We report a case of Q fever in a man who presented with fever of 40 days duration associated with thrombocytosis. Serological and molecular analysis (polymerase chain reaction) confirmed infection with Coxiella burnetii. A field study was conducted by collecting blood samples from the patient's family and from the animals in the patient's house. The patient's wife and 2 of 13 dogs showed seroreactivity. Our data indicate that C. burnetii may be an underrecognized cause of fever in Brazil and emphasize the need for clinicians to consider Q fever in patients with a febrile illness, particularly those with a history of animal contact.
Introduction:Over the last recent years, the number of Q fever cases have has increased throughout the world. An epidemiological investigation was performed in the area in which the fi rst molecular documentation of Q fever in Brazil was previously reported. Methods: Indirect immunofl uorescence assay (IFA) and PCR of Coxiella burnetii targeting the htpAB gene were performed in samples from 14 dogs (blood); 1 cat (blood); 10 goats (blood, milk, vaginal swab and anal swab); 3 sheep (blood); and 2 horses (blood). Results: Two dogs, two sheep and fi ve goats were seroreactive. DNA was amplifi ed from 6 milk and 2 blood samples from goats and from dogs, respectively. The sequence of the amplicons exhibited 99% sequence similarity with the homologous sequence of the htpAB gene of C. burnetii RSA 331 (GenBank -CP000890). Conclusions: The results confi rm C. burnetii infection in animals in Rio de Janeiro and reinforce the need for the surveillance of Q fever in Brazil.
Cytauxzoon felis and 'Candidatus Mycoplasma haemominutum' coinfection in a Brazilian domestic cat (Felis catus)
AbstractThis article describes the first detection of Cytauxzoon felis, using molecular techniques, in a naturally infected domestic cat from Brazil, South America. Coinfection with 'Candidatus Mycoplasma haemominutum' was also found. The molecular identification of the piroplasmid species was performed by Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) and sequencing analysis. A 284 pb fragment of the gene encoding the 18S ribosomal RNA region was amplified and showed 99% identity with other C. felis strains from North America. In addition, PCR-RFLP (restriction fragment length polymorphism) analysis, which amplifies a 595 bp fragment of the gene encoding 16S ribosomal RNA of some bacterial species, identified the co-infecting species as 'Candidatus M. haemominutum'.
Hepatozoon canis tem sido descrito em cães de várias regiões do Brasil sendo mais relatado em áreas rurais. O objetivo deste trabalho foi determinar a ocorrência de infecção por Hepatozoon spp. através da reação em cadeia da polimerase (PCR), em cães de região periurbana da cidade de Piraí, RJ. Em setembro/2006, foram coletadas amostras de sangue de 88 cães da cidade, situada no vale do rio Paraíba do Sul. A PCR foi utilizada para a detecção de Hepatozoon spp. (gene 18SRNAr) através de um par de iniciadores gênero-específicos. Duas amostras apresentaram resultado PCR-positivo (2,2%), havendo concordância com a avaliação morfológica em esfregaços sanguíneos. A amostra de Piraí demonstrou alta similaridade (99%) com Hepatozoon canis. Os cães de Piraí apresentaram baixa frequência de infecção por H. canis, quando comparados a pesquisas anteriores na mesma região.
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