No abstract

Non-fatal cases of rickettsial infection with different clinical features than the classic BSF (Brazilian Spotted Fever) have been reported in seashore areas of Paraná state, southern Brazil. In addition, Amblyomma ovale tick infected by Rickettsia parkeri strain Atlantic rainforest has been also described in this area. Accordingly, the aim of this study was to investigate the occurrence of anti-Rickettsia spp. antibodies in human and dog populations, and Rickettsia spp. infection in ticks from oceanic islands and seashore mainland cities of southern Brazil. Serum samples were collected from 328 persons and their 282 dogs from three islands and two seashore mainland cities. A total of 211 ticks were collected from dogs, identified as A. ovale and R. sanguineus. In overall, 40 of 328 (12.2%) human samples were seropositive for Rickettsia spp., including 21 of 190 (11.1%) on islands and 19 of 138 (13.7%) on seashore mainland, and 62 of 282 (22.0%) dog samples, including 31 of 153 (20.3%) on islands and 31 of 129 (24.0%) in seashore mainland areas. In overall, nine of 82 (11.0%) ticks were positive to real-time PCR assay targeting a fragment of the rickettsial gltA gene, including two of 64 (3.1%) Rickettsia sanguineus and seven of 18 (38.9%) A. ovale, of which four were infected with the R. parkeri strain Atlantic rainforest. Despite no association between risk factors and Rickettsia spp. seropositivity was found in human beings, access to natural areas (p = .011) and tick infestation (p = .004) was significantly associated to dog seropositivity. The serological and molecular findings herein have confirmed previous tick and clinical case reports and enlarged the geographical occurrence of A. ovale infected by R. parkeri strain Atlantic rainforest in oceanic islands and seashore mainland cities of Paraná State, indicating a new likely transmission area of this new rickettsial infection in human beings and dogs of southern Brazil.

The present study assessed the identification of animal and object hoarding disorder cases by contact and mapping and the presence of animal protection programs in association with seven social–economic indicators of the metropolitan area of the ninth-biggest metropolitan area of Brazil. City Secretaries of Health and Environment provided demographic information and responded to a questionnaire. Overall, a very high level of hoarding case identification per municipality was associated with a higher Human Development Index, population, density, and income and related to distance from Curitiba, the capital of Parana State. Low and very low levels of hoarding case identification were related to greater area, higher Social Vulnerability Index (SVI), inequality, illiteracy, and rural areas. Very high identification level of animal protection programs was also associated with higher HDI, density and population, urban area, and high income, and geographical area. Similarly, low and very low levels of animal protection programs identification were major explained by low income, illiteracy, and distance related to higher population, urbanization, and higher HDI. In summary, better identification of hoarding cases and animal protection programs have shown an association with better socioeconomic indicators and higher population, density, and urban area. Whether municipalities with better human socioeconomic indicators may stimulate society's demands for identification of cases of individuals with hoarding disorder and animal programs should be further established. Regardless, animal health and welfare have been associated with improving human quality of life in a major Brazilian metropolitan area.