Survey of rickettsiae in humans, dogs, horses, and ticks in Northern Paraná, Brazil

Abstract

Brazilian Spotted Fever is a disease caused by Rickettsia rickettsii, and is transmitted to humans and animals by Amblyomma spp. The objective of this work was to study the epidemiology of spotted fever group rickettsiae in rural areas of Northern Parana. In Alvorada do Sul municipality, 88 humans, 83 dogs, and 18 horses were sampled, and in Arapongas municipality, 138 humans, 90 dogs and 18 horses were studied. All the sera were tested by IFA in which R. rickettsii and R. parkeri were used as antigens, considering titers ≥ 64 positive. Ticks collected from dogs and horses were tested by PCR. In Alvorada do Sul, 24% and 16.1% of humans, 55.6% and 22.2% of horses and, 22.9% and 18.1% of dogs were seropositive for R rickettsii and R. parkeri, respectively. In Arapongas, 9.4% and 4.3% of the humans, 5.6% and 5.6% of horses and, 13.3% and 12.2% of the dogs were seropositive for R. rickettsii and R. parkeri, respectively. PCR detected seven ticks with gltA sequences that showed similarity with R. bellii. The presence of antibodies to R. parkeri and R. rickettsii in dogs, horses and humans demonstrates a potential risk for spotted fever group rickettsiae in these areas. Key words: Rickettsia spp., brazilian spotted fever, Amblyomma spp., epidemiology AbstractFebre Maculosa Brasileira é uma doença causada por Rickettsia rickettsii, e é transmitida para humanos e animais por Amblyomma spp. O objetivo deste trabalho foi estudar a epidemiologia de riquétsias do grupo da febre em áreas rurais do Norte do Paraná. No município de Alvorada do Sul, 88 pessoas, 83 cães e 18 cavalos foram amostrados, e no município de Arapongas, 138 seres humanos, 90 cães e 18 cavalos foram estudados. Todos os soros foram testados por IFI com R. rickettsii e R. parkeri como antígenos, considerando-se os títulos ≥ 64 positivos. Carrapatos coletados de cães e cavalos foram testados por PCR. Em Alvorada do Sul, 24% e 16,1% dos seres humanos, 55,6% e 22,2% de cavalos e, 22,9% e 18,1% de cães foram soropositivos para R. rickettsii e R. parkeri, respectivamente. Em Arapongas, 9,4% e 4,3% dos seres humanos, 5,6% e 5,6% de cavalos e, 13,3% e 12,2% dos cães foram soropositivos para R. rickettsii

Antibodies against rickettsiae from spotted fever groups in horses from two mesoregions in the state of Santa Catarina, Brazil

“…Tamekuni et al (2010), in northern Paraná, identified 5.5% and 1.8% of the horses tested as positive (IFAT ≥1:64) for R. rickettsii and R. parkeri, respectively. Likewise in Paraná, in the cities of Alvorada do Sul and Arapongas, horses seropositive for R. rickettsii and R. parkeri were identified, with the infection rates of the animals ranging from 5.6% to 55.6% (Tamekuni et al, 2011). In São Paulo, Moraes-Filho et al (2009) identified 17.6% (64/363) of the horses at the Center for Zoonosis Control as seropositive for R. rickettsii, similar results to those noted in this study.…”

Biodiversity of Potential Vectors of Rickettsiae and Epidemiological Mosaic of Spotted Fever in the State of Paraná, Brazil

“…provide the comparative results needed for effective public health action. In PR, the first confirmed SFR case occurred in 2006 (14), resulting in a number of subsequent studies in the state (51)(52)(53)(54)(55)(56)(57)(58)(59)(60). The majority of these have provided basic information concerning rickettsia circulation in a given area, with little direct attempt to study case association or use Surveillance System data.…”

Prevalence of zoonotic and non-zoonotic Rickettsia in horses: A systematic review and meta-analysis

“…Therefore, there are various diagnostic methods; at the time of evaluation, the indirect immunofluorescence test (IFI) is used, which is performed using isolated Rickettsia antigens. This method is among the most accurate for diagnosing Rickettsia infection since, according to the data analysed in previous investigations using the real-time PCR method, its detection in the blood is problematic because it is a bacterium that multiplies within the endothelial cells [ 54 ]. Nevertheless, the future of confirmation is focused on genome sequencing and metagenomics [ 55 , 56 ].…”