Serologic and molecular survey of Rickettsia spp. in dogs, horses and ticks from the Atlantic rainforest of the state of Bahia, Brazil

Oliveira, Philipe B. de; Harvey, Tatiani Vitor; Fehlberg, Hllytchaikra Ferraz; Rocha, Josiane Moreira; Martins, Thiago F.; Acosta, Igor da Cunha Lima; Labruna, Marcelo B.; Faccini, João Luíz Horácio; Albuquerque, George Rêgo

doi:10.1007/s10493-019-00397-x

Cited by 17 publications

(14 citation statements)

References 28 publications

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“…This finding supports previous reports that provided epidemiological evidence of A. ovale as the main vector of R. parkeri strain Atlantic rainforest to humans [8–10]. In addition, a recent study in the rural area of Ilhéus (same area of the present study) reported that 15% of the A. ovale ticks collected from domestic dogs were infected by R. parkeri strain Atlantic rainforest, with serological evidence that some of these dogs had been infected by R. parkeri [14]. In conjunction, these results support the occurrence of a potentially endemic natural focus of R. parkeri strain Atlantic rainforest in the area of the present study, highlighting the potential of unknown previous human cases and imminent risk of further human cases of spotted fever in this area.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 74%

A human case of spotted fever caused by Rickettsia parkeri strain Atlantic rainforest and its association to the tick Amblyomma ovale

et al. 2019

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Background Rickettsia parkeri strain Atlantic rainforest has emerged in Brazil during the last 10 years, with three laboratory-confirmed human cases. While these cases were epidemiologically associated with the tick Amblyomma ovale, in none of them the tick specimens that bit the patients could be identified. Results We report a clinical case of spotted fever rickettsiosis that was acquired in an Atlantic forest area in Bahia state, northeast Brazil. The case was determined to be caused by R. parkeri strain Atlantic rainforest, based on molecular analysis of the crust removed from the tick bite site (inoculation eschar) of the patients’ skin. DNA extracted from the crust yielded partial sequences of three rickettsial genes (gltA, ompA and ompB), which were 99–100% identical to R. parkeri strain Atlantic rainforest. The tick specimen that was attached to patient skin was identified as a female of A. ovale. Conclusions We report the fourth confirmed case of spotted fever rickettsiosis caused by R. parkeri strain Atlantic rainforest, providing to our knowledge for the first time, direct evidence of R. parkeri strain Atlantic rainforest transmission by A. ovale.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 74%

A human case of spotted fever caused by Rickettsia parkeri strain Atlantic rainforest and its association to the tick Amblyomma ovale

et al. 2019

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“…The absence of molecular detection of the gltA gene corroborates the findings of the state of Goiás [ 54 ] and those of Bahia [ 49 ], where not a single tick collected from horses tested positive for the gltA gene.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 84%

“…The frequency of animals showing antigens related only to R . rickettsii (14.6%) or R. parkeri (15.1%) were higher in the areas included in this study than in a neighboring area (5.8% and 8.7%, respectively) [ 49 ]. This fact can be explained by the small sample size when compared to our study, which covered the geographical area and a number of samples about ten times larger than those of the neighboring area.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This fact can be explained by the small sample size when compared to our study, which covered the geographical area and a number of samples about ten times larger than those of the neighboring area. Ticks tested positive for R. parkeri in this region [ 49 ]; therefore, it is possible that animals with elevated anti- R. parkeri titers are in fact positive for this pathological agent .…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Frequency and factors associated of potential zoonotic pathogens (Borrelia spp., Rickettsia spp., Leishmania spp., and Anaplasma phagocytophilum) in equids in the state of Bahia, Brazil

et al. 2021

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Background Currently, various zoonotic diseases are classified as emerging or reemerging. Because equids have a direct relationship with various vectors, they are possibly more frequently exposed to zoonotic agents than are humans. The undeniable importance of diseases such as human granulocytic anaplasmosis, spotted fever, and leishmaniasis for both public and animal health, as well as the possibility of equids acting as sources, reservoirs, or even sentinels for these pathogens, justifies the detection of their frequency and factors associated with infection in equids from northeastern Brazil. Methods Blood samples were collected from 569 equids (528 horses, 33 donkeys, and 8 mules), 516 from a rural area and 53 from an urban area. Pathogen detection was carried out as follows: Borrelia spp. and Rickettsia spp., serological analysis; Leishmania spp., serological analysis and polymerase chain reaction (PCR); Anaplasma phagocytophilum, PCR. Determination of associated factors was carried out through generalized linear models. Results The frequencies of positivity for the pathogens observed in equids were as follows: Borrelia spp., 13.9% (79/569); Leishmania spp., 3.5% (20/569); Rickettsia spp. 33.4% (190/569). Regarding factors associated with infection, male sex was associated with protection against Borrelia spp.; donkeys and mules were associated with protection against Rickettsia spp., while a younger age was a risk factor. The infection of A. phagocytophilum was not detected in the sampled population. Co-infection was detected in 5.1% (29/569) of the animals. Conclusions Most of the studied pathogenic agents are present in the prospected area, indicating a possible risk for both human and animal health. This demonstrates that equids can be considered important sentinels in the assessment of pathogens with zoonotic potential in the region.

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“…only in DNA samples extracted from ticks collected from mammalian hosts. Rickettsia rickettsii and Rickettsia parkeri are causative species of tick-borne spotted fever in Brazil, and these pathogens were found in this country in ticks collected from capybaras in Mato Grosso state (71) and from dogs in Bahia state (72). Rickettsia bacteria have been reported in ticks infesting several wild mammalian species throughout Brazil (73)(74)(75)(76), and in Brazilian wild birds (77,78).…”

Section: Tick-borne Associated Pathogensmentioning

confidence: 93%

Ticks and Associated Pathogens From Rescued Wild Animals in Rainforest Fragments of Northeastern Brazil

et al. 2020

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The Ixodidae family comprises ticks that are hematophagous ectoparasites and are considered vectors of several hemoparasites from the Anaplasmataceae family and the genus Hepatozoon, Babesia, and Rickettsia. These ectoparasites parasitize domestic and wild animals belonging to several vertebrate groups. Ticks are highly adapted to different biomes and thus possess a wide geographical distribution. In the Brazilian state of Bahia, localized in the Northeast region, there are large rainforest fragments. Studies have rarely been carried out on ticks, and their hemoparasites, that parasitize wild animals in this region. Thus, this study aimed to identify the tick species parasitizing wild animals rescued in rainforest fragments of Bahia and investigate the presence of hemoparasites in tick tissues. During a 2-year period, 238 ticks were collected from 41 wild mammalians, reptiles, and amphibians. These ectoparasites were taxonomically classified according to their morphological characteristics. The ticks identified belonged to five different species from the Ixodidae family: Amblyomma varium, Amblyomma rotundatum, Amblyomma nodosum, Ixodes loricatus, and Rhipicephalus sanguineus. For the first time, an A. rotundatum parasitizing the Mesoclemmys tuberculata turtle was described. PCR assays using DNA extracted from salivary glands or midgut of the ticks were performed to detect specific DNA fragments of hemoparasites from the genus Rickettsia, Ehrlichia, Babesia, Hepatozoon, and from the Anaplasmataceae family. The results showed positive detection of the Rickettsia genus (7.9%), Anaplasmataceae family (15.8%), and Hepatozoon genus (15.8%). Specific DNA from the Ehrlichia and Babesia genera were not detected in these samples. Specific DNA from members of the Anaplasmataceae family was detected in A. varium for the first time. The present Fonseca et al. Ticks in Wild Animals work showed that amphibians, reptiles, and mammals from Bahia's Atlantic Forest areparasitized by different tick species, and that these ectoparasites present pathogens in their tissues that impact both humans and animals due to their zoonotic potential.

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Serologic and molecular survey of Rickettsia spp. in dogs, horses and ticks from the Atlantic rainforest of the state of Bahia, Brazil

Cited by 17 publications

References 28 publications

A human case of spotted fever caused by Rickettsia parkeri strain Atlantic rainforest and its association to the tick Amblyomma ovale

A human case of spotted fever caused by Rickettsia parkeri strain Atlantic rainforest and its association to the tick Amblyomma ovale

Frequency and factors associated of potential zoonotic pathogens (Borrelia spp., Rickettsia spp., Leishmania spp., and Anaplasma phagocytophilum) in equids in the state of Bahia, Brazil

Ticks and Associated Pathogens From Rescued Wild Animals in Rainforest Fragments of Northeastern Brazil

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