Serosurvey on rickettsiae of the spotted fever group and Rickettsia bellii among dogs in the state of Goiás, Brazil

Abstract

<jats:p>Abstract The purpose of this study was to do a serological survey on three rickettsial species: Rickettsia rickettsii and Rickettsia parkeri, two species of the spotted fever group (SFG) that are considered to be great importance for public health; and Rickettsia bellii, a species of unknown pathogenicity that infects a variety of human-biting ticks. Serum samples from 273 dogs were tested using the indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFA). A total of 52 samples (19.04%) were seropositive for at least one of the three Rickettsia spp. antigens. Thirty-eight (73.07%), twelve (23.07%) and one (1.92%) of these dogs showed homologous reactions to R. bellii, R. rickettsii and R. parkeri, respectively. Our results showed that the seroprevalence of Rickettsia spp. was relatively low. However, the positive serological tests indicated that these dogs had become infected by these agents at some point in their lives. Lastly, our study adds to the previous knowledge on the epidemiology of rickettsiosis in the state of Goiás by doing the first record of detection of anti-R. rickettsii, R. parkeri and R. bellii antibodies by IFA among dogs, thus indicating that these agents may be circulating in the dog population analyzed.</jats:p>

Detection of Rickettsia spp. in Animals and Ticks in Midwestern Brazil, Where Human Cases of Rickettsiosis Were Reported

“…Our results agree with Neves et al [ 50 ] who carried out a serological survey with dogs from the south and central regions of Goiás. Using the very same rickettsial antigens, they detected an overall positivity of 19%, with 73% of the seropositive dogs showing a homologous reaction to R. bellii .…”

Serological detection of Brazilian Spotted-Fever Group Rickettsiae in horses in Brasília, Federal District, Brazil

“…A total of 504 serum samples were tested, from which 183 horses were found to be seropositive (36.3%), of which 73 (39.9%) were living in non-endemic areas. In Goiás, the state adjacent to the Federal District, the presence of antibodies against R. rickettsii was described among dogs in different municipalities (NEVES et al, 2020) and in horses too. MARTINS et al (2016) described the epidemiological factors of a human case of BSF in Quirinópolis, Goiás, where one of main factors was contact with horses.…”