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Gual-Gonzalez L, Cantillo-Barraza O, Torres ME, Quintero-Vélez JC, Medina M, Self SCW, Nolan MS. Antibody Seroprevalence to Spotted Fever Group Rickettsiae in Miraflores, Colombia: A Cross-Sectional Study in Humans and Dogs. Am J Trop Med Hyg 2024; 110:1245-1252. [PMID: 38593790 PMCID: PMC11154037 DOI: 10.4269/ajtmh.23-0593] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2023] [Accepted: 01/25/2024] [Indexed: 04/11/2024] Open
Abstract
Tick-borne disease burdens are increasing globally, impacting mostly rural and vulnerable communities. Among the most important emerging tick-borne pathogens are the Rickettsia species within the spotted fever group (SFGR) because of their genetic diversity and high lethality rate. Colombia is highly affected by SFGR despite not being reportable diseases; thus, research and clinical management are neglected. Although some departments have demonstrated high seroprevalence rates, in others, such as Boyacá Department, seroprevalence is unknown. Rickettsioses have not been described in Boyacá since 1943, and conversations with local physicians raised suspicions of recent undiagnosed disease compatible with rickettsiosis in some rural areas of the department, warranting epidemiological investigation. Using biobanked human and canine samples from a previous 2021 vector-borne disease study in Miraflores municipality, Boyacá, we had an opportunity to unearth SFGR's exposure in the region. Samples were evaluated using IgG indirect fluorescent assays against SFGR and complemented by survey questionnaires evaluating associated factors. Findings yielded first-time SFGR serological evidence in Boyacá with a 26.5% seroprevalence among dogs and a 20.4% among humans. Human and dog seroprevalences were positively associated, suggesting the presence of domestic transmission. Owning a greater number of domestic animals (prevalence ratio adjusted for all measured factors [aPR], 1.52) and living near crop fields (aPR, 7.77) were associated with an increased likelihood of household seropositivity. Our findings are consistent with the literature in Colombia, uncovering a suspected region where the disease is endemic. Future studies are warranted to continue defining high-risk areas to determine public health intervention plans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lídia Gual-Gonzalez
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of South Carolina, Columbia, South Carolina
| | - Omar Cantillo-Barraza
- Grupo Biología y Control Enfermedades Infecciosas, Universidad de Antioquia, Medellín, Colombia
| | - Myriam E. Torres
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of South Carolina, Columbia, South Carolina
| | | | - Manuel Medina
- Unidad de Control de Enfermedades Transmitidas por Vectores, Secretaría de Salud de Boyacá, Tunja, Colombia
| | - Stella C. W. Self
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of South Carolina, Columbia, South Carolina
| | - Melissa S. Nolan
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of South Carolina, Columbia, South Carolina
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Oviedo Á, Rodríguez MM, Flores FS, Castro LR. New hard tick (Acari: Ixodidae) reports and detection of Rickettsia in ticks from Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, Colombia. EXPERIMENTAL & APPLIED ACAROLOGY 2024; 92:507-528. [PMID: 38485886 PMCID: PMC11035439 DOI: 10.1007/s10493-023-00887-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2023] [Accepted: 12/29/2023] [Indexed: 04/23/2024]
Abstract
The Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta (SNSM), located in northern Colombia, is considered a geographical island with high levels of biodiversity and endemism. However, little is known about tick species and their associated microorganisms at the SNSM. In this study we sampled host-seeking ticks in areas of the town of Minca within the SNSM. We collected 47 ticks identified as Amblyomma pacae, Amblyomma longirostre, Amblyomma ovale, Amblyomma mixtum, Haemaphysalis juxtakochi, Ixodes sp. cf. Ixodes affinis and Ixodes sp. Of these ticks, we tested for Rickettsia spp. by amplifying the gltA, SCA1, and 16S rRNA genes via PCR. Rickettsia amblyommatis was detected in one pool of 3 larvae and in a female of A. pacae. Additonally, we isolated Rickettsia sp. belonging to the group of spotted fevers in larvae of A. longirostre. This study reports new findings of six species of ticks and two species of Rickettsia within the SNSM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ángel Oviedo
- Grupo de investigación Evolución, Sistemática y Ecología Molecular (GIESEMOL), Universidad del Magdalena, Santa Marta, Colombia
| | - Miguel M Rodríguez
- Grupo de investigación Evolución, Sistemática y Ecología Molecular (GIESEMOL), Universidad del Magdalena, Santa Marta, Colombia
| | - Fernando S Flores
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas y Tecnológicas (IIByT), Córdoba, Argentina
- Centro de Investigaciones Entomológicas de Córdoba (CIEC), Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Córdoba, Argentina
| | - Lyda R Castro
- Grupo de investigación Evolución, Sistemática y Ecología Molecular (GIESEMOL), Universidad del Magdalena, Santa Marta, Colombia.
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Silva-Ramos CR, Gil-Mora J, Serna-Rivera CC, Martínez Díaz HC, Restrepo-López N, Agudelo-Flórez P, Arboleda M, Díaz FJ, Faccini-Martínez ÁA, Hidalgo M, Melby PC, Aguilar PV, Cabada MM, Tobón-Castaño A, Rodas JD. Etiological characterization of acute undifferentiated febrile illness in Apartadó and Villeta municipalities, Colombia, during COVID-19 pandemic. LE INFEZIONI IN MEDICINA 2023; 31:517-532. [PMID: 38075419 PMCID: PMC10705856 DOI: 10.53854/liim-3104-11] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2023] [Accepted: 11/02/2023] [Indexed: 03/28/2024]
Abstract
Background Acute undifferentiated febrile illness (AUFI) is one of the leading causes of illness in tropical regions. Although malaria is the most important cause, other pathogens such as Dengue (DENV), Leptospira and recently, Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) have gained importance. In Colombia, few studies aimed to identify the etiology of AUFI. Most of them performed in Apartadó and Villeta municipalities, identifying the active circulation of several pathogens. Thus, we conducted a cross-sectional study in these municipalities to characterize the etiologies of AUFI during COVID-19 pandemic. Methods An active surveillance was conducted between September and December 2021 in local hospitals of Apartadó and Villeta municipalities. Febrile patients were enrolled after voluntarily agreeing to participate in the study. Ten different etiologies were evaluated through direct, serological, molecular and rapid diagnostic methods. Results In Apartadó a confirmed etiology was found in 60% of subjects, DENV (25%) being the most frequent, followed by leptospirosis (16.7%), malaria (10%), COVID-19 (8.3%), spotted fever group (SFG) rickettsiosis (6.7%) and Chikungunya (1.7%). In Villeta, a specific etiology was confirmed in 55.4% of patients, of which SFG rickettsiosis (39.3%) was the most frequent, followed by leptospirosis (21.4%), DENV (3.6%) and malaria (1.8%). No cases due to Mayaro, Yellow Fever, Oropouche and Venezuelan Equine Encephalitis viruses were detected. Conclusion We confirm the relevance of dengue fever, leptospirosis, SFG rickettsiosis, COVID-19 and malaria as causes of AUFI in the municipality of Apartadó, and highlight the great importance of SFG rickettsiosis as the main cause of AUFI in the municipality of Villeta.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlos Ramiro Silva-Ramos
- Grupo de Enfermedades Infecciosas, Departamento de Microbiología, Facultad de Ciencias, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Juliana Gil-Mora
- Grupo de Enfermedades Infecciosas, Departamento de Microbiología, Facultad de Ciencias, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Cristian C. Serna-Rivera
- Grupo de Investigación en Ciencias Veterinarias Centauro, Universidad de Antioquia, Medellín, Colombia
| | - Heidy-C. Martínez Díaz
- Grupo de Enfermedades Infecciosas, Departamento de Microbiología, Facultad de Ciencias, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Nicaela Restrepo-López
- Grupo de Investigación en Ciencias Veterinarias Centauro, Universidad de Antioquia, Medellín, Colombia
| | - Piedad Agudelo-Flórez
- Grupo de Investigación en Ciencias Básicas, Escuela de Graduados, Universidad CES, Medellín, Colombia
| | - Margarita Arboleda
- Instituto Colombiano de Medicina Tropical, Universidad CES, Medellín, Colombia
| | - Francisco J. Díaz
- Grupo de Inmunovirología, Universidad de Antioquia, Medellin,Colombia
| | - Álvaro A. Faccini-Martínez
- Servicio de Infectología, Hospital Militar Central, Bogotá, Colombia
- Servicios y Asesorías en Infectología - SAI, Bogotá, Colombia
- Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Militar Nueva Granada, Bogotà, Colombia
| | - Marylin Hidalgo
- Grupo de Enfermedades Infecciosas, Departamento de Microbiología, Facultad de Ciencias, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Peter C. Melby
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, USA
- Center for Tropical Diseases, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, USA
| | - Patricia V. Aguilar
- Center for Tropical Diseases, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, USA
- Department of Pathology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, USA
| | - Miguel M. Cabada
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, USA
- Center for Tropical Diseases, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, USA
| | | | - Juan David Rodas
- Grupo de Investigación en Ciencias Veterinarias Centauro, Universidad de Antioquia, Medellín, Colombia
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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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Forero-Becerra E, Acosta A, Benavides E, Martínez-Díaz HC, Hidalgo M. Amblyomma mixtum free-living stages: Inferences on dry and wet seasons use, preference, and niche width in an agroecosystem (Yopal, Casanare, Colombia). PLoS One 2022; 17:e0245109. [PMID: 35385470 PMCID: PMC8986011 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0245109] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2020] [Accepted: 03/02/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
The formulation of effective control strategies for any pest species generally involves the study of habitat use and preference and niche width in anthropogenically transformed natural landscapes. We evaluated whether the use, habitat preference, and niche range of the Amblyomma mixtum tick changed between stages, habitats, and seasonality (dry-wet seasons 2019) on a farm in Yopal (Casanare, Colombia). The presence and relative abundance of free-living larvae, nymphs, and adults was quantified in four different habitats according to the type of vegetation cover (Riparian Forest, Cocoa Crop, King Grass Crop, and Star Grass Paddock). Habitat availability was estimated, environmental variables were analyzed, and various indices of habitat use and preference, and niche width were calculated. A. mixtum's habitat use and preference, and niche width changed between stages, habitat types, and time of the year. The total abundance of A. mixtum was an order of magnitude greater in the dry season than the wet season. In the dry season, all stages used all habitats, while A. mixtum adults used all the habitats in both seasons. In the dry season, nymphs and larvae preferred three out of the four habitats, while adults preferred the King Grass Crop. In the wet season, nymphs and larvae preferred two habitats, whereas the adults preferred the King Grass Crop. The value of the niche width index was high for larvae, nymphs, and adults in the dry season, while it was high only for adults in the wet season. Thus, A. mixtum's vast environmental tolerance and niche breadth allows the species to use and colonize changing habitats (unstable or temporary) with fluctuating environmental conditions (e.g., King Grass Crop), potentially keeping a stable population over time and making it an extremely resistant species. However, the wet flooding season in Yopal may exceed A. mixtum's stages' tolerances.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elkin Forero-Becerra
- Faculty of Sciences, Departament of Microbiology, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Bogotá, D.C., Colombia
| | - Alberto Acosta
- Faculty of Sciences, Departament de Biology, UNESIS (Unidad de Ecología y Sistemática), Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Bogotá, D.C., Colombia
| | - Efraín Benavides
- Facultad de Ciencias Agropecuarias, Grupo de Investigación Epidemiología y Salud Pública, Universidad de La Salle, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Heidy-C. Martínez-Díaz
- Faculty of Sciences, Laboratorio de Bacteriología Especial, Departament of Microbiology, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Bogotá, D.C., Colombia
| | - Marylin Hidalgo
- Faculty of Sciences, Laboratorio de Bacteriología Especial, Departament of Microbiology, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Bogotá, D.C., Colombia
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Segura JA, Saldarriaga LJ, Cerón JM, Osorio LR, Rueda ZV, Gutiérrez LA. Hard tick species (Acari: Ixodidae) and infestation in two livestock agroecosystems from Antioquia, Colombia. EXPERIMENTAL & APPLIED ACAROLOGY 2022; 86:235-255. [PMID: 35142954 DOI: 10.1007/s10493-022-00695-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2020] [Accepted: 01/22/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Tick infestation affects about 80% of livestock globally while transmitting various pathogens causing high economic losses. This study aimed to determine the degree of tick infestation in two regions, North and Middle Magdalena in Antioquia, Colombia, to identify the ixodid tick species found and the associated risk factors. A cross-sectional study was carried out in 48 farms distributed in six municipalities of Antioquia. Two paddocks and eight bovines per farm were evaluated to estimate tick infestation (adults, nymphs, and larvae). Tick species were identified through a morphological and molecular analysis based on partial sequences of data obtained from DNA molecular markers, two mitochondrial (16S rRNA and COI), and one genomic DNA gene (18S rRNA). A multivariate Poisson regression model was applied to estimate the associated risk factors with ticks in cattle. Rhipicephalus microplus, Amblyomma patinoi and Dermacentor nitens were present in the livestock agroecosystems in the Middle Magdalena region; the highest incidence of tick infestation in cows and paddocks was reported in the municipality of Puerto Triunfo. The livestock agroecosystems in Middle Magdalena were characterized by a higher presence of adult R. microplus in cattle. Larval infestation of R. microplus, followed by D. nitens, was also found in paddocks. The multivariate analysis showed that the origin of cattle was the main risk factor associated with the presence of ticks (i.e., when cattle came from outside the farm). Cattle movement between farms in Middle Magdalena can contribute to the spread of ticks in this region.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan A Segura
- Grupo Biología de Sistemas, Escuela de Ciencias de la Salud, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Pontificia Bolivariana, Calle 78B #72A-109, Bloque A-110, Medellín, Colombia
| | | | | | - Leonardo Ríos Osorio
- Grupo de Investigación Salud y Sostenibilidad, Escuela de Microbiología, Universidad de Antioquia, Medellín, Colombia
| | - Zulma V Rueda
- Grupo de Investigación en Salud Pública, Escuela de Ciencias de la Salud, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Pontificia Bolivariana, Medellín, Colombia
| | - Lina A Gutiérrez
- Grupo Biología de Sistemas, Escuela de Ciencias de la Salud, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Pontificia Bolivariana, Calle 78B #72A-109, Bloque A-110, Medellín, Colombia.
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Acevedo-Gutiérrez LY, Paternina LE, Labruna MB, Rodas JD. Presence of two species of the Amblyomma cajennense complex (Acari: Ixodidae) and probable zones of sympatry in northwestern Colombia. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2021; 12:101815. [PMID: 34461396 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2021.101815] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2020] [Revised: 06/09/2021] [Accepted: 07/26/2021] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
The A. cajennense tick complex has been thought to be the main vector of Rickettsia rickettsii in Central and South America. Studies in Colombia have determined the presence of species A. patinoi and A. mixtum of the A. cajennense complex, but it is unknown which species of this complex exist in northwestern Colombia. Our aim was to identify the species of the A. cajennense complex that are present in northwestern Colombia. We sampled ticks of A. cajennense sensu lato infesting equids. Females identified according to the morphology of their genital pore were selected for genetic confirmation. Specimens from each locality were selected to perform molecular and genetic analysis. Specimens were analyzed from five departments (Antioquia, Bolívar, Córdoba, Magdalena, and Sucre). Morphologically 65 specimens were identified as A. patinoi and 5 as A. mixtum. Molecular analysis allowed to confirm the morphological identification of 27 specimens. In this study A. patinoi was widely distributed in the departments of Antioquia, Bolívar, and Córdoba with allopatric and sympatric distribution in some places. These two species in the region could have unexpected effects on the epidemiology of rickettsiosis.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Luis E Paternina
- Biomedical Research Group, University of Sucre, Sincelejo, Colombia
| | - Marcelo B Labruna
- Department of Preventive Veterinary Medicine and Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Juan D Rodas
- Research Group in Veterinary Sciences Centauro, University of Antioquia, Medellín, Colombia
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8
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Quintero-Vélez JC, Cienfuegos-Gallet AV, Quintero LO, Úsuga AF, Cifuentes S, Solari S, Rodas JD, Diaz FJ, Rojas CA. Epidemiology of Rickettsial Infection in the Municipality of Uramita, Colombia. Am J Trop Med Hyg 2021; 105:1013-1023. [PMID: 34370699 PMCID: PMC8592147 DOI: 10.4269/ajtmh.20-0104] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2020] [Accepted: 05/04/2021] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Abstract
This study aimed to analyze epidemiological indicators related to seroprevalent and seroincident cases of spotted fever group rickettsiae (SFGR) and to identify housing conditions related to tick infestation. A prospective study (2016-2018) was conducted to examine rickettsial seropositivity in humans, domestic animals, and wild mammals in the municipality of Uramita, Antioquia, Colombia, where a previous Rickettsia rickettsii outbreak was reported from 2014 to 2015. The seroprevalence and its associated factors were estimated at baseline, and the seroincidence and its risk factors for humans were estimated 20 months later. A cross-sectional analysis was performed to evaluate the housing conditions linked to tick infestation. The SFGR seroprevalence was 26.70% (95% confidence interval [CI], 20.79-31.37), and the factors associated with SFGR seropositivity were male sex (adjusted prevalence ratio [PRa], 1.67; 95% CI, 1.19-2.32), age (evaluated in 5-year increments) (PRa, 1.05; 95% CI, 1.01-1.09), and household proximity (PRascattered vs. very near=3.87; 95% CI, 1.12-8.66). The overall seroincidence was 7.40% (95% CI, 4.71-11.06), and the factors associated with SFGR seroincident cases were the presence of wild animals (adjusted relative risk [RRa], 2.46; 95% CI, 1.06-4.72) and the presence of trees in the peri-domiciliary area (RRa, 0.47; 95% CI, 0.23-0.94). The prevalence of house tick infestation was 27.81% (95% CI, 21.93-34.80), and the factors associated with infestation were dirt floors (PRa, 5.88; 95% CI, 2.28-10.31), fiber cement roofs (PRa, 1.76; 95% CI, 1.07-2.83), and the presence of canines in peri-domiciliary or intra-domiciliary areas (PRa, 5.05; 95% CI, 3.31-7.19). Seropositivity rates for canines and opossums were 35.62% (26/73) and 100% (6/6), respectively. Identification of these factors will help to implement efficient surveillance programs in Colombia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan C. Quintero-Vélez
- Grupo de Investigación Ciencias Veterinarias Centauro, Universidad de Antioquia, Antioquia, Colombia
- Grupo de Investigación Microbiología Básica y Aplicada, Universidad de Antioquia, Antioquia, Colombia
| | | | | | - Andrés F. Úsuga
- Grupo de Investigación Ciencias Veterinarias Centauro, Universidad de Antioquia, Antioquia, Colombia
| | | | | | - Juan D. Rodas
- Grupo de Investigación Ciencias Veterinarias Centauro, Universidad de Antioquia, Antioquia, Colombia
| | - Francisco J. Diaz
- Grupo de Investigación Inmunovirología, Universidad de Antioquia, Antioquia, Colombia
| | - Carlos A. Rojas
- Grupo de Epidemiología, Universidad de Antioquia, Antioquia, Colombia
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Martínez-Diaz HC, Forero-Becerra E, Hidalgo M, Labruna MB. Experimental infection and vector competence of Amblyomma patinoi, a member of the Amblyomma cajennense species complex, for the human pathogen Rickettsia rickettsii. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2021; 12:101751. [PMID: 34130146 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2021.101751] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2021] [Revised: 03/27/2021] [Accepted: 05/04/2021] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
Amblyomma patinoi ticks infected with Rickettsia rickettsii are present in Colombia, but its vector competence is unknown. Hence, we evaluated the vector competence of A. patinoi with R. rickettsii under laboratory conditions. Experimental guinea pigs and rabbits (males and females) were separated in the infected group (IG) and the control group (CG). In the IG, the filial 1 (F1) larvae (R. rickettsii-free) from Colombian A. patinoi engorged female specimens were exposed to R. rickettsii (ITU strain) by feeding on infected guinea pigs. Next, F1 nymphs and adults, and F2 larvae were allowed to feed on uninfected guinea pigs or rabbits and tested by qPCR targeting the gltA rickettsial gene. All animals used to feed the IG F1 ticks became febrile and had R. rickettsii infection (89% fatality rate) detected through serological or molecular techniques. After the F1 larvae ticks became R. rickettsii infected, subsequent IG tick stages were able to maintain the rickettsial infection by transstadial maintenance to all infested animals, indicating A. patinoi vector competence. Subsequently, almost 31% of the F1 female egg masses and only 42% of their F2 larvae were infected. Less than 50% of the infected females transmitted R. rickettsii transovarially, and only a part of the offspring were infected. This study demonstrated that A. patinoi might not be able to sustain R. rickettsii infection by transovarial transmission for successive tick generations without horizontal transmission via rickettsemic hosts. This condition might result in low R. rickettsii-infection rates of A. patinoi under natural conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heidy-C Martínez-Diaz
- Grupo de Enfermedades Infecciosas, Facultad de Ciencias, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Bogotá, D.C., Colombia
| | - Elkin Forero-Becerra
- Estancia postdoctoral - Convocatoria Colciencias 784/2017, Laboratorio de Bacteriología Especial, Facultad de Ciencias, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Bogotá, D.C., Colombia
| | - Marylin Hidalgo
- Grupo de Enfermedades Infecciosas, Facultad de Ciencias, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Bogotá, D.C., Colombia
| | - Marcelo B Labruna
- Departamento de Medicina Veterinária Preventiva e Saúde Animal, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, Universidade de São Paulo-USP, Av. Prof. Orlando Marques de Paiva, 87, São Paulo, SP 05508-270, Brazil.
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10
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Bermúdez S, Martínez-Mandiche J, Domínguez L, Gonzalez C, Chavarria O, Moreno A, Góndola J, Correa N, Rodríguez I, Castillo B, Smith D, Martínez AA. Diversity of Rickettsia in ticks collected from wild animals in Panama. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2021; 12:101723. [PMID: 33857748 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2021.101723] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2020] [Revised: 03/18/2021] [Accepted: 03/24/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
This paper presents new data about Rickettsia species detected in ticks collected from wild animals, using 16S rRNA, gltA and ompA. Rickettsia DNA was found in 66 of 101 ticks. Using EZ BioCloud libraries were produced reads that identified Rickettsia aeschlimannii, and Illumina BaseSpace produced reads of Rickettsia rickettsii group, Rickettsia bellii group, and unclassified Rickettsia. Using gltA and ompA gene-specific primers, R. aeschlimannii could not be confirmed, but detection of Rickettsia amblyommatis was achieved in Amblyomma auricularium, Amblyomma geayi, Amblyomma mixtum, and Amblyomma pacae; R. bellii from Amblyomma dissimile, "Candidatus Rickettsia colombianensi" from A. dissimile, Rickettsia spp. closely related to R. raoultii from A. geayi, Rickettsia tamurae from A. dissimile, and Rickettsia endosymbionts of Ixodes from Ixodes affinis. There were no databases available specifically for 16S rRNA of Neotropical Rickettsia, highlighting the need to use species primers over only 16S rRNA primers to achieve more accurate interpretations and identifications. These findings increase the number of Rickettsia species detected in Panama and highlight the need to establish isolates to further characterize the nature of Rickettsia in the area.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sergio Bermúdez
- Gorgas Memorial Institute of Health Studies, Panama, Panama; Coiba Scientific Station, Coiba AIP, City of Knowledge, Panama.
| | | | | | | | - Oris Chavarria
- Gorgas Memorial Institute of Health Studies, Panama, Panama
| | - Ambar Moreno
- Gorgas Memorial Institute of Health Studies, Panama, Panama
| | | | - Néstor Correa
- Panamerican Conservation Association, Panama, Panama
| | | | | | | | - Alexander A Martínez
- Gorgas Memorial Institute of Health Studies, Panama, Panama; Coiba Scientific Station, Coiba AIP, City of Knowledge, Panama; Panamerican Conservation Association, Panama, Panama; Summit, Municipal Park, Panama, Panama.
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11
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Ticks (Acari: Ixodoidea) associated with mammals in Colombia: a historical review, molecular species confirmation, and establishment of new relationships. Parasitol Res 2021; 120:383-394. [PMID: 33447885 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-020-06989-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2020] [Accepted: 11/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Ticks are considered the second most important vectors of pathogens worldwide, after mosquitoes. This study provides a systematic review of vector-host relationships between ticks and mammals (domestic and wild) and consolidates information from studies conducted in Colombia between 1911 and 2020. Using the PRISMA method, 71 scientific articles containing records for 51 tick species (Argasidae and Ixodidae) associated with mammals are reported. The existing information on tick-mammal associations in Colombia is scarce, fragmented, or very old. Moreover, 213 specimens were assessed based on morphological and molecular analyses, which allowed confirming eight tick species associated with mammals: Amblyomma calcaratum, Amblyomma dissimile, Amblyomma mixtum, Amblyomma nodosum, Amblyomma ovale, Amblyomma varium, Ixodes luciae, and Ixodes tropicalis. Several tick species are molecularly confirmed for Colombia and nine new relationships between ticks and mammals are reported. This research compiles and confirms important records of tick-mammal associations in Colombia.
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12
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Quintero V JC, Mignone J, Osorio Q L, Cienfuegos-Gallet AV, Rojas A C. Housing Conditions Linked to Tick (Ixodida: Ixodidae) Infestation in Rural Areas of Colombia: A Potential Risk for Rickettsial Transmission. JOURNAL OF MEDICAL ENTOMOLOGY 2021; 58:439-449. [PMID: 32820808 DOI: 10.1093/jme/tjaa159] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
This cross-sectional study explores the different conditions related to the infestation of ticks in households and the potential risks for rickettsial transmission in Urabá, Colombia. The main outcome of interest was villagers' perception of tick infestation. The data were analyzed using a clog-log mixed regression model. Ticks were collected from infested humans to diagnose infection by spotted fever group rickettsiae (SFGR). In addition, a thematic analysis of qualitative data from key informants concerning knowledge about ticks was conducted. The prevalence of infestation of ticks in households was estimated at 60.99% (95% CI: 51.58-93.51). The multivariate model suggested that households with palm leaf roofs (PR = 1.95; 95% CI: 1.19-2.95), canines (PR = 1.76; 95% CI: 1.21-2.46), rats (PR = 2.19; 95% CI: 1.45-3.08), and with the presence of opossums in areas surrounding the households (PR = 1.51; 95% CI: 1.05-2.10) had a higher prevalence of tick infestation. Two samples of the tick species Amblyomma patinoi were found infected with Rickettsia amblyommatis and Candidatus Rickettsia colombianensi. A thematic analysis provided the names that local community members give to ticks, areas where ticks are common, and the individuals at risk of infestation. The presence of domestic, synanthropic, and wild animals suggests a high risk of the dissemination of ticks inside dwellings and close to them in these rural areas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan C Quintero V
- Grupo de Investigación Ciencias Veterinarias Centauro, Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias, Universidad de Antioquia, Calle, Medellín, CO
| | - Javier Mignone
- Department of Community Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada
| | - Lisardo Osorio Q
- Grupo de Investigación Salud y Ambiente, Facultad Nacional de Salud Pública, Universidad de Antioquia, Calle, Medellín, CO
| | - Astrid V Cienfuegos-Gallet
- Grupo de Investigación en Microbiología Básica y Aplicada, Escuela de Microbiología, Universidad de Antioquia, Calle, Medellín, CO
| | - Carlos Rojas A
- Grupo de Epidemiología, Facultad Nacional de Salud Pública, Universidad de Antioquia, Calle, Medellín, CO
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13
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Weber N, Trujillo-Trujillo J, Krücken J, Michl C, Hidalgo ME, Appráez-Ippolito G, Castillo F, Feldmeier H, Sunderkötter C. Tickbite-associated chronic pruritic lesions in an Afro-descendant population in the Cauca Department, Colombia. I. Clinical features and impact on health. Int J Dermatol 2020; 59:1491-1501. [PMID: 32975315 DOI: 10.1111/ijd.15184] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2020] [Revised: 08/17/2020] [Accepted: 08/26/2020] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND During a health survey in a remote area in southwest Colombia, it became apparent that a high percentage of the population suffered from chronic pruritus in association with high numbers of ticks and tickbites. OBJECTIVE To determine the clinical features and severity of tickbite-associated pruritus. METHOD At twotime points - 8 weeks apart to account for seasonal effects - a cross-sectional study was conducted encompassing physical examination of the population, histological analysis of skin biopsies, and determining serum for antibodies against spotted fever (SFG) rickettsiae and typhus group (TG) rickettsiae. Ticks were identified using morphological criteria, and infection by rickettsiae was determined by PCR. RESULTS About 94.5% of the population (95% CI 92-97%) showed clinical signs of a pruritic arthropod reaction and of chronic pruritus with lichenoid papules and hyper- and hypopigmented nodules on otherwise noninflamed skin. Pruritus markedly impaired the quality of life in terms of sleeping disturbances. No signs for other diseases were observed. Chronic pruritus appeared to be because of repeated tickbites and scratching, but not because of other dermatological or medical conditions. Antibodies against SFG and TG-rickettsiae were detected at 79.0% (95% CI 73-86) and 3.6% (95% CI 0.7-6), respectively. Ticks were identified as Amblyomma cajennense. CONCLUSION Remarkably high exposure to tick bites caused an unusually high rate of acute and chronic pruritus and markedly impaired quality of life of the investigated rural community. This underlines the necessity of public health measures and surveillance of rickettsial disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Niklas Weber
- Department of Dermatology and Venereology, University Hospital Halle, Halle, Germany
| | | | - Jürgen Krücken
- Institute for Parasitology and Tropical Veterinary Medicine, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Christiane Michl
- Department of Dermatology and Venereology, University Hospital Halle, Halle, Germany
| | - Maryln E Hidalgo
- Grupo de Enfermedades Infecciosas, Departamento de Microbiología, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Bogotá, Colombia
| | | | | | - Hermann Feldmeier
- Institute of Microbiology and Hygiene, Charite-Universitätsmedizin, Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Cord Sunderkötter
- Department of Dermatology and Venereology, University Hospital Halle, Halle, Germany.,Department of Translational Dermatoinfectiology, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
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14
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Martínez-Sánchez ET, Cardona-Romero M, Ortiz-Giraldo M, Tobón-Escobar WD, López DM, Ossa-López PA, Pérez-Cárdenas JE, Labruna MB, Martins TF, Rivera-Páez FA, Castaño-Villa GJ. Associations between wild birds and hard ticks (Acari: Ixodidae) in Colombia. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2020; 11:101534. [PMID: 32993943 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2020.101534] [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: 03/05/2020] [Revised: 07/27/2020] [Accepted: 07/29/2020] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
Ticks of the family Ixodidae are vectors of important pathogens in human and animal health. Birds are involved in long-distance transport and dispersion of hard ticks. Tick infestations on wild birds mostly involve species within the genera Amblyomma, Ixodes, and Haemaphysalis. In Colombia, tick research is scarce and there are no studies to date about the associations between wild birds and ticks. We aimed to contribute to the knowledge of the associations between wild birds and hard ticks based on the collection of 2314 wild birds belonging to 29 families in Caldas - Colombia between 2015 and 2019. In total, we collected 133 hard ticks that were found parasitizing 78 birds representing 45 species and 14 wild bird families. We report at least seven tick species on birds confirmed by morphological and molecular methods: Amblyomma longirostre, Amblyomma varium, Amblyomma dissimile, Amblyomma ovale, Amblyomma nodosum, Amblyomma calcaratum and Haemaphysalis leporispalustris. In addition, we recorded three Ixodes species, which yielded DNA sequences that did not have high identity (≤ 95 %) to any species in GenBank. Ticks were found infesting resident and migratory boreal birds. This is the first study addressing the associations between wild birds and hard ticks in Colombia. We describe new associations between birds and ticks in the Americas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Estefani T Martínez-Sánchez
- Grupo de Investigación GEBIOME, Departamento de Ciencias Biológicas, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Caldas, Calle 65 No. 26-10 A.A. 275 Manizales, Caldas, Colombia
| | - Marelid Cardona-Romero
- Grupo de Investigación GEBIOME, Departamento de Ciencias Biológicas, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Caldas, Calle 65 No. 26-10 A.A. 275 Manizales, Caldas, Colombia
| | - Mateo Ortiz-Giraldo
- Grupo de Investigación GEBIOME, Departamento de Ciencias Biológicas, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Caldas, Calle 65 No. 26-10 A.A. 275 Manizales, Caldas, Colombia
| | - William David Tobón-Escobar
- Grupo de Investigación GEBIOME, Departamento de Ciencias Biológicas, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Caldas, Calle 65 No. 26-10 A.A. 275 Manizales, Caldas, Colombia
| | - Daniel Moreno López
- Programa de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Caldas, Calle 65 No. 26-10 A.A. 275 Manizales, Caldas, Colombia
| | - Paula A Ossa-López
- Grupo de Investigación GEBIOME, Departamento de Ciencias Biológicas, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Caldas, Calle 65 No. 26-10 A.A. 275 Manizales, Caldas, Colombia; Doctorado en Ciencias - Biología, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Caldas, Calle 65 No. 26-10 A.A. 275 Manizales, Caldas, Colombia
| | - Jorge E Pérez-Cárdenas
- Grupo de Investigación Biosalud, Departamento de Ciencias Básicas para la Salud, Facultad de Ciencias para la Salud, Universidad de Caldas, Calle 65 No. 26-10 A.A. 275 Manizales, Caldas, Colombia
| | - Marcelo B Labruna
- Departamento de Medicina Veterinária Preventiva e Saúde Animal, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, Universidade de São Paulo-USP, Av. prof. Orlando Marques de Paiva, 87, CEP 05508-000, Cidade Universitária, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Thiago F Martins
- Departamento de Medicina Veterinária Preventiva e Saúde Animal, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, Universidade de São Paulo-USP, Av. prof. Orlando Marques de Paiva, 87, CEP 05508-000, Cidade Universitária, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Fredy A Rivera-Páez
- Grupo de Investigación GEBIOME, Departamento de Ciencias Biológicas, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Caldas, Calle 65 No. 26-10 A.A. 275 Manizales, Caldas, Colombia.
| | - Gabriel J Castaño-Villa
- Grupo de Investigación GEBIOME, Departamento de Desarrollo Rural y Recursos Naturales, Facultad de Ciencias Agropecuarias, Universidad de Caldas, Calle 65 No. 26-10 A.A. 275 Manizales, Caldas, Colombia
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15
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Chitimia-Dobler L, Schaper S, Mansfeld P, Gonschorrek J, Bröker M, Nava S. Detection of Amblyomma mixtum (Acari: Ixodidae) in Germany on a Human Traveler Returning From Cuba. JOURNAL OF MEDICAL ENTOMOLOGY 2020; 57:962-964. [PMID: 31808809 DOI: 10.1093/jme/tjz225] [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: 07/05/2019] [Indexed: 05/14/2023]
Abstract
The importation of exotic ticks to Germany on infested humans is rarely reported. Here we describe the detection of an Amblyomma mixtum nymph harboring Rickettsia amblyommatis by a tourist returning from a holiday trip to Cuba. Tick infestation may be neglected by tourists. Therefore, careful anamnesis and diagnosis should be carried out when tourists return from tropical and subtropical countries suffering from nonspecific symptoms, such as fever and malaise.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lidia Chitimia-Dobler
- Bundeswehr Institute of Microbiology, Munich, Germany
- University of Hohenheim, Stuttgart, Germany
| | | | | | | | | | - Santiago Nava
- Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria, Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Rafaela, and Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Rafaela, Santa Fe, Argentina
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16
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Germ cells: a useful tool for the taxonomy of Rhipicephalus sanguineus s.l. and species of the Amblyomma cajennense complex (Acari: Ixodidae). Parasitol Res 2020; 119:1573-1582. [PMID: 32253495 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-020-06662-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2019] [Accepted: 03/15/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
The systematics of several ticks species (Acari: Ixodidae) remains controversial. Many species, including those of the Amblyomma cajennense complex and Rhipicephalus sanguineus s.l., are given special attention since they are cryptic species complexes and are also important in human and veterinary medicine. The A. cajennense complex was recently reorganized into six valid species, among which Amblyomma patinoi and Amblyomma mixtum have been confirmed in Colombia. On the other hand, the taxonomic status of R. sanguineus s.l. is controversial since it is a cosmopolitan cryptic species complex with a high reproductive capacity and a broad range of hosts (including man). To address this challenge, the germ cells of male ticks display a diverse morphology that offers novel opportunities for taxonomy. This study describes the events of spermatogenesis in A. mixtum and R. sanguineus s.l. individuals collected during active feeding on domestic hosts in the department of Caldas, Colombia. The individuals were identified using dichotomous keys and through PCR amplification of a fragment of the mitochondrial 16S ribosomal DNA gene. The male reproductive systems of A. mixtum and R. sanguineus s.l. were fixed in 2.5% glutaraldehyde for 48 h and dehydrated in increasing dilutions of ethanol. The samples were then embedded and mounted in historesin to obtain sections of 3 μm that were stained with hematoxylin-eosin (HE), photographed, and visualized through optical microscopy. The results show that the morphology of mature germ cells displays excellent diagnostic traits that can be used for tick taxonomy.
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17
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Acevedo-Gutiérrez LY, Paternina LE, Pérez-Pérez JC, Londoño AF, López G, Rodas JD. Garrapatas duras (Acari: Ixodidae) de Colombia, una revisión a su conocimiento en el país. ACTA BIOLÓGICA COLOMBIANA 2020. [DOI: 10.15446/abc.v25n1.75252] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Las garrapatas son artrópodos de gran impacto sobre la economía pecuaria y la salud humana debido a las pérdidas generadas en la producción, y a su capacidad de transmitir microorganismos. Pese a la evidencia de circulación de una gran diversidad de garrapatas en Colombia, no se cuenta con compilaciones actualizadas de la variedad de especies presentes, por lo cual los autores presentan una revisión de literatura sobre las garrapatas de la familia Ixodidae reportadas en Colombia incluyendo su distribución geográfica, sus hospederos y los microorganismos reportados en aquellas especies registradas en este país. En la recopilación se evidenció la presencia en Colombia de diferentes especies de garrapatas de los géneros Amblyomma, Ixodes, Haemaphysalis, Rhipicephalus y Dermacentor. El género con mayor variedad fue Amblyomma con 29 especies, seguido de Ixodes con 11 especies, y de los géneros Dermacentor, Haemaphysalis y Rhipicephalus se reportaron dos especies para cada uno. Las especies se distribuyeron en la mayoría de los departamentos de Colombia y en una amplia diversidad de hospederos entre los cuales se incluyen animales domésticos, sinantrópicos y silvestres. Adicionalmente se encontró que algunas garrapatas reportadas podrían jugar un papel como vectores potenciales de diversos microorganismos que pueden afectar a la salud pública y veterinaria. Esperamos que este trabajo sea un aporte para apoyar la investigación en garrapatas y el estudio de los agentes transmitidos por estas en Colombia.
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18
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Londoño AF, Arango-Ferreira C, Acevedo-Gutiérrez LY, Paternina LE, Montes C, Ruiz I, Labruna MB, Díaz FJ, Walker DH, Rodas JD. A Cluster of Cases of Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever in an Area Of Colombia Not Known to be Endemic for This Disease. Am J Trop Med Hyg 2019; 101:336-342. [PMID: 31162015 PMCID: PMC6685563 DOI: 10.4269/ajtmh.18-1007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/26/2018] [Accepted: 04/22/2019] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Abstract
Rocky Mountain spotted fever (RMSF) has been reported in Colombia since 1937. Most recent outbreaks were in 2006-2008, followed by the absence of recognized cases. This report describes new clinical cases of RMSF and epidemiologic investigations. Medical records were reviewed, and fieldwork, serological and molecular diagnostic testing, and bacterial isolation were performed. Fever, hypotension, abdominal discomfort, and rash accompanied by thrombocytopenia and leukopenia were the most characteristic manifestations. Two convalescent sera from the index case and sera from two dogs revealed high anti-spotted fever group Rickettsia antibody titers. Rickettsia rickettsii was isolated from case 4. Cases 2 and 3 were identified by epidemiological connection with the index case. Thus, a new cluster of cases of RMSF was identified in Antioquia, Colombia, with the occurrence of fatal cases, which indicates the active circulation of the bacteria and a potential risk for the population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrés F. Londoño
- Universidad de Antioquia, Medellín, Antioquia, Colombia
- The University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas
| | - Catalina Arango-Ferreira
- Universidad de Antioquia, Medellín, Antioquia, Colombia
- Hospital San Vicente Fundación, Medellín, Antioquia, Colombia
| | | | | | - Carlos Montes
- Gobernación de Antioquia, Medellín, Antioquia, Colombia
| | - Iván Ruiz
- Gobernación de Antioquia, Medellín, Antioquia, Colombia
| | | | | | | | - Juan D. Rodas
- Universidad de Antioquia, Medellín, Antioquia, Colombia
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19
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Descriptions of two new cases of Rocky Mountain spotted fever in Panama, and coincident infection with Rickettsia rickettsii in Rhipicephalus sanguineus s.l. in an urban locality of Panama City, Panama. Epidemiol Infect 2018; 146:875-878. [DOI: 10.1017/s0950268818000730] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Abstract
AbstractThe clinical and pathologic characterisation of two fatal cases of tick-borne rickettsiosis in rural (El Valle) and urban (City of Panama) Panama are described. Clinical and autopsy findings were non-specific, but the molecular analysis was used to identify Rickettsia rickettsii in both cases. No ticks were collected in El Valle, while in the urban case, R. rickettsii was detected in Rhipicephalus sanguineus s.l., representing the first molecular finding in this tick in Panama and Central America.
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20
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Modelos potenciales de distribución geográfica y climática del complejo Amblyomma cajennense (Acari: Ixodidae), potencial vector de Rickettsia rickettsii en Colombia. BIOMEDICA 2018; 38:534-544. [DOI: 10.7705/biomedica.v38i4.3916] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2017] [Revised: 05/09/2018] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Introducción. Especies del complejo A. cajennense, potenciales vectores implicados en la transmisión de Rickettsia rickettsii en Centro y Suramérica, presentan una amplia distribución geográfica en el Neotrópico. En Colombia el conocimiento sobre las especies de este complejo, su distribución y aspectos de su ecología es incipiente.Objetivo. Explorar la ecología del complejo A. cajennense en Colombia a partir del estudio de su selección de hábitat y la generación de modelos potenciales de distribución geográfica y climática.Materiales y métodos. Registros únicos de presencia de estas garrapatas fueron utilizados en el estudio de patrones de selección del hábitat mediante ENFA y se construyeron modelos de distribución potencial con las metodologías MaxEnt y GARP.Resultados. El complejo A. cajennense se encontró en las cinco regiones naturales de Colombia con 64,71% de los registros procedentes de los departamentos de Antioquia, Cundinamarca y Huila. La selección del hábitat muestra que estas garrapatas seleccionan fuertemente las áreas geográficas (ENFA: 96,03%) de acuerdo con condiciones de isotermalidad y precipitación del trimestre más seco del año. Los modelos de distribución potencial indican idoneidad de hábitat en 31-51% del área del país, dependiendo del algoritmo empleado.Conclusiones. El complejo A. cajennense en Colombia presenta una distribución altamente influenciada por comportamiento de selección del hábitat climático; esta característica facilitó la creación de modelos de distribución. Estudios de campo permitirán validar los modelos presentados y otros estudios genéticos son requeridos en el país para la identificación de especies del complejo y el abordaje de potenciales zonas de hibridación de estas especies.
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Rivera-Páez FA, Martins TF, Ossa-López PA, Sampieri BR, Camargo-Mathias MI. Detection of Rickettsia spp. in ticks (Acari: Ixodidae) of domestic animals in Colombia. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2018; 9:819-823. [PMID: 29550216 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2018.03.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2017] [Revised: 03/04/2018] [Accepted: 03/05/2018] [Indexed: 10/17/2022]
Abstract
Rickettsiosis are emerging or re-emerging diseases, with a worldwide distribution associated to transmission by arthropod vectors. Rickettsia species belong to the spotted fever group (SFG) and are transmitted by hard ticks (Acari: Ixodidae) that may act as vectors and reservoirs. This study carried out a molecular detection of Rickettsia from 7 species of the family Ixodidae collected from domestic hosts by PCR amplification of fragments of the citrate synthase "gltA" gene and outer membrane protein "ompA" gene. Of the 204 samples analyzed, 11.3% (23) were positive for rickettsial infection. Three Rickettsia species belonging to the SFG were found, constituting the first reports of Rickettsia rickettsii in 2 departments of Colombia. Furthermore, we confirmed the first occurrence of Candidatus Rickettsia andeanae in Colombia, a species with an unknown pathogenic role in humans. These results raise awareness regarding the need to increase epidemiological control measures, as well as to consider new endemic regions in Colombia for Rocky Mountain spotted fever (RMSF).
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Affiliation(s)
- Fredy A Rivera-Páez
- Departamento de Biologia, Instituto de Biociências, UNESP - Universidade Estadual Paulista, Avenida 24-A, 1515, Bairro Bela Vista, Rio Claro, SP, CEP13506-900, Brazil; Grupo de Investigación GEBIOME, Departamento de Ciencias Biológicas, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Caldas, Calle 65 No. 26-10 Apartado Aéreo 275 Manizales, Caldas, Colombia.
| | - 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, CEP 05508-000, Cidade Universitária, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Paula A Ossa-López
- Grupo de Investigación GEBIOME, Departamento de Ciencias Biológicas, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Caldas, Calle 65 No. 26-10 Apartado Aéreo 275 Manizales, Caldas, Colombia
| | - Bruno Rodrigues Sampieri
- Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Museu de Zoologia, R. Charles Darwin s/n, cidade universitária, Campinas, SP, Brazil
| | - Maria I Camargo-Mathias
- Departamento de Biologia, Instituto de Biociências, UNESP - Universidade Estadual Paulista, Avenida 24-A, 1515, Bairro Bela Vista, Rio Claro, SP, CEP13506-900, Brazil
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22
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Quintero V. JC, Paternina T. LE, Uribe Y. A, Muskus C, Hidalgo. M, Gil. J, Cienfuegos G. AV, Osorio Q. L, Rojas A. C. Eco-epidemiological analysis of rickettsial seropositivity in rural areas of Colombia: A multilevel approach. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2017; 11:e0005892. [PMID: 28922404 PMCID: PMC5619838 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0005892] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2017] [Revised: 09/28/2017] [Accepted: 08/22/2017] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Rickettsiosis is a re-emergent infectious disease without epidemiological surveillance in Colombia. This disease is generally undiagnosed and several deadly outbreaks have been reported in the country in the last decade. The aim of this study is to analyze the eco-epidemiological aspects of rickettsial seropositivity in rural areas of Colombia where outbreaks of the disease were previously reported. A cross-sectional study, which included 597 people living in 246 households from nine hamlets in two municipalities of Colombia, was conducted from November 2015 to January 2016. The survey was conducted to collect sociodemographic and household characteristics (exposure) data. Blood samples were collected to determine the rickettsial seropositivity in humans, horses and dogs (IFA, cut-off = 1/128). In addition, infections by rickettsiae were detected in ticks from humans and animals by real-time PCR targeting gltA and ompA genes. Data was analyzed by weighted multilevel clog-log regression model using three levels (person, household and hamlets) and rickettsial seropositivity in humans was the main outcome. Overall prevalence of rickettsial seropositivity in humans was 25.62% (95%CI 22.11–29.12). Age in years (PR = 1.01 95%CI 1.01–1.02) and male sex (PR = 1.65 95%CI 1.43–1.90) were risk markers for rickettsial seropositivity. Working outdoors (PR = 1.20 95%CI 1.02–1.41), deforestation and forest fragmentation for agriculture use (PR = 1.75 95%CI 1.51–2.02), opossum in peridomiciliary area (PR = 1.56 95%CI 1.37–1.79) and a high proportion of seropositive domestic animals in the home (PR20-40% vs <20% = 2.28 95%CI 1.59–3.23 and PR>40% vs <20% = 3.14 95%CI 2.43–4.04) were associated with rickettsial seropositivity in humans. This study showed the presence of Rickettsia antibodies in human populations and domestic animals. In addition, different species of rickettsiae were detected in ticks collected from humans and animals. Our results highlighted the role of domestic animals as sentinels of rickettsial infection to identify areas at risk of transmission, and the importance of preventive measures aimed at curtailing deforestation and the fragmentation of forests as a way of reducing the risk of transmission of emergent and re-emergent pathogens. Rocky Mountain spotted fever is one of the main diseases transmitted by tick bites in Colombia. Studies examining rickettsial seropositivity in humans, potential vectors and amplifying hosts in regions where previous outbreaks occurred are necessary to highlight this disease in the differential diagnosis of febrile syndromes and to implement epidemiological surveillance programs. This study reveals several factors associated with rickettsial seropositivity, including working outdoors, practices related to deforestation and forest fragmentation, and the potential contact between humans and wild animals, such as opossums, that could be involved in the transmission cycle. In addition, it reveals the importance of domestic animals as sentinels of infection as well as the tick species acting as potential vectors of rickettsiae in human and domestic animals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan C. Quintero V.
- Grupo de Ciencias Veterinarias - Centauro, Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias, Universidad de Antioquia, Medellín, Colombia
- * E-mail:
| | | | - Alexander Uribe Y.
- Programa de Estudio y Control de Enfermedades Tropicales -PECET, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Antioquia, Medellín, Colombia
| | - Carlos Muskus
- Programa de Estudio y Control de Enfermedades Tropicales -PECET, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Antioquia, Medellín, Colombia
| | - Marylin Hidalgo.
- Grupo de Investigación de Enfermedades Infecciosas, Departamento de Microbiología, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Bogotá D.C., Colombia
| | - Juliana Gil.
- Grupo de Investigación de Enfermedades Infecciosas, Departamento de Microbiología, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Bogotá D.C., Colombia
| | - Astrid V. Cienfuegos G.
- Grupo de Investigación en Microbiología Básica y Aplicada, Escuela de Microbiología, Universidad de Antioquia, Medellín, Colombia
| | - Lisardo Osorio Q.
- Grupo de Investigación Salud y Ambiente, Facultad Nacional de Salud Pública, Universidad de Antioquia, Medellín, Colombia
| | - Carlos Rojas A.
- Grupo de Epidemiología, Facultad Nacional de Salud Pública, Universidad de Antioquia, Medellín, Colombia
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Faccini-Martínez ÁA, Ramírez-Hernández A, Barreto C, Forero-Becerra E, Millán D, Valbuena E, Sánchez-Alfonso AC, Imbacuán-Pantoja WO, Cortés-Vecino JA, Polo-Terán LJ, Yaya-Lancheros N, Jácome J, Palomar AM, Santibáñez S, Portillo A, Oteo JA, Hidalgo M. Epidemiology of Spotted Fever Group Rickettsioses and Acute Undifferentiated Febrile Illness in Villeta, Colombia. Am J Trop Med Hyg 2017; 97:782-788. [PMID: 28722568 PMCID: PMC5590559 DOI: 10.4269/ajtmh.16-0442] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2016] [Accepted: 11/18/2016] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Abstract
Etiology of acute undifferentiated febrile syndrome (AUFS) is often unknown, leading to inaccurate diagnosis and treatment. Villeta town has been identified as an endemic area for spotted fever group (SFG) rickettsioses but little is known about possible amplifier hosts and other Rickettsia species different from Rickettsia rickettsii. Besides, few studies have approached other AUFS etiologies in the region. We investigated the role of dengue, leptospirosis, rickettsioses, human anaplasmosis, and Q fever as possible causes of AUFS in patients from Villeta. Sera specimens and ticks from animals as well as ticks from vegetation were studied for the presence of different Rickettsia spp. Among 104 sera from patients with AUFS, 16.4%, 24.0%, and 2.9% patients seroconverted to dengue, Leptospira, and SFG Rickettsia, respectively, with a case of probable coinfection or cross-reaction with Anaplasma phagocytophilum. None of the samples were reactive for Coxiella burnetii. Sera samples from 74 horses, 118 dogs, and 62 bovines were collected and showed 33.8%, 14.4%, and 50.0% of seroprevalence for SFG Rickettsia, respectively. A total of 1,287 ixodid ticks were collected from animals/vegetation and processed in pools for polymerase chain reaction. Among them, 1.7% was positive for Rickettsia genes, and Rickettsia amblyommii, R. rickettsii, and Rickettsia spp. were found. These results confirm the circulation of dengue, different SFG Rickettsia species and the relevance of other etiologies like leptospirosis and human anaplasmosis. Further studies must identify different epidemiological variables to establish proper surveillance and control programs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Álvaro A. Faccini-Martínez
- Grupo de Enfermedades Infecciosas, Departamento de Microbiología, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Bogotá, Colombia
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Doenças Infecciosas, Centro de Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo, Vitória, ES, Brazil
| | - Alejandro Ramírez-Hernández
- Grupo Parasitología Veterinaria, Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y de Zootecnia, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogotá, Colombia
- Departamento de Medicina Veterinária Preventiva e Saúde Animal, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Christian Barreto
- Grupo de Enfermedades Infecciosas, Departamento de Microbiología, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Elkin Forero-Becerra
- Departamento de Medicina Veterinária, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Viçosa, MG, Brazil
| | - Diego Millán
- Grupo de Enfermedades Infecciosas, Departamento de Microbiología, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Elkin Valbuena
- Grupo de Enfermedades Infecciosas, Departamento de Microbiología, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Andrea C. Sánchez-Alfonso
- Grupo de Enfermedades Infecciosas, Departamento de Microbiología, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Wilson O. Imbacuán-Pantoja
- Grupo Parasitología Veterinaria, Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y de Zootecnia, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Jesús A. Cortés-Vecino
- Grupo Parasitología Veterinaria, Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y de Zootecnia, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Luis J. Polo-Terán
- Grupo Parasitología Veterinaria, Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y de Zootecnia, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogotá, Colombia
- Grupo Salud Pública Veterinaria, Departamento Salud Animal, Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y de Zootecnia, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Néstor Yaya-Lancheros
- Grupo Salud Pública Veterinaria, Departamento Salud Animal, Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y de Zootecnia, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Jorge Jácome
- Departamento de Biología, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Ana M. Palomar
- Departamento de Enfermedades Infecciosas, Centro de Rickettsiosis y Enfermedades Transmitidas por Artrópodos Vectores, Hospital San Pedro–CIBIR, Logroño, Spain
| | - Sonia Santibáñez
- Departamento de Enfermedades Infecciosas, Centro de Rickettsiosis y Enfermedades Transmitidas por Artrópodos Vectores, Hospital San Pedro–CIBIR, Logroño, Spain
| | - Aránzazu Portillo
- Departamento de Enfermedades Infecciosas, Centro de Rickettsiosis y Enfermedades Transmitidas por Artrópodos Vectores, Hospital San Pedro–CIBIR, Logroño, Spain
| | - José A. Oteo
- Departamento de Enfermedades Infecciosas, Centro de Rickettsiosis y Enfermedades Transmitidas por Artrópodos Vectores, Hospital San Pedro–CIBIR, Logroño, Spain
| | - Marylin Hidalgo
- Grupo de Enfermedades Infecciosas, Departamento de Microbiología, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Bogotá, Colombia
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24
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Tarragona EL, Soares JF, Costa FB, Labruna MB, Nava S. Vectorial competence of Amblyomma tonelliae to transmit Rickettsia rickettsii. MEDICAL AND VETERINARY ENTOMOLOGY 2016; 30:410-415. [PMID: 27677425 DOI: 10.1111/mve.12189] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2016] [Revised: 06/13/2016] [Accepted: 06/26/2016] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
The aim of this work was to test the vectorial competence of Amblyomma tonelliae (Ixodida: Ixodidae) to transmit Rickettsia rickettsii (Rickettsiales: Rickettsiaceae), the agent of Rocky Mountain spotted fever (RMSF). All parasitic stages of A. tonelliae were exposed to R. rickettsii by allowing each stage to feed on hosts inoculated with this pathogen. Thereafter, ticks were fed on uninfected hosts. All stages of A. tonelliae were able to acquire the R. rickettsii infection and maintain it by transstadial and transovarial transmission. When infected ticks fed on uninfected hosts, the hosts developed rickettsiosis disease. This study demonstrates the vectorial competence of A. tonelliae to transmit R. rickettsii. These results have epidemiological relevance because A. tonelliae is one of the tick species most likely to infest humans in Argentina, including in areas in which RMSF has been reported.
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Affiliation(s)
- E L Tarragona
- Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Rafaela, Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Rafaela, Argentina.
- Departamento de Parasitología, Extensión Salud en Animales Silvestres, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, Universidad Nacional del Litoral, Santa Fe, Argentina.
| | - J F Soares
- Departamento Parasitologia e Doenças Parasitárias Veterinárias, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - F B Costa
- Departamento de Medicina Veterinária Preventiva e Saúde Animal (VPS), Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - M B Labruna
- Departamento de Medicina Veterinária Preventiva e Saúde Animal (VPS), Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - S Nava
- Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Rafaela, Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Rafaela, Argentina
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25
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Gómez-Quintero CH, Faccini-Martínez ÁA, Botero-García CA, Lozano M, Sánchez-Lerma L, Miranda J, Mattar S, Hidalgo M. Probable case of spotted fever group rickettsial infection in a new suspected endemic area, Colombia. J Infect Public Health 2016; 10:353-356. [PMID: 27614577 DOI: 10.1016/j.jiph.2016.08.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2016] [Revised: 08/10/2016] [Accepted: 08/19/2016] [Indexed: 10/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Spoted fever group (SFG) rickettsioses are actually considered as emerging and re-emerging zoonotic diseases, caused by pathogenic bacteria of the spotted fever group rickettsiae (SFGR). Recently, serologic studies in human and animals conducted in Colombian Orinoquia, showed a high seroprevalence against SFGR. In June 2015, a 50-year-old male was admitted to a hospital in Bogotá, Colombia, with two days of malaise and temperature of 39°C, associated to generalized rash 24h after the onset of fever. He referred a work visit and outdoor activities in rural area of the Department of Meta 15days prior the onset of symptoms. The patient was transferred to the intensive care unit with supplementary oxygen, inotropic support and was assessed by the infectious diseases department, indicating the addition of Doxycycline. After seven days of antibiotic treatment the patient was discharged with no evidence of new symptoms or sequels. Retrospectively, two serum samples collected during the acute and convalescent phase were evaluated; there was four fold rise in titer against SFGR. With the foregoing, associated with the recent serological evidence that suggests the circulation of SFGR species in the Colombian Orinoquia, we consider to recognize this region as a new endemic area for SFG Rickettsioses.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Álvaro A Faccini-Martínez
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Doenças Infecciosas, Centro de Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo, Vitória, Brazil.
| | | | - Marcela Lozano
- Grupo de Enfermedades Infecciosas, Clínica De La Mujer, Bogotá, Colombia
| | | | - Jorge Miranda
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas del Trópico, Montería, Colombia
| | - Salim Mattar
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas del Trópico, Montería, Colombia
| | - Marylin Hidalgo
- Departamento de Microbiología, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Bogotá, Colombia
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Troyo A, Moreira-Soto RD, Calderon-Arguedas Ó, Mata-Somarribas C, Ortiz-Tello J, Barbieri ARM, Avendaño A, Vargas-Castro LE, Labruna MB, Hun L, Taylor L. Detection of rickettsiae in fleas and ticks from areas of Costa Rica with history of spotted fever group rickettsioses. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2016; 7:1128-1134. [PMID: 27592065 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2016.08.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2016] [Revised: 08/01/2016] [Accepted: 08/22/2016] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Outbreaks of spotted fevers have been reported in Costa Rica since the 1950s, although vectors responsible for transmission to humans have not been directly identified. In this study, species of Rickettsia were detected in ectoparasites from Costa Rica, mostly from five study sites where cases of spotted fevers have been reported. Ticks and fleas were collected using drag cloths or directly from domestic and wild animals and pooled according to species, host, and location. Pools were analyzed initially by PCR to detect a fragment of Rickettsia spp. specific gltA gene, and those positive were confirmed by detection of htrA and/or ompA gene fragments. Partial sequences of the gltA gene were obtained, as well as at least one ompA and/or ompB partial sequence of each species. Rickettsia spp. were confirmed in 119 of 497 (23.9%) pools of ticks and fleas analyzed. Rickettsia rickettsii was identified in one nymph of Amblyomma mixtum and one nymph of Amblyomma varium. Other rickettsiae present were 'Candidatus Rickettsia amblyommii' in A. mixtum, Amblyomma ovale, Dermacentor nitens, and Rhipicephalus sanguineus s. l.; Rickettsia bellii in Amblyomma sabanerae; Rickettsia felis in Ctenocephalides felis; and Rickettsia sp. similar to 'Candidatus R. asemboensis' in C. felis, Pulex simulans, A. ovale, and Rhipicephalus microplus. Results show the presence of rickettsiae in vectors that may be responsible for transmission to humans in Costa Rica, and evidence suggests exposure to rickettsial organisms in the human environment may be common. This is the first study to report R. rickettsii in A. varium and in A. mixtum in Costa Rica.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adriana Troyo
- Centro de Investigación en Enfermedades Tropicales and Facultad de Microbiología, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica.
| | - Rolando D Moreira-Soto
- Centro de Investigación en Enfermedades Tropicales and Facultad de Microbiología, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica; Centro de Investigación en Estructuras Microscópicas, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica
| | - Ólger Calderon-Arguedas
- Centro de Investigación en Enfermedades Tropicales and Facultad de Microbiología, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica
| | - Carlos Mata-Somarribas
- Centro de Investigación en Enfermedades Tropicales and Facultad de Microbiología, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica
| | - Jusara Ortiz-Tello
- Centro de Investigación en Enfermedades Tropicales and Facultad de Microbiología, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica
| | - Amália R M Barbieri
- Departamento de Medicina Veterinária Preventiva e Saúde Animal, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Adrián Avendaño
- Centro de Investigación en Enfermedades Tropicales and Facultad de Microbiología, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica
| | - Luis E Vargas-Castro
- Centro de Investigación en Enfermedades Tropicales and Facultad de Microbiología, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica
| | - Marcelo B Labruna
- Departamento de Medicina Veterinária Preventiva e Saúde Animal, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Laya Hun
- Centro de Investigación en Enfermedades Tropicales and Facultad de Microbiología, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica
| | - Lizeth Taylor
- Centro de Investigación en Enfermedades Tropicales and Facultad de Microbiología, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica
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Faccini-Martínez ÁA, Botero-García CA, Hidalgo M. CONTRIBUTIONS TO RICKETTSIOSES RESEARCH IN COLOMBIA (1917-1943), LUIS B. PATIÑO CAMARGO. Rev Inst Med Trop Sao Paulo 2016; 58:33. [PMID: 27074327 PMCID: PMC4826086 DOI: 10.1590/s1678-9946201658033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2015] [Accepted: 11/05/2015] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Colombian physician Luis Benigno Patiño Camargo was one of the pioneers in the study of rickettsioses in South America, demonstrating for the first time in Colombia the presence of Rickettsia rickettsii as the etiological agent of a highly deadly exanthematic febrile syndrome in the 1930s. However, Patiño-Camargo performed other investigations from 1917-1943, which represent the first descriptions and scientific evidence of the presence of R. prowazekii and R. typhi in Colombia. Almost 60 years after the latest research conducted by Dr. Patiño-Camargo, rickettsioses were again a matter of interest and research. In the last decade over 20 research studies have been published, showing new endemic areas for R. rickettsii, as well as the description of new rickettsial species in Colombia.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Marylin Hidalgo
- Departamento de Microbiología, Facultad de Ciencias, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Bogotá, Colombia
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Rivera-Páez FA, Labruna MB, Martins TF, Sampieri BR, Camargo-Mathias MI. Amblyomma mixtum Koch, 1844 (Acari: Ixodidae): First record confirmation in Colombia using morphological and molecular analyses. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2016; 7:842-848. [PMID: 27062448 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2016.03.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2015] [Revised: 03/08/2016] [Accepted: 03/31/2016] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
Up to some years ago, the taxon Amblyomma cajennense represented a single tick species in the New World, from southern United States to northern Argentina. Recent studies, based on genetic, reproductive and morphological data reorganized this taxon into a complex of the following 6 valid species: A. cajennense sensu stricto, Amblyomma mixtum, Amblyomma sculptum, Amblyomma interandinum, Amblyomma tonelliae, and Amblyomma patinoi. According to this classification, the A. cajennense complex is currently represented in Colombia by only one species, A. patinoi. Because the Colombian land is surrounded by confirmed records of A. mixtum in Panama and Ecuador, and by A. cajennense s.s. in Venezuela and the Brazilian Amazon, it is possible that these two species could also occur in Colombia. This study aimed to determine the occurrence of ticks of the A. cajennense complex in the Orinoquía region of Colombia. A total of 246 adult ticks of the Amblyomma genus were collected in three sampled regions: 71 females and 110 males in Arauca (Arauca Department), 27 females and 20 males in Nunchía (Casanare Department), and 10 females and 8 males in Yopal (Casanare Department). Based on morphological and molecular analyses, these ticks were identified as A. mixtum. Molecular analyses consisted of DNA sequences of two molecular markers, the nuclear second internal transcribed spacer (ITS2) and the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I gene (COI). The presence of A. mixtum in Colombia is of medical relevance, since this species is incriminated as a vector of Rickettsia rickettsii in Central America.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fredy A Rivera-Páez
- Departamento de Biologia, Instituto de Biociências, UNESP-Universidade Estadual Paulista, Avenida 24-A, 1515, Bairro Bela Vista, SP, Rio Claro CEP 13506-900, Brazil; Departamento de Ciencias Biológicas, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Caldas, Calle 65 No. 26-10 Apartado Aéreo 275 Manizales, Caldas, Colombia
| | - Marcelo B Labruna
- Departamento de Medicina Veterinária Preventiva e Saúde Animal, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, Universidade de São Paulo-USP, Av. Prof. Orlando Marques de Paiva, 87, CEP 05508-000, Cidade Universitária, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Thiago F Martins
- Departamento de Medicina Veterinária Preventiva e Saúde Animal, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, Universidade de São Paulo-USP, Av. Prof. Orlando Marques de Paiva, 87, CEP 05508-000, Cidade Universitária, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Bruno Rodrigues Sampieri
- Departamento de Biologia, Instituto de Biociências, UNESP-Universidade Estadual Paulista, Avenida 24-A, 1515, Bairro Bela Vista, SP, Rio Claro CEP 13506-900, Brazil
| | - Maria I Camargo-Mathias
- Departamento de Biologia, Instituto de Biociências, UNESP-Universidade Estadual Paulista, Avenida 24-A, 1515, Bairro Bela Vista, SP, Rio Claro CEP 13506-900, Brazil.
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