Importância dos carnívoros domésticos (cães e gatos) na epidemiologia da peste nos focos do nordeste do Brasil

Abstract

Soros de carnívoros domésticos (cães e gatos), roedores, e pacientes suspeitos de peste, obtidos durante dois surtos de peste humana e de roedores, um em 1982, no foco da Serra de Baturité/CE e o outro, em 1986, no Planalto da Borborema/PB e soros de carnívoros e de roedores do foco da Chapada do Araripe/PE, obtidos, em 1986, na ausência de casos humanos, foram analisados pelas micro técnicas de hemaglutinação passiva para anticorpos específicos, contra a fração antigênica purificada - F1A - de Yersinia pestis e inibição da hemaglutinação. Os altos percentuais de carnívoros, sorologicamente, positivos encontrados durante os surtos de peste humana, confirmam que esses animais estão implicados no ciclo epidemiológico da peste, nos focos do Nordeste do Brasil, e representam valiosos indicadores das atividades da infecção.<br>Blood sera were obtained from domestic carnivores (dogs and cats), rodents, and plague suspected humans during two Brazilian plague outbreaks that have occurred in Baturité Mountain focus, (Ceará state), in 1982 and Borborema Plateau focus, (Paraíba state), in 1986. Blood sera were also obtained from animals on Araripe Plateau focus, (Pernambuco state), during 1986, when human cases of plague had not been reported. The samples were analysed by passive haemagglutination test for antibodies against the fraction - F1A - of Yersinia pestis concomitant with the passive haemagglutination inhibition test. The high percentage of seropositive carnivores found during the plague outbreaks indicates that these animals may also be involved in the epidemiological cycle of plague in Brazil, and could represent a valuable indicator of the infection activity

Seroprevalence of Yersinia pestis in dogs and small rodents in one hyperendemic plague focus of Democratic Republic of Congo

“…The prevalence is estimated at 23.8% in areas of endemic plague (Rajerison et al, 2009). In Brazil, in 1988, a seroprevalence of 21.6% (53/245) was found in a focus of plague at Planalto Borborema in the state of Paraíba (Almeida et al, 2007). Finally, in China, in active areas, seroprevalence was 23.5% (162/689) (Li et al, 2008); and the most recent outbreak of human plague occurred in 2009 with 12 human cases (three of them died) (Wang et al, 2011).…”

Seroprevalence and spatial distribution dynamics of Yersinia pestis antibodies in dogs and cats from plague foci in the State of Ceará, Northeastern Brazil

“…Previous studies found that antibodypositivity prevalence among dogs and cats from the Ceará plague foci, and from Chapada da Borborema (PB), were similar 13,22 . During a plague outbreak in a village in Yunnan Province, China serum-positivity rates in domestic cats and dogs were 23.5% and 26.5%, respectively 23 .…”

“…Therefore, serological surveillance in cats should not be discontinued, as it may be valuable for the plague monitoring program. Almeida et al 22 recorded 76% positive samples from cats, and 49.1% from dogs in Serra de Baturité (CE) during a human plague outbreak. The high positivity among cats was likely due to animals being infected and then surviving the disease during those events.…”

“…Titers >1/64 suggest recent infections and recent contact with Y. pestis, signaling a potential risk for human infection [12][13]22 . Paul-Murphy et al 31 reported anti-Y.…”

Tendência secular da peste no Estado do Ceará, Brasil

“…O quarto período, de 1987 a 2004 (18 anos), apresentou baixíssima incidência de casos humanos, somente três, ao lado de evidências importantes da circulação do bacilo pestoso em reservatórios silvestres e domésticos, obtidas graças à agregação de novas estratégias e tecnologias à vigilância da zoonose, especialmente a vigilância sorológica, implantada no Brasil no início da dé-cada de 80 e no Ceará em 1987 17,18,19 . A despeito da redução da ocorrência de peste humana nos anos recentes (Figura 2), a circulação do bacilo pestoso freqüentemente é detectada quando uma investigação rigorosa é realizada.…”