, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
| | - Matheus Dias Cordeiro
- Laboratory of Parasitic Diseases of the Federal Rural University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRRJ), Brazil
| | | | - Izabela Mesquita Araújo
- Laboratory of Parasitic Diseases of the Federal Rural University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRRJ), Brazil
| | | | - Marcelo Bahia Labruna
- Laboratory of Parasitic Diseases of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Zootechny, University of São Paulo (USP), Brazil
| | - Elizângela Guedes
- Postgraduate Program in Reproduction, Health and Animal Welfare of the José do Rosário Vellano University (UNIFENAS), Alfenas, Minas Gerais, Brazil
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Fava NMN, Alves TS, Lopes MG, Labruna MB, Santos AQ, Cury MC. Occurrence and Molecular Identification of Hemoparasites in Wild Mammals Kept in Rehabilitation Centers in Brazil. Acta Parasitol 2022; 67:476-486. [PMID: 34797498 DOI: 10.1007/s11686-021-00492-3] [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: 05/05/2021] [Accepted: 10/28/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Hepatozoonosis and piroplasmosis are diseases caused by apicomplexan protozoa that affect different types of animals, including mammals. The present study aimed to evaluate the occurrence of Hepatozoon spp. and piroplasms in wild mammals kept in captivity in rehabilitation centers in the states of Minas Gerais and Goiás, Brazil. METHODS For this, blood samples from 152 animals were collected and analyzed by conventional optical microscopy and polymerase chain reaction (PCR). In addition, positive PCR samples were submitted to sequencing for molecular characterization of the specimens found. RESULTS Microscopic analysis revealed 53 of the 152 animals (28.3%) parasitized by piroplasms. No Hepatozoon sp. was observed. On the other hand, using the primers HepF300/HepR900 and Piro1F/Piro5R, both amplifying fragments of the 18S rDNA gene, eight animals (5.2%) were positive for Hepatozoon spp. and 40 (26.3%) for piroplasms. From the sequencing of the positive samples Hepatozoon canis, Hepatozoon felis, Theileria cervi, Theileria equi and Cytauxzoon felis were identified. In addition to the aforementioned hemoparasites, some animals were found parasitized by microfilaria. Such data ratify the presence of hemoparasites in captive wild animals, and are unprecedented in the two geographical regions covered by the present study. 19.7% of mammals harbored ectoparasites of the genera Amblyomma and Rhipicephalus. CONCLUSION Wild mammals are infected by several pathogens that can also infect domestic animals, some of them potentially zoonotic which can directly contribute to mortality and species reduction. Therefore, a deep understanding of the parasites, the hosts and the diseases is extremely necessary so that prevention, control and treatment measures are effectively applied.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natália M N Fava
- Laboratory of Parasitology and Molecular Biology of Parasites, Biomedical Science Institute, Federal University of Uberlândia (UFU), Amazonas Avenue w/n, Umuarama Campus, Uberlândia, Minas Gerais, 38400-902, Brazil.
| | - Talita Silva Alves
- Laboratory of Parasitology and Molecular Biology of Parasites, Biomedical Science Institute, Federal University of Uberlândia (UFU), Amazonas Avenue w/n, Umuarama Campus, Uberlândia, Minas Gerais, 38400-902, Brazil
| | - Marcos Gomes Lopes
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, University of São Paulo, Prof. Dr. Orlando Marques de Paiva Avenue, 87-Cidade Universitária, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Marcelo Bahia Labruna
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, University of São Paulo, Prof. Dr. Orlando Marques de Paiva Avenue, 87-Cidade Universitária, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - André Quagliatto Santos
- Wild Animals Teaching and Research Laboratory (LAPAS), Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Federal University of Uberlândia, Mato Grosso Avenue, 3289-Umuarama Campus, Uberlândia, MG, Brazil
| | - Márcia Cristina Cury
- Laboratory of Parasitology and Molecular Biology of Parasites, Biomedical Science Institute, Federal University of Uberlândia (UFU), Amazonas Avenue w/n, Umuarama Campus, Uberlândia, Minas Gerais, 38400-902, Brazil
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11
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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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12
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Morelli S, Diakou A, Di Cesare A, Colombo M, Traversa D. Canine and Feline Parasitology: Analogies, Differences, and Relevance for Human Health. Clin Microbiol Rev 2021; 34:e0026620. [PMID: 34378954 PMCID: PMC8404700 DOI: 10.1128/cmr.00266-20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Cats and dogs are treated as family members by most pet owners. Therefore, a high quality of veterinary care and preventive medicine is imperative for animal health and welfare and for the protection of humans from zoonotic pathogens. There is a general perception of cats being treated as "small dogs," especially in the field of clinical parasitology. As a result, several important differences between the two animal species are not taken into proper consideration and are often overlooked. Dogs and cats are profoundly different under evolutionary, biological, ethological, behavioral, and immunological standpoints. These differences impact clinical features, diagnosis, and control of canine and feline parasites and transmission risk for humans. This review outlines the most common parasitoses and vector-borne diseases of dogs and cats, with a focus on major convergences and divergences, and discusses parasites that have (i) evolved based on different preys for dogs and cats, (ii) adapted due to different immunological or behavioral animal profiles, and (iii) developed more similarities than differences in canine and feline infections and associated diseases. Differences, similarities, and peculiarities of canine and feline parasitology are herein reviewed in three macrosections: (i) carnivorism, vegetarianism, anatomy, genetics, and parasites, (ii) evolutionary adaptation of nematodes, including veterinary reconsideration and zoonotic importance, and (iii) behavior and immune system driving ectoparasites and transmitted diseases. Emphasis is given to provide further steps toward a more accurate evaluation of canine and feline parasitology in a changing world in terms of public health relevance and One Health approach.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simone Morelli
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Teramo, Teramo, Italy
| | - Anastasia Diakou
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Angela Di Cesare
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Teramo, Teramo, Italy
| | | | - Donato Traversa
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Teramo, Teramo, Italy
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13
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Binder LC, Ramírez-Hernández A, Serpa MCDA, Moraes-Filho J, Pinter A, Scinachi CA, Labruna MB. Domestic dogs as amplifying hosts of Rickettsia rickettsii for Amblyomma aureolatum ticks. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2021; 12:101824. [PMID: 34520994 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2021.101824] [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: 04/12/2021] [Revised: 08/11/2021] [Accepted: 08/19/2021] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
Brazilian spotted fever (BSF) is an acute infectious disease caused by the bacterium Rickettsia rickettsii, which is transmitted by different tick species. Due to deleterious effects caused on ticks, the horizontal transmission of R. rickettsii through amplifying hosts is crucial for its maintenance in tick populations among BSF-endemic areas. The tick Amblyomma aureolatum is the main vector of R. rickettsii in the São Paulo metropolitan area; nevertheless, it is not known which vertebrate could act as an amplifying host for this tick species. Herein, we evaluated the potential of domestic dogs - primary hosts for A. aureolatum adults in BSF-endemic areas - to act as amplifying hosts. For this purpose, A. aureolatum non-infected adults were allowed to feed on two groups of dogs: the control group (G1), composed of one dog not exposed to R. rickettsii; and, the infected group (G2), composed of three dogs infected with R. rickettsii via tick parasitism. All G2-dogs became ill, seroconverted to R. rickettsii, and rickettsial DNA was detected in 87% of the engorged females that fed on them. Transovarial transmission rate was estimated to be 25% and infected larvae successfully transmitted R. rickettsii to guinea-pigs, confirming transovarial transmission and vector competence. No rickettsial DNA was detected in individual samples of eggs or larvae, which precluded the estimation of filial infection rate, but implies that it was low. Our results suggest that domestic dogs act as amplifying hosts of R. rickettsii for A. aureolatum ticks in BSF-endemic areas in Brazil.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lina C Binder
- Departamento de Medicina Veterinária Preventiva e Saúde animal, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
| | - Alejandro Ramírez-Hernández
- Departamento de Medicina Veterinária Preventiva e Saúde animal, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil; Grupo Parasitología Veterinaria, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogotá D.C., Colombia
| | - Maria Carolina de Azevedo Serpa
- Departamento de Medicina Veterinária Preventiva e Saúde animal, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Jonas Moraes-Filho
- Mestrado em Medicina e Bem-estar Animal, Doutorado com ênfase em Saúde Única, Universidade Santo Amaro, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Adriano Pinter
- Superintendência de Controle de Endemias, São Paulo, SP, Brazil; Faculdade de Saúde Pública, Universidade de São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Claudia A Scinachi
- Superintendência de Controle de Endemias, São Paulo, SP, Brazil; Faculdade de Saúde Pública, Universidade de São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Marcelo B Labruna
- Departamento de Medicina Veterinária Preventiva e Saúde animal, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
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14
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Arroyave E, Cornwell ER, McBride JW, Díaz CA, Labruna MB, Rodas JD. Detection of tick-borne rickettsial pathogens in naturally infected dogs and dog-associated ticks in Medellin, Colombia. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2020; 29:e005320. [PMID: 32785527 DOI: 10.1590/s1984-29612020060] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2020] [Accepted: 06/04/2020] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Tick-borne rickettsial pathogens (TBRP) are important causes of infections in both dogs and humans. Dogs play an important role as a biological host for several tick species and can serve as sentinels for rickettsial infections. Our aim was to determine the presence of TBRP in dogs and in dog-associated ticks and their potential risk to human diseases in Medellin, Colombia. DNA for E. canis (16S rRNA and dsb) and A. platys (groEl) was detected in 17.6% (53/300) and 2.6% (8/300) of dogs, respectively. Antibodies against Ehrlichia spp. 82 (27.3%) and Anaplasma spp. 8 (2.6%) were detected in dogs. Antibody reactivity against both agents were found in 16 dogs (5.3%). Eight dogs showed antibody for Rickettsia spp. with titers that suggest 3 of them had a probable exposure to R. parkeri. Rhipicephalus sanguineus s.l. (178/193) was the main tick in dogs, followed by R. microplus (15/193). The minimum infection rates (MIR) in R. sanguineus were 11.8% for E. canis and 3.4% for A. platys. E. canis and A. platys are the main TBRP infecting dogs and ticks and R. sanguineus s.l. is likely involved in the transmission of both agents. Interestingly, we found serological evidence of exposure in dogs for spotted fever group rickettsiae.
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Affiliation(s)
- Esteban Arroyave
- Grupo de Investigación en Ciencias Veterinarias, Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias, Universidad de Antioquia, Medellín, Colombia
| | - Emily Rose Cornwell
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA
| | - Jere Williams McBride
- Center for Biodefense and Emerging Infectious Diseases, Sealy Institute for Vaccine Development, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA
| | - Carlos Arley Díaz
- Grupo de Investigación en Ciencias Veterinarias, Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias, Universidad de Antioquia, Medellín, Colombia
| | - Marcelo Bahia Labruna
- Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brasil
| | - Juan David Rodas
- Grupo de Investigación en Ciencias Veterinarias, Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias, Universidad de Antioquia, Medellín, Colombia
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15
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Barradas PF, Mesquita JR, Ferreira P, Amorim I, Gärtner F. Detection of tick-borne pathogens in Rhipicephalus sanguineus sensu lato and dogs from different districts of Portugal. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2020; 11:101536. [PMID: 32993945 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2020.101536] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2020] [Revised: 07/24/2020] [Accepted: 07/30/2020] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
Dogs are highly exposed to pathogens transmitted by ectoparasites. The Mediterranean climate of Southern Europe, together with the presence of stray and/or neglected pets in close proximity with humans, contribute for tick expansion and stand for increased risk to infections in humans due to the zoonotic potential of many of these agents. The aim of this study was to perform a molecular survey in dogs (suspected of tick-borne disease and/or infested with ticks), as well as in ticks collected from those animals, from 12 districts of Portugal to investigate the occurrence of Rickettsia spp. and other tick-borne pathogens (Babesia, Ehrlichia, Anaplasma and Hepatozoon). Additionally, a serological survey of spotted fever group Rickettsia in Portuguese dogs was performed using an in-house immunofluorescence assay (IFA). A total of 200 whole-blood samples and 221 Rhipicephalus sanguineus s. l. ticks were collected from dogs. A total of 14 (7 %) blood samples and 10 (4.5 %) ticks yielded presumptively positive 420-bp amplicons using the Rickettsia spp. partial ompB nested PCR. Screening of the ompB-positive samples using the gltA gene showed 8 positive ticks. All Rickettsia ompB and gltA sequences had the highest identity with R. massiliae. The Rickettsia-positive dogs were further tested for other tick-borne pathogens and were found to be infected with Babesia spp. (n = 5), but not with Ehrlichia, Anaplasma or Hepatozoon. Of the 149 dog serum specimens tested in the serological assay, 103 (69 %) were positive for IgG antibodies against spotted fever group Rickettsia. Antibodies were found in dogs from all the studied districts, in 55 (53 %) of the stray and in 48 (47 %) of the owned dogs. Our study detected and characterized for the first time R. massiliae in dogs from Portugal, broadening the geographical range of this canine pathogen and adding knowledge to the impact of this disease in dogs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrícia F Barradas
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences Abel Salazar (ICBAS), University of Porto, Porto, Portugal; Institute of Molecular Pathology and Immunology of the University of Porto (IPATIMUP), Porto, Portugal
| | - João R Mesquita
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences Abel Salazar (ICBAS), University of Porto, Porto, Portugal; Epidemiology Research Unit (EPIUnit), Instituto de Saúde Pública da Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Paula Ferreira
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences Abel Salazar (ICBAS), University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Irina Amorim
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences Abel Salazar (ICBAS), University of Porto, Porto, Portugal; Institute of Molecular Pathology and Immunology of the University of Porto (IPATIMUP), Porto, Portugal; Institute for Research and Innovation in Health (i3S), University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Fátima Gärtner
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences Abel Salazar (ICBAS), University of Porto, Porto, Portugal; Institute of Molecular Pathology and Immunology of the University of Porto (IPATIMUP), Porto, Portugal; Institute for Research and Innovation in Health (i3S), University of Porto, Porto, Portugal.
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16
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Pavanelo DB, Schröder NCH, Pin Viso ND, Martins LA, Malossi CD, Galletti MFBM, Labruna MB, Daffre S, Farber M, Fogaça AC. Comparative analysis of the midgut microbiota of two natural tick vectors of Rickettsia rickettsii. DEVELOPMENTAL AND COMPARATIVE IMMUNOLOGY 2020; 106:103606. [PMID: 31904432 DOI: 10.1016/j.dci.2019.103606] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2019] [Revised: 12/18/2019] [Accepted: 12/30/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Although the ticks Amblyomma sculptum and Amblyomma aureolatum are important vectors of Rickettsia rickettsii, causative agent of the life-threatening Rocky Mountain spotted fever, A. aureolatum is considerably more susceptible to infection than A. sculptum. As the microbiota can interfere with the colonization of arthropod midgut (MG) by pathogens, in the current study we analyzed the MG microbiota of both tick species. Our results revealed that the MG of A. aureolatum harbors a prominent microbiota, while A. sculptum does not. Remarkably, a significant reduction of the bacterial load was recorded in R. rickettsii-infected A. aureolatum. In addition, the taxonomy analysis of the MG bacterial community of A. aureolatum revealed a dominance of the genus Francisella, suggesting an endosymbiosis. This study is the first step in getting insights into the mechanisms underlying the interactions among Amblyomma species, their microbiota and R. rickettsii. Additional studies to better understand these mechanisms are required and may help the development of novel alternatives to block rickettsial transmission.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel B Pavanelo
- Department of Parasitology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Nicolas C H Schröder
- Department of Parasitology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Natalia D Pin Viso
- Institute of Agrobiotechnology and Molecular Biology, IABiMo, INTA-CONICET, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Larissa A Martins
- Department of Parasitology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Camila D Malossi
- Department of Parasitology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Maria F B M Galletti
- Department of Parasitology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Marcelo B Labruna
- Department of Preventive Veterinary Medicine and Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Husbandry, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Sirlei Daffre
- Department of Parasitology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Marisa Farber
- Institute of Agrobiotechnology and Molecular Biology, IABiMo, INTA-CONICET, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Andréa C Fogaça
- Department of Parasitology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
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17
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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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Clinical and serological evaluation of capybaras (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris) successively exposed to an Amblyomma sculptum-derived strain of Rickettsia rickettsii. Sci Rep 2020; 10:924. [PMID: 31969607 PMCID: PMC6976648 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-57607-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2019] [Accepted: 01/02/2020] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Brazilian spotted fever (BSF), caused by Rickettsia rickettsii, is the most lethal tick-borne disease in the western hemisphere. In Brazil, Amblyomma sculptum ticks are the main vector. Capybaras (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris), the largest living rodents of the world (adults weighing up to 100 Kg), have been recognized as amplifying hosts of R. rickettsii for A. sculptum in BSF-endemic areas; i.e., once primarily infected, capybaras develop bacteremia for a few days, when feeding ticks acquire rickettsial infection. We conducted experimental infections of five capybaras with an A. sculptum-derived strain of R. rickettsii and performed clinical and bacteremia evaluation during primary and subsequent infections. Bacteremia was detected in all capybaras during primary infection, but not in subsequent infections. All animals seroconverted to R. rickettsii (titres range: 64-32,768), and remained seropositive throughout the study. Primary infection resulted in clinical spotted fever illness in four capybaras, of which two had a fatal outcome. Subsequent infections in seropositive capybaras resulted in no clinical signs. Capybaras developed a sustained immune response that prevented a second bacteremia. This condition may imply a high reproduction rate of capybaras in BSF-endemic areas, in order to continuously generate capybaras susceptible to bacteremia during primary infection.
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Araújo SBD, Sampaio PHS, Duarte FC, Anjos KAD, Fiorini LC, Godoi FEDM, Mendes MC. Integrated tick control on a farm with the presence of capybaras in a Brazilian spotted fever endemic region. REVISTA BRASILEIRA DE PARASITOLOGIA VETERINARIA 2019; 28:671-676. [PMID: 31800889 DOI: 10.1590/s1984-29612019096] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2019] [Accepted: 10/18/2019] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Ticks of the Amblyomma cajennense complex present high infestation rates. These ticks transmit the bacterium Rickettsia rickettsii, which causes Brazilian Spotted Fever. For this reason, an integrated tick control system was adopted on a farm in the municipality of Itu, state of São Paulo. On this farm, which borders the Tietê river, domestic animals are in contact with populations of capybaras. Six locations were monitored and evaluated between the years of 2015 and 2017. During this work 1271 nymphs and adult ticks were caught, all of them from the Amblyomma sculptum species, except for a single individual from the Amblyomma dubitatum species. The integrated tick management reduced the overall infestation levels to zero. Adult tick population dropped in the first year of the study, while larvae population dropped in the second year. Nymph population dropped in both years, decreasing in higher numbers in the first year. The estimated mean infestation levels for all of the tick's life cycle forms in the six monitored spots did not reach one individual in the end of the study. Estimated mean infestation levels for nymphs in these places equaled zero.
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Kmetiuk LB, Krawczak FS, Machado FP, Paploski IAD, Martins TF, Teider-Junior PI, Serpa MCA, Barbieri ARM, Bach RVW, Barros-Filho IR, Lipinski LC, P. dos Santos A, Labruna MB, Biondo AW. Ticks and serosurvey of anti-Rickettsia spp. antibodies in wild boars (Sus scrofa), hunting dogs and hunters of Brazil. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2019; 13:e0007405. [PMID: 31145746 PMCID: PMC6542515 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0007405] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2018] [Accepted: 04/22/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Rickettsia bacteria are responsible for diseases in humans and animals around the world, however few details are available regarding its ecology and circulation among wild animals and human populations at high transmission risk in Brazil. The aim of this study was to investigate the occurrence of ticks and Rickettsia spp. in wild boars, corresponding hunting dogs and hunters. Methods Serum samples and ticks were collected from 80 free-range wild boars, 170 hunting dogs and 34 hunters from southern and central-western Brazil, from the Atlantic Forest and Cerrado biomes, respectively, between 2016 and 2018. Serum samples were tested by indirect immunofluorescent-antibody assay (IFA) to detect IgG antibodies against Rickettsia rickettsii, Rickettsia parkeri, Rickettsia bellii, Rickettsia rhipicephali and Rickettsia amblyommatis. Tick species were identified by morphological taxonomic keys, as previously described. A total of 164 ticks including A. sculptum, A. brasiliense and A. aureolatum were tested in PCR assays for Spotted Fever Group (SFG) Rickettsia spp. Results A total of 58/80 (72.5%) wild boars, 24/170 (14.1%) hunting dogs and 5/34 (14.7%) hunters were positive (titers ≥ 64) to at least one Rickettsia species. A total of 669/1,584 (42.2%) ticks from wild boars were identified as Amblyomma sculptum, 910/1,584 (57.4%) as Amblyomma brasiliense, 4/1,584(0.24%) larvae of Amblyomma spp. and 1/1,584 (0.06%) nymph as Amblyolmma dubitatum. All 9 ticks found on hunting dogs were identified as Amblyomma aureolatum and all 22 ticks on hunters as A. sculptum. No tested tick was positive by standard PCR to SFG Rickettsia spp. Conclusions The present study was the concomitant report of wild boar, hunting dog and hunter exposure to SFG rickettsiae agents, performed in two different Brazilian biomes. Wild boar hunting may increase the risk of human exposure and consequently tick-borne disease Wild boars may be carrying and spreading capybara ticks from their original habitats to other ecosystems. Further studies can be required to explore the ability of wild boars to infecting ticks and be part of transmission cycle of Rickettsia spp. The present study reported serological findings and molecular assays of Rickettsia spp and ticks of wild boars, simultaneous to their correspondent hunting dogs and hunters. Seropositivity for Rickettsia spp. was higher in wild boars when compared to dogs and humans but was similar between dogs and humans. Despite Rickettsia spp. prevalence was statistically higher in southern than central-western Brazil for wild boars, no significance was observed in hunting dogs and hunters. For the first time, A. sculptum ticks were founded in wild boars from the subtropical climate of southern Brazil. Despite human beings have been considered less exposed to ticks (and therefore rickettsiae) than animals, specific human activities such as wild boar hunting may increase the risk of exposure and consequently tick-borne disease. Wild boars may be carrying and spreading capybara ticks from their original habitats to other ecosystems. These results may provide important findings for public action planning to prevent neglected vector-borne diseases in overlapping areas of wild boars, hunting dogs and hunters. Further studies can be required to explore the ability of wild boars to infecting ticks and be part of transmission cycle of Rickettsia spp.
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Affiliation(s)
- Louise B. Kmetiuk
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Biology, Federal University of Paraná, Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil
| | - Felipe S. Krawczak
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, Federal University of Goiás, Goiânia, Goiás, Brazil
| | - Fernanda P. Machado
- Department of Veterinary Science, Federal University of Paraná, Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil
| | - Igor A. D. Paploski
- Department of Veterinary Population Medicine, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, Minnesota, United States of America
| | - Thiago F. Martins
- Department of Preventive Veterinary Medicine and Animal Health, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Pedro I. Teider-Junior
- Department of Veterinary Science, Federal University of Paraná, Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil
| | - Maria C. A. Serpa
- Department of Preventive Veterinary Medicine and Animal Health, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Amália R. M. Barbieri
- Department of Preventive Veterinary Medicine and Animal Health, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Renato V. W. Bach
- Department of Medicine, State University of Ponta Grossa, Paraná, Brazil
| | - Ivan R. Barros-Filho
- Department of Veterinary Science, Federal University of Paraná, Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil
| | | | - Andrea P. dos Santos
- Assistant professor, Department of Comparative Pathobiology, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, United States of America
| | - Marcelo B. Labruna
- Department of Preventive Veterinary Medicine and Animal Health, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Alexander W. Biondo
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Biology, Federal University of Paraná, Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil
- Adjunct professor, Department of Comparative Pathobiology, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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Rickettsia rickettsii Whole-Cell Antigens Offer Protection against Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever in the Canine Host. Infect Immun 2019; 87:IAI.00628-18. [PMID: 30396898 PMCID: PMC6346123 DOI: 10.1128/iai.00628-18] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2018] [Accepted: 10/30/2018] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Rocky Mountain spotted fever (RMSF) is a potentially fatal tick-borne disease in people and dogs. RMSF is reported in the United States and several countries in North, Central, and South America. Rocky Mountain spotted fever (RMSF) is a potentially fatal tick-borne disease in people and dogs. RMSF is reported in the United States and several countries in North, Central, and South America. The causative agent of this disease, Rickettsia rickettsii, is transmitted by several species of ticks, including Dermacentor andersoni, Rhipicephalus sanguineus, and Amblyomma americanum. RMSF clinical signs generally include fever, headache, nausea, vomiting, muscle pain, lack of appetite, and rash. If untreated, it can quickly progress into a life-threatening illness in people and dogs, with high fatality rates ranging from 30 to 80%. While RMSF has been known for over a century, recent epidemiological data suggest that the numbers of documented cases and the fatality rates remain high in people, particularly during the last two decades in parts of North America. Currently, there are no vaccines available to prevent RMSF in either dogs or people. In this study, we investigated the efficacies of two experimental vaccines, a subunit vaccine containing two recombinant outer membrane proteins as recombinant antigens (RCA) and a whole-cell inactivated antigen vaccine (WCA), in conferring protection against virulent R. rickettsii infection challenge in a newly established canine model for RMSF. Dogs vaccinated with WCA were protected from RMSF, whereas those receiving RCA developed disease similar to that of nonvaccinated R. rickettsii-infected dogs. WCA also reduced the pathogen loads to nearly undetected levels in the blood, lungs, liver, spleen, and brain and induced bacterial antigen-specific immune responses. This study provides the first evidence of the protective ability of WCA against RMSF in dogs.
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Tomassone L, Portillo A, Nováková M, de Sousa R, Oteo JA. Neglected aspects of tick-borne rickettsioses. Parasit Vectors 2018; 11:263. [PMID: 29690900 PMCID: PMC5937841 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-018-2856-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2017] [Accepted: 04/18/2018] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Rickettsioses are among the oldest known infectious diseases. In spite of this, and of the extensive research carried out, many aspects of the biology and epidemiology of tick-borne rickettsiae are far from being completely understood. Their association with arthropod vectors, the importance of vertebrates as reservoirs, the rarity of clinical signs in animals, or the interactions of pathogenic species with rickettsial endosymbionts and with the host intracellular environment, are only some examples. Moreover, new rickettsiae are continuously being discovered. In this review, we focus on the ‘neglected’ aspects of tick-borne rickettsioses and on the gaps in knowledge, which could help to explain why these infections are still emerging and re-emerging threats worldwide.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Tomassone
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Turin, Largo Braccini 2, 10095, Grugliasco (Torino), Italy.
| | - Aránzazu Portillo
- Center of Rickettsiosis and Arthropod-Borne Diseases, Hospital San Pedro-CIBIR, C/ Piqueras 98, 26006, Logroño, Spain
| | - Markéta Nováková
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Kamenice 5, 625 00, Brno, Czech Republic.,Department of Biology and Wildlife Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Hygiene and Ecology, University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences Brno, Palackého 1946/1, 612 42, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Rita de Sousa
- National Institute of Health Dr. Ricardo Jorge, Av. da Liberdade 5, 2965-575, Aguas de Moura, Portugal
| | - José Antonio Oteo
- Center of Rickettsiosis and Arthropod-Borne Diseases, Hospital San Pedro-CIBIR, C/ Piqueras 98, 26006, Logroño, Spain
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Scott F, Franz L, Campos DR, Azevedo TRC, Cunha D, Six RH, Maeder S, Cree T. Efficacy of sarolaner (Simparic™) against induced infestations of Amblyomma cajennense on dogs. Parasit Vectors 2017; 10:390. [PMID: 28814323 PMCID: PMC5559851 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-017-2324-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2017] [Accepted: 08/04/2017] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Amblyomma cajennense is the main vector of Rickettsia rickettsii which causes Brazilian spotted fever. This adult tick preferably infests horses and capybaras, but has low host specificity during its immature stages, thus posing a threat to humans and dogs. In this study, the efficacy of sarolaner (Simparic™/Simparica®, Zoetis) when administered once orally to dogs at 2 mg/kg was evaluated against induced infestations of A. cajennense nymphs for up to 35 days after treatment. Methods Based on pretreatment tick counts, 20 dogs were randomly allocated to treatment with sarolaner (Simparic™) dosed at 2 mg/kg of body weight or a placebo on Day 0 of the study. Artificial infestations were performed using laboratory raised A. cajennense nymphs on study days -2, 5, 12, 19, 26 and 33. Efficacy was determined at 48 h post-treatment or post-infestation at each time point relative to the counts for dogs that received placebo. Results There were no adverse reactions to treatment. A single dose of sarolaner (Simparic™) provided 100% efficacy on study days 2, 7 and 14; and ≥ 99.6% on days 21, 28 and 35. Geometric mean live tick counts for sarolaner were significantly lower than those for placebo on all days (P < 0.0001). Conclusions Under the conditions of the present study, sarolaner (Simparic™) administered once orally at 2 mg/kg provided 100% efficacy against existing infestations and ≥ 99.6% efficacy within 48 h against weekly challenges of A. cajennense for at least 35 days after treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabio Scott
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Ciências Veterinárias do Instituto de Veterinária da Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro, DPA-IV-UFRRJ Br 467, Km 7, Seropédica, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Lilian Franz
- Zoetis, Veterinary Medicine Research and Development, Rua Luiz Fernando Rodriguez, Campinas, SP, 1701, Brazil.
| | - Diefrey Ribeiro Campos
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Ciências Veterinárias do Instituto de Veterinária da Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro, DPA-IV-UFRRJ Br 467, Km 7, Seropédica, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Thaís Ribeiro Correia Azevedo
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Ciências Veterinárias do Instituto de Veterinária da Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro, DPA-IV-UFRRJ Br 467, Km 7, Seropédica, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Daise Cunha
- Zoetis, Veterinary Medicine Research and Development, Rua Luiz Fernando Rodriguez, Campinas, SP, 1701, Brazil
| | - Robert H Six
- Zoetis, Veterinary Medicine Research and Development, 333 Portage St, Kalamazoo, MI, 49007, USA
| | - Steven Maeder
- Zoetis, Veterinary Medicine Research and Development, 333 Portage St, Kalamazoo, MI, 49007, USA
| | - Travis Cree
- Zoetis, Veterinary Medicine Research and Development, 333 Portage St, Kalamazoo, MI, 49007, USA
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Guimarães MF, Araujo ADC, Freire DP, Machado DM, Martins NN, Moraes-Filho J, Horta MC. Investigação sorológica de Rickettsia rickettsii e Coxiella burnetii em caprinos e ovinos no entorno do Parque Nacional da Serra das Confusões, Piauí. PESQUISA VETERINARIA BRASILEIRA 2017. [DOI: 10.1590/s0100-736x2017000600004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
RESUMO: As doenças causadas por bactérias dos gêneros Rickettsia e Coxiella possuem como vetores artrópodes hematófagos, na sua maioria carrapatos, que atuam diretamente na transmissão de patógenos responsáveis por enfermidades de grande impacto na medicina veterinária e humana. O presente estudo objetivou realizar uma investigação sorológica de Rickettsia rickettsii e Coxiella burnetii em caprinos e ovinos criados no entorno do Parque Nacional da Serra das Confusões (PNSC), localizado no estado do Piauí, região nordeste do Brasil. Amostras de soro de 202 caprinos e 153 ovinos foram testadas pela Reação de Imunofluorescência Indireta (RIFI) para detecção de anticorpos anti-R. rickettsii e anti-C. burnetii, sendo consideradas positivas quando apresentaram títulos ≥ 64. Carrapatos em fase de parasitismo foram coletados e identificados. Todas as amostras de caprinos e ovinos foram soronegativas para antígenos de R. rickettsii. Foi verificado soropositividade em 2% (3/153) das amostras de ovinos para C. burnetii, com títulos variando de 64 a 4.096. As amostras de caprinos não foram reagentes ao referido antígeno. Não foi observado parasitismo em caprinos por carrapatos. No total, foram coletados 56 carrapatos parasitando 15 ovinos (9,8%), todos identificados como Rhipicephalus microplus. O estudo demonstrou a ausência de anticorpos anti-R. rickettsii nas amostras de caprinos e ovinos, ausência de anticorpos anti-C. burnetii em caprinos; e possibilitou o primeiro relato da ocorrência sorológica de C. burnetii em ovinos nesta região do Brasil.
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Barradas PF, Vilhena H, Oliveira AC, Granada S, Amorim I, Ferreira P, Cardoso L, Gärtner F, de Sousa R. Serological and molecular detection of spotted fever group Rickettsia in a group of pet dogs from Luanda, Angola. Parasit Vectors 2017; 10:271. [PMID: 28569177 PMCID: PMC5450355 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-017-2216-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2017] [Accepted: 05/24/2017] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Infections with tick-borne rickettsiae can cause diseases well known in humans but still not so well characterized in dogs. Susceptibility to infection depends on the virulence of Rickettsia spp. and only a few of them have been described to cause disease in dogs. The aim of this study was to investigate the exposure to Rickettsia spp. among a group of pet dogs from Luanda, Angola. Results Out of 103 dogs included in the study, 62 (60.2%) were infested with ticks. Plasma specimens tested for serology by an immunofluorescence assay (IFA) revealed that six (5.8%) dogs had detectable immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies to spotted fever group Rickettsia (SFGR), with endpoint titers of 64 for two dogs, 128 for three dogs and 1024 for one dog. From the seropositive group of dogs, five (83%) of them were males, with their age ranging from 1 to 8 years old. Among the seropositive dogs, four (66.7%) were parasitized with ticks and no breed (or cross) was found to be associated with specific antibodies. Rickettsia spp. DNA was detected by nested-polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in two (1.9%) dogs that were found to be seronegative. Conclusions Seroprevalence and molecular detection of Rickettsia spp. infection in this group of pet dogs from Luanda is low compared with other studies performed in the same type of hosts in other areas. Although many dogs were parasitized with ticks, a low prevalence of Rickettsia spp. could be related with the hypothesis of a low rickettsial prevalence in the infesting ticks. This study provides evidence that dogs in Luanda are exposed to Rickettsia spp., but further studies are needed to better characterize the bacterial infections in dogs and in their ectoparasites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrícia F Barradas
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences Abel Salazar (ICBAS), University of Porto, Oporto, Portugal
| | - Hugo Vilhena
- Animal and Veterinary Research Centre (CECAV), University of Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro (UTAD), Vila Real, Portugal.,Department of Veterinary Medicine, Escola Universitária Vasco da Gama, Coimbra, Portugal.,Baixo Vouga Veterinary Hospital, Águeda, Portugal
| | | | - Sara Granada
- Casa dos Animais Veterinary Clinic, Luanda, Angola
| | - Irina Amorim
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences Abel Salazar (ICBAS), University of Porto, Oporto, Portugal.,Instituto de Inovação e Investigação em Saúde (i3S), Universidade do Porto, Oporto, Portugal.,Institute of Molecular Pathology and Immunology of the University of Porto (IPATIMUP), Oporto, Portugal
| | - Paula Ferreira
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences Abel Salazar (ICBAS), University of Porto, Oporto, Portugal.,Instituto de Inovação e Investigação em Saúde (i3S), Universidade do Porto, Oporto, Portugal.,Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular (IBMC), Universidade do Porto, Oporto, Portugal
| | - Luís Cardoso
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, School of Agrarian and Veterinary Sciences, UTAD, Vila Real, Portugal.
| | - Fátima Gärtner
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences Abel Salazar (ICBAS), University of Porto, Oporto, Portugal.,Instituto de Inovação e Investigação em Saúde (i3S), Universidade do Porto, Oporto, Portugal.,Institute of Molecular Pathology and Immunology of the University of Porto (IPATIMUP), Oporto, Portugal
| | - Rita de Sousa
- National Institute of Health Dr. Ricardo Jorge (INSA), Lisbon, Portugal
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Minervino AHH, Lima JTR, Soares HS, Malheiros AF, Marcili A, Krawczak FDS, Lopes MG, Martins TF, Moreira TR, Ribeiro MFB, Labruna MB, Gennari SM. Seroprevalence of Tick-Borne Pathogens and Tick Infestation in Dogs from Tapirapé and Karajá Indigenous Communities, Brazil. Vector Borne Zoonotic Dis 2017; 15:412-8. [PMID: 26186512 DOI: 10.1089/vbz.2014.1737] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
With the aim of studying some tick-borne diseases, a total of 327 dogs (114 from Tapirapé and 213 from Karajá indigenous ethnicity, Mato Grosso, MT, Brazil) were sampled. Serum samples were submitted to the indirect fluorescence antibody test (IFAT) to detect antibodies against Babesia vogeli, Ehrlichia canis, and Rickettsia spp. Possible associations of risk factors and the occurrence of seroreativity to tick-borne agents and tick infestations were analyzed through chi-squared tests. Among 327 dogs, 46 (13.15%) were seropositive for B. vogeli and 47 (14.37%) for E. canis. The B. vogeli seroprevalence was higher for Karajá and for adult dogs (p>0.05). No association was found for E. canis seroprevalence. From 103 serum samples tested with rickettsial antigens, 90 (87%) dogs were seropositive to Rickettsia spp., with highest reactivity to Rickettsia amblyommii. Canine seropositivity to Rickettsia spp. was associated (p<0.05) with ethnicity (higher seroprevalence in Tapirapé dogs), age (higher in adults), and hunting (higher among hunting dogs). From the 327 dogs, 39 (11.9%) were infested by ticks (Amblyomma cajennense sensu stricto, Amblyomma ovale, Amblyomma oblongoguttatum, Amblyomma tigrinum, and Rhipicephalus sanguineus). Infestations by Amblyomma spp. ticks were higher in dogs from Tapirapé community and in hunting dogs (p<0.05). Regarding R. sanguineus, infestations were higher (p<0.05) among young dogs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonio Humberto Hamad Minervino
- 1 Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, Universidade de São Paulo , São Paulo, SP, Brazil .,2 Instituto de Biodiversidade e Floresta, Universidade Federal do Oeste do Pará , Santarém, PA, Brazil
| | | | - Herbert Sousa Soares
- 1 Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, Universidade de São Paulo , São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Antonio Francisco Malheiros
- 3 Faculdade de Ciências Agrárias e Biológicas, Universidade do Estado de Mato Grosso-UNEMAT, Cáceres, MT, Brazil
| | - Arlei Marcili
- 1 Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, Universidade de São Paulo , São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Felipe da Silva Krawczak
- 1 Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, Universidade de São Paulo , São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Marcos Gomes Lopes
- 1 Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, Universidade de São Paulo , São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Thiago Fernandes Martins
- 1 Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, Universidade de São Paulo , São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Thiago Rocha Moreira
- 2 Instituto de Biodiversidade e Floresta, Universidade Federal do Oeste do Pará , Santarém, PA, Brazil
| | - Múcio Flávio Barbosa Ribeiro
- 3 Faculdade de Ciências Agrárias e Biológicas, Universidade do Estado de Mato Grosso-UNEMAT, Cáceres, MT, Brazil
| | - Marcelo B Labruna
- 1 Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, Universidade de São Paulo , São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Solange Maria Gennari
- 1 Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, Universidade de São Paulo , São Paulo, SP, Brazil
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Scinachi CA, Takeda GA, Mucci LF, Pinter A. Association of the occurrence of Brazilian spotted fever and Atlantic rain forest fragmentation in the São Paulo metropolitan region, Brazil. Acta Trop 2017; 166:225-233. [PMID: 27880877 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2016.11.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2016] [Revised: 11/02/2016] [Accepted: 11/16/2016] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
Brazilian Spotted Fever (BSF) is a zoonotic disease caused by the bacterium Rickettsia rickettsii. In the São Paulo Metropolitan Region (SPMR) it is transmitted by Amblyomma aureolatum ticks. In this region, annual lethality of the disease can reach 80% and spatial occurrence depends on environmental factors and more particularly on the presence and interaction of domestic and wild carnivores as well as the presence and characteristics of the remnant Atlantic Rain Forest patches. This study analyzed the association between forest fragmentation and its influence on the risk of occurrence of the disease in the human population. Domestic dogs tested for R. rickettsii antibodies in nine different areas under the influence of different patterns of Rain Forest fragmented landscapes and human occupancy. Landscape metrics were obtained by analyzing satellite images and high-resolution orthophotos. Principal component analysis (PCA) was used to determine among the different landscape variables the one that could best explain the data variance, and the results were tested against canine seroprevalence in order to address disease occurrence risk levels. From 270 canine samples, the seroprevalence ranged from 0 to 37%. PCA showed an inverse correlation between functionally connected large forest patches and the canine seroprevalence for R. rickettsii (p=0.030; Spearman's R=-0.683), while there was a positive correlation between forest border effect and canine seroprevalence (p=0.037; Spearman's R=- 0.909). The further attributed disease occurrence risk level supported the real spatial prevalence of the disease reported for the last eight years (p=0.023; Spearman's R=0.63). The results suggest an important relation of deforestation and fragmentation with the occurrence of BSF in the SPMR.
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Martins MEP, Brito WMED, Labruna MB, Moraes Filho J, Sousa-Martins KC, Vieira RP. INQUÉRITO EPIDEMIOLÓGICO DE SUPOSTO FOCO DE FEBRE MACULOSA. CIÊNCIA ANIMAL BRASILEIRA 2016. [DOI: 10.1590/1089-6891v17i334947] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Resumo O presente estudo objetivou avaliar a suspeita de ocorrência da febre maculosa (FM) em Quirinópolis - GO, por meio de inquérito sorológico em amostras de humanos, cães e equinos e identificação de carrapatos vetores. Em 2007, foram realizadas reações de imunofluorescência indireta (RIFI) para Rickettsia spp. em amostras de sangue colhidas de 28 pessoas do grupo de convívio de um caso suspeito (uma criança de três anos que apresentou sinais de riquetsiose, após exposição a carrapatos). Também foram colhidas amostras de sangue em cinco cães e 42 equinos, havendo soro reagentes somente entre os equinos (28,6%). Não foi constatada a presença do carrapato Amblyomma cajennense. Sete indivíduos foram reagentes para Rickettsia spp., a maioria desses eram parentes paternos do caso suspeito. Em 2008, na mesma região, foram realizadas RIFI em amostras de 30 humanos sem sinais clínicos de FM e constatou-se 50% de soro reagentes para Rickettsia spp. Adicionalmente, colheram-se amostras de sangue de 24 cães errantes, havendo um cão soropositivo. A evidência sorológica do contato entre bactérias do gênero Rickettsia com habitantes humanos e animais de Quirinópolis indica que a FM ou outra riquetsiose possa estar ocorrendo no Estado de Goiás.
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Moreira-Soto A, Carranza MV, Taylor L, Calderón-Arguedas O, Hun L, Troyo A. Exposure of dogs to spotted fever group rickettsiae in urban sites associated with human rickettsioses in Costa Rica. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2016; 7:748-753. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2016.03.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2015] [Revised: 03/07/2016] [Accepted: 03/09/2016] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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Levin ML, Snellgrove AN, Zemtsova GE. Comparative value of blood and skin samples for diagnosis of spotted fever group rickettsial infection in model animals. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2016; 7:1029-1034. [PMID: 27282078 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2016.05.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2016] [Revised: 05/23/2016] [Accepted: 05/25/2016] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
The definitive diagnosis of spotted fever group (SFG) rickettsioses in humans is challenging due to the retrospective nature and cross reactivity of the serological methods and the absence of reliable and consistent samples for molecular diagnostics. Existing data indicate the transient character of bacteremia in experimentally infected animals. The ability of arthropod vectors to acquire rickettsial infection from the laboratory animals in the absence of systemic infection and known tropism of rickettsial agents to endothelial cells of peripheral blood vessels underline the importance of local infection and consequently the diagnostic potential of skin samples. In order to evaluate the diagnostic sensitivity of rickettsial DNA detection in blood and skin samples, we compared results of PCR testing in parallel samples collected from model laboratory animals infected with Rickettsia rickettsii, Rickettsia parkeri and Rickettsia slovaca-like agent at different time points after infection. Skin samples were collected from ears - away from the site of tick placement and without eschars. Overall, testing of skin samples resulted in a higher proportion of positive results than testing of blood samples. Presented data from model animals demonstrates that testing of skin samples from sites of rickettsial proliferation can provide definitive molecular diagnosis of up to 60-70% of tick-borne SFG rickettsial infections during the acute stage of illness. Detection of pathogen DNA in cutaneous samples is a valuable alternative to blood-PCR at least in model animals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael L Levin
- Rickettsial Zoonoses Branch, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, United States.
| | - Alyssa N Snellgrove
- Rickettsial Zoonoses Branch, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Galina E Zemtsova
- Rickettsial Zoonoses Branch, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, United States
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Brazilian Spotted Fever with an Approach in Veterinary Medicine and One Health Perspective. Vet Med Int 2016; 2016:2430945. [PMID: 26881183 PMCID: PMC4736996 DOI: 10.1155/2016/2430945] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2015] [Revised: 12/15/2015] [Accepted: 12/16/2015] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
There is increasing interaction between man and pathogens transmitted by arthropods, especially by ticks. It is on this background that a holistic approach stands out, for the sake of Public Health. Brazilian Spotted Fever is an endemic disease at the country's southeast, with Amblyomma sculptum as its major contributor, followed by A. aureolatum and potentially Rhipicephalus sanguineus. Dogs have been considered sentinels, and in some areas the disease in dogs can precede human disease. Considering the importance of this disease for human health, the serological evidence in dogs, and the transmission of ticks between dogs and their owners, this review aimed to elucidate the importance of the epidemiological investigation, the diagnosis in dogs, and the role of veterinarians in Public Health to control vector-borne zoonotic diseases. We encourage veterinarians to include this rickettsial infection in the diagnosis of febrile diseases of common occurrence in dogs.
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Clinical presentation, convalescence, and relapse of rocky mountain spotted fever in dogs experimentally infected via tick bite. PLoS One 2014; 9:e115105. [PMID: 25542001 PMCID: PMC4277292 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0115105] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2014] [Accepted: 11/18/2014] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Rocky Mountain spotted fever (RMSF) is a tick-borne disease caused by R. rickettsii in North and South America. Domestic dogs are susceptible to infection and canine RMSF can be fatal without appropriate treatment. Although clinical signs of R. rickettsii infection in dogs have been described, published reports usually include descriptions of either advanced clinical cases or experimental infections caused by needle-inoculation of cultured pathogen rather than by tick bite. The natural progression of a tick-borne R. rickettsii infection has not been studied in sufficient detail. Here, we provide a detailed description of clinical, hematological, molecular, and serological dynamics of RMSF in domestic dogs from the day of experimental exposure to infected ticks through recovery. Presented data indicate that neither the height/duration of fever nor detection of rickettsial DNA in dogs' blood by PCR are good indicators for clinical prognosis. Only the apex and subsequent subsidence of neutrophilia seem to mark the beginning of recovery and allow predicting a favorable outcome in Rickettsia-infected dogs, even despite the continuing persistence of mucosal petechiae and skin rash. On the other hand the appropriate (doxycycline) antibiotic therapy of sufficient duration is crucial in prevention of RMSF relapses in dogs.
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Soares HS, Camargo LMA, Gennari SM, Labruna MB. Survey of canine tick-borne diseases in Lábrea, Brazilian Amazon: ‘accidental’ findings of Dirofilaria immitis infection. REVISTA BRASILEIRA DE PARASITOLOGIA VETERINARIA 2014; 23:473-80. [DOI: 10.1590/s1984-29612014093] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2014] [Accepted: 07/25/2014] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Blood samples were collected from 99 domestic dogs from the urban and rural areas of the Lábrea municipality, state of Amazonas, Brazil. Canine serum samples were tested by immunofluorescence assay against Rickettsia spp., which revealed that only 3.0% (1/33) and 7.6% (5/66) of the dogs from urban and rural areas, respectively, reacted positively to at least one Rickettsia species. DNA was extracted from canine blood and tested by a battery of PCR assays targeting protozoa of the genera Babesia and Hepatozoon, and bacteria of the genera Rickettsia and Ehrlichia and family Anaplasmataceae. All samples were negative in the PCR assays targeting the genera Babesia, Hepatozoon, Ehrlichia and Rickettsia. For Anaplasmataceae, 3% (1/33) and 39.4% (26/66) of the urban and rural dogs, respectively, yielded amplicons that generated DNA sequences 100% identical to the corresponding sequence of Wolbachia endosymbiont of Dirofilaria immitis. Because of these results, all canine DNA samples were further tested in a PCR assay targeting filarial nematodes, which was positive for 18.2% (6/33) and 57.6% (38/66) urban and rural dogs, respectively. Filarial-PCR products generated DNA sequences 100% identical to D. immitis. While tick-borne infections were rare in Lábrea, D. immitis infection rates were among the highest reported in South America.
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Fung H, Calzada J, Saldaña A, Santamaria A, Pineda V, Gonzalez K, Chaves L, Garner B, Gottdenker N. Domestic dog health worsens with socio-economic deprivation of their home communities. Acta Trop 2014; 135:67-74. [PMID: 24681221 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2014.03.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2013] [Revised: 03/05/2014] [Accepted: 03/17/2014] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Dogs play an important role in infectious disease transmission as reservoir hosts of many zoonotic and wildlife pathogens. Nevertheless, unlike wildlife species involved in the life cycle of pathogens, whose health status might be a direct reflection of their fitness and competitive abilities, dog health condition could be sensitive to socio-economic factors impacting the well-being of their owners. Here, we compare several dog health indicators in three rural communities of Panama with different degrees of socio-economic deprivation. From a total of 78 individuals, we collected blood and fecal samples, and assessed their body condition. With the blood samples, we performed routine hematologic evaluation (complete blood counts) and measured cytokine levels (Interferon-γ and Interleukin-10) through enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. With the fecal samples we diagnosed helminthiases. Dogs were also serologically tested for exposure to Trypanosoma cruzi and canine distemper virus, and molecular tests were done to assess T. cruzi infection status. We found significant differences between dog health measurements, pathogen prevalence, parasite richness, and economic status of the human communities where the dogs lived. We found dogs that were less healthy, more likely to be infected with zoonotic pathogens, and more likely to be seropositive to canine distemper virus in the communities with lower economic status. This study concludes that isolated communities of lower economic status in Panama may have less healthy dogs that could become major reservoirs in the transmission of diseases to humans and sympatric wildlife.
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Parola P, Paddock CD, Socolovschi C, Labruna MB, Mediannikov O, Kernif T, Abdad MY, Stenos J, Bitam I, Fournier PE, Raoult D. Update on tick-borne rickettsioses around the world: a geographic approach. Clin Microbiol Rev 2013; 26:657-702. [PMID: 24092850 PMCID: PMC3811236 DOI: 10.1128/cmr.00032-13] [Citation(s) in RCA: 893] [Impact Index Per Article: 81.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Tick-borne rickettsioses are caused by obligate intracellular bacteria belonging to the spotted fever group of the genus Rickettsia. These zoonoses are among the oldest known vector-borne diseases. However, in the past 25 years, the scope and importance of the recognized tick-associated rickettsial pathogens have increased dramatically, making this complex of diseases an ideal paradigm for the understanding of emerging and reemerging infections. Several species of tick-borne rickettsiae that were considered nonpathogenic for decades are now associated with human infections, and novel Rickettsia species of undetermined pathogenicity continue to be detected in or isolated from ticks around the world. This remarkable expansion of information has been driven largely by the use of molecular techniques that have facilitated the identification of novel and previously recognized rickettsiae in ticks. New approaches, such as swabbing of eschars to obtain material to be tested by PCR, have emerged in recent years and have played a role in describing emerging tick-borne rickettsioses. Here, we present the current knowledge on tick-borne rickettsiae and rickettsioses using a geographic approach toward the epidemiology of these diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philippe Parola
- Aix Marseille Université, Unité de Recherche en Maladies Infectieuses et Tropicales Emergentes (URMITE), UM63, CNRS 7278, IRD 198, Inserm 1095, WHO Collaborative Center for Rickettsioses and Other Arthropod-Borne Bacterial Diseases, Faculté de Médecine, Marseille, France
| | | | - Cristina Socolovschi
- Aix Marseille Université, Unité de Recherche en Maladies Infectieuses et Tropicales Emergentes (URMITE), UM63, CNRS 7278, IRD 198, Inserm 1095, WHO Collaborative Center for Rickettsioses and Other Arthropod-Borne Bacterial Diseases, Faculté de Médecine, Marseille, France
| | - Marcelo B. Labruna
- Departamento de Medicina Veterinária Preventiva e Saúde Animal, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia Universidade de São Paulo, Cidade Universitária, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Oleg Mediannikov
- Aix Marseille Université, Unité de Recherche en Maladies Infectieuses et Tropicales Emergentes (URMITE), UM63, CNRS 7278, IRD 198, Inserm 1095, WHO Collaborative Center for Rickettsioses and Other Arthropod-Borne Bacterial Diseases, Faculté de Médecine, Marseille, France
| | - Tahar Kernif
- Service d'Ecologie des Systèmes Vectoriels, Institut Pasteur d'Algérie, Algiers, Algeria
| | - Mohammad Yazid Abdad
- Division of Veterinary and Biomedical Science, Murdoch University, Australian Rickettsial Reference Laboratory, Barwon Health, Geelong, Victoria, Australia
| | - John Stenos
- Division of Veterinary and Biomedical Science, Murdoch University, Australian Rickettsial Reference Laboratory, Barwon Health, Geelong, Victoria, Australia
| | - Idir Bitam
- University of Boumerdes, Boumerdes, Algeria
| | - Pierre-Edouard Fournier
- Aix Marseille Université, Unité de Recherche en Maladies Infectieuses et Tropicales Emergentes (URMITE), UM63, CNRS 7278, IRD 198, Inserm 1095, WHO Collaborative Center for Rickettsioses and Other Arthropod-Borne Bacterial Diseases, Faculté de Médecine, Marseille, France
| | - Didier Raoult
- Aix Marseille Université, Unité de Recherche en Maladies Infectieuses et Tropicales Emergentes (URMITE), UM63, CNRS 7278, IRD 198, Inserm 1095, WHO Collaborative Center for Rickettsioses and Other Arthropod-Borne Bacterial Diseases, Faculté de Médecine, Marseille, France
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Senra TOS, Calmon F, Zeringóta V, Monteiro CMO, Maturano R, da Silva Matos R, Melo D, Gomes GA, de Carvalho MG, Daemon E. Investigation of activity of monoterpenes and phenylpropanoids against immature stages of Amblyomma cajennense and Rhipicephalus sanguineus (Acari: Ixodidae). Parasitol Res 2013; 112:3471-6. [DOI: 10.1007/s00436-013-3527-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2013] [Accepted: 06/26/2013] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
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Abstract
Many viral, bacterial and parasitic pathogens have been associated with tick transmission, including several recently identified pathogens in both humans and domestic animals, especially dogs. The emergence in dogs of these tick-borne infections has a multi factorial origin. Better animal care, better diagnostic tools, and a broader distribution of the vectors in favorable habitats through population migrations including travel with owned pets, translocation or commercial trade of pet dogs, are some of the factors contributing to the emergence and recognition of these new pathogens. The present review focuses on the recent epidemiological studies which support the emergence or re-emergence of tick-borne pathogens in dogs around the world, as well as give some insight on newly recognized potentially tick-borne pathogens, such as Bartonella infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bruno Chomel
- Department of Population Health and Reproduction, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA.
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38
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Fortes FS, Silveira I, Moraes-Filho J, Leite RV, Bonacim JE, Biondo AW, Labruna MB, Molento MB. Seroprevalence of Rickettsia bellii and Rickettsia felis in dogs, São José dos Pinhais, State of Paraná, Brazil. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2011; 19:222-7. [PMID: 21184698 DOI: 10.1590/s1984-29612010000400006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2010] [Accepted: 11/05/2010] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Brazilian spotted fever (BSF) is a vector-borne zoonosis caused by Rickettsia rickettsii bacteria. Dogs can be host sentinels for this bacterium. The aim of the study was to determine the presence of antibodies against Rickettsia spp. in dogs from the city of São José dos Pinhais, State of Paraná, Southern Brazil, where a human case of BSF was first reported in the state. Between February 2006 and July 2007, serum samples from 364 dogs were collected and tested at 1:64 dilutions by indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFA) against R. rickettsii and R. parkeri. All sera that reacted at least to one of Rickettsia species were tested against the six main Rickettsia species identified in Brazil: R. rickettsii, R. parkeri, R. bellii, R. rhipicephali, R. amblyommii and R. felis. Sixteen samples (4.4%) reacted to at least one Rickettsia species. Among positive animals, two dogs (15.5%) showed suggestive titers for R. bellii exposure. One sample had a homologous reaction to R. felis, a confirmed human pathogen. Although Rickettsia spp. circulation in dogs in the area studied may be considered at low prevalence, suggesting low risk of human infection, the present data demonstrate for the first time the exposure of dogs to R. bellii and R. felis in Southern Brazil.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fernanda Silva Fortes
- Laboratório de Doenças Parasitárias, Departamento de Medicina Veterinária, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária, Universidade Federal do Paraná, Rua dos Funcionários 1540, Curitiba-PR, Brazil
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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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40
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Beeler E, Abramowicz KF, Zambrano ML, Sturgeon MM, Khalaf N, Hu R, Dasch GA, Eremeeva ME. A focus of dogs and Rickettsia massiliae-infected Rhipicephalus sanguineus in California. Am J Trop Med Hyg 2011; 84:244-9. [PMID: 21292893 DOI: 10.4269/ajtmh.2011.10-0355] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Abstract
A recurrent focus of Rhipicephalus sanguineus infestation was investigated in a suburban area of southern California after reports of suspected Rocky Mountain spotted fever in two dogs on the same property. Abundant quantities of Rh. sanguineus were collected on the property and repeatedly from each dog, and Rickettsia massiliae DNA was detected by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Whole blood and serum samples from four dogs were tested by using PCR and microimmunofluorescent assay for antibodies against spotted fever group rickettsiae. Serum samples from all four dogs contained antibodies reactive with R. massiliae, R. rhipicephali, R. rickettsii, and 364D Rickettsia but no rickettsial DNA was detected by PCR of blood samples. Serum cross-absorption and Western blot assays implicated R. massiliae as the most likely spotted fever group rickettsiae responsible for seropositivity. To our knowledge, this is the first detection of R. massiliae in ticks in California.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily Beeler
- Rickettsial Zoonoses Branch, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA 30333, USA.
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D'Auria SRN, Camargo MCGO, Pacheco RC, Savani ESMM, Dias MAG, da Rosa AR, de Almeida MF, Labruna MB. Serologic survey for rickettsiosis in bats from São Paulo city, Brazil. Vector Borne Zoonotic Dis 2010; 10:459-63. [PMID: 19877815 DOI: 10.1089/vbz.2009.0070] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Blood serum samples were collected from 451 bats captured within the São Paulo city from April 2007 to November 2008, and individually tested by indirect immunofluorescence assay against antigens derived from five Rickettsia species reported to occur in Brazil: the spotted fever group (SFG) species R. rickettsii, R. parkeri, R. amblyommii, R. rhipicephali, and the ancestral group species R. bellii. For this purpose, an anti-bat immunoglobulin G was produced and used in the present study. Overall, 8.6% (39/451), 9.5% (34/358), 7.8% (28/358), 1.1% (4/358), and 0% (0/358) serum samples were reactive to R. rickettsii, R. parkeri, R. amblyommii, R. rhipicephali, and R. bellii, respectively. Endpoint titers of reactive sera ranged from 64 to 256. From 20 bat species of 3 different families (Molossidae, Vespertilionidae, and Phyllostomidae), 46 animals were shown to be reactive to at least one rickettsial antigen. Seropositivity per bat species ranged from 0% to 33.3%. Most of the serologically positive sera reacted with two or more rickettsial antigens. Seropositivity for SFG rickettsial antigens in the absence of reactivity against R. bellii (ancestral group species) suggests that bats from São Paulo city can be infected by SFG rickettsiae. The possible role of soft ticks in serving as vectors of SFG rickettsiae to bats within the São Paulo city, associated to its public health risks, is discussed.
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Forshey BM, Stewart A, Morrison AC, Gálvez H, Rocha C, Astete H, Eza D, Chen HW, Chao CC, Montgomery JM, Bentzel DE, Ching WM, Kochel TJ. Epidemiology of spotted fever group and typhus group rickettsial infection in the Amazon basin of Peru. Am J Trop Med Hyg 2010; 82:683-90. [PMID: 20348519 DOI: 10.4269/ajtmh.2010.09-0355] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Abstract
A seroprevalence study for IgG antibodies against spotted fever group (SFGR) and typhus group (TGR) Rickettsia among humans and domestic pets was conducted in the city of Iquitos, located in the Amazon basin of Peru. Of 1,195 human sera analyzed, 521 (43.6%) and 123 (10.3%) were positive for SFGR and TGR antibodies, respectively. District of residence and participant age were associated with antibody positivity for both groups, whereas rodent sightings in the home were associated with TGR antibody positivity. Of the 71 canines tested, 42 (59.2%) were positive for SFGR antibodies, and two (2.8%) were positive for TGR antibodies; one active SFGR infection was detected by polymerase chain reaction. An uncharacterized SFGR species was detected in 95.9% (71/74) of Ctenocephalides felis pools collected from domestic pets. These data suggest that rickettsial transmission is widespread in Iquitos. Rickettsia species should be further explored as potential causes of acute febrile illnesses in the region.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brett M Forshey
- U.S. Naval Medical Research Center Detachment, Iquitos and Lima, Peru.
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