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Gomes IRC, Gurgel-Gonçalves R, Gazeta GS, Borsoi ABP, Bitencourth K, Leite LF, Coelho NGSS, Dislich R, Wiederhecker HC, Santos EG, Guimarães M. Effect of environmental variables on the abundance of Amblyomma ticks, potential vectors of Rickettsia parkeri in central Brazil. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0301685. [PMID: 38748697 PMCID: PMC11095677 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0301685] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2024] [Accepted: 03/20/2024] [Indexed: 05/19/2024] Open
Abstract
Amblyomma ticks are vectors of both Rickettsia rickettsii and R. parkeri in the Americas, where capybaras (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris) are the main hosts in urban areas, thus contributing to the transmission of spotted fever. Herein, we studied: (i) the seasonal dynamics and abundance of ticks in areas where capybaras live, (ii) the effect of environmental variables on tick abundance, and (iii) the presence of Rickettsia-infected ticks. Between September 2021 and September 2022, we sampled ticks using cloth-dragging at 194 sites on the shore of Lake Paranoá in Brasília, Brazil. We measured environmental data (season, vegetation type, canopy density, temperature, humidity, and presence or vestige of capybara) at each site. Nymphs and adults were morphologically identified to the species level, and a selected tick sample including larvae was subjected to genotypic identification. We investigated Rickettsia-infected ticks by PCR (gltA, htrA, ompB, and ompA genes) and associations between tick abundance and environmental variables using Generalized Linear Models. A total of 30,334 ticks (96% larvae) were captured. Ticks were identified as Amblyomma, with A. sculptum comprising 97% of the adult/nymphs. Genotype identification of a larval sample confirmed that 95% belonged to A. dubitatum. Seasonal variables showed significant effects on tick abundance. Most larvae and nymphs were captured during the early dry season, while the adults were more abundant during the wet season. Vegetation variables and the presence of capybaras showed no association with tick abundance. Rickettsia parkeri group and R. bellii were identified in A. dubitatum, while A. sculptum presented R. bellii. We conclude that: (i) Amblyomma ticks are widely distributed in Lake Paranoá throughout the year, especially larvae at the dry season, (ii) the abundance of Amblyomma ticks is explained more by climatic factors than by vegetation or presence of capybaras, and (iii) A. dubitatum ticks are potential vectors of R. parkeri in Brasília.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isadora R. C. Gomes
- Biological Sciences Course, Catholic University of Brasília, Federal District, Brasília, Brazil
- Faculty of Medicine, Laboratory of Medical Parasitology and Vector Biology, University of Brasília, Federal District, Brasília, Brazil
| | - Rodrigo Gurgel-Gonçalves
- Faculty of Medicine, Laboratory of Medical Parasitology and Vector Biology, University of Brasília, Federal District, Brasília, Brazil
| | - Gilberto S. Gazeta
- National Reference Laboratory for Rikettsiosis Vectors, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Ana B. P. Borsoi
- National Reference Laboratory for Rikettsiosis Vectors, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Karla Bitencourth
- National Reference Laboratory for Rikettsiosis Vectors, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Letícia F. Leite
- Biological Sciences Course, Catholic University of Brasília, Federal District, Brasília, Brazil
| | | | - Ricardo Dislich
- Ministry of Planning and Budget, Esplanade of Ministries, Federal District, Brasília, Brazil
| | | | - Eduardo G. Santos
- Post Graduation Program in Ecology, Institute of Biological Sciences, University of Brasília, Federal District, Brasília, Brazil
| | - Melina Guimarães
- Biological Sciences Course, Catholic University of Brasília, Federal District, Brasília, Brazil
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Silva-Ramos CR, Faccini-Martínez ÁA, Serna-Rivera CC, Mattar S, Hidalgo M. Etiologies of Zoonotic Tropical Febrile Illnesses That Are Not Part of the Notifiable Diseases in Colombia. Microorganisms 2023; 11:2154. [PMID: 37763998 PMCID: PMC10535066 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms11092154] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2023] [Revised: 06/15/2023] [Accepted: 06/15/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
In Colombia, tropical febrile illnesses represent one of the most important causes of clinical attention. Febrile illnesses in the tropics are mainly zoonotic and have a broad etiology. The Colombian surveillance system monitors some notifiable diseases. However, several etiologies are not monitored by this system. In the present review, we describe eleven different etiologies of zoonotic tropical febrile illnesses that are not monitored by the Colombian surveillance system but have scientific, historical, and contemporary data that confirm or suggest their presence in different regions of the country: Anaplasma, Arenavirus, Bartonella, relapsing fever group Borrelia, Coxiella burnetii, Ehrlichia, Hantavirus, Mayaro virus, Orientia, Oropouche virus, and Rickettsia. These could generate a risk for the local population, travelers, and immigrants, due to which they should be included in the mandatory notification system, considering their importance for Colombian public health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlos Ramiro Silva-Ramos
- Grupo de Enfermedades Infecciosas, Departamento de Microbiología, Facultad de Ciencias, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Bogotá 110231, Colombia;
| | - Álvaro A. Faccini-Martínez
- Servicio de Infectología, Hospital Militar Central, Bogotá 110110, Colombia;
- Servicios y Asesorías en Infectología—SAI, Bogotá 110110, Colombia
| | - Cristian C. Serna-Rivera
- Grupo de Investigación en Ciencias Veterinarias (CENTAURO), Línea de Investigación Zoonosis Emergentes y Re-Emergentes, Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias, Universidad de Antioquia, Medellín 050034, Colombia;
- Grupo de Investigación en Genética, Biodiversidad y Manejo de Ecosistemas (GEBIOME), Departamento de Ciencias Biológicas, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Caldas, Manizales 170004, Colombia
| | - Salim Mattar
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas del Trópico, Universidad de Córdoba, Montería 230001, Colombia;
| | - Marylin Hidalgo
- Grupo de Enfermedades Infecciosas, Departamento de Microbiología, Facultad de Ciencias, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Bogotá 110231, Colombia;
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Rodrigues AC, de Castro MB, Labruna MB, Szabó MPJ. The inoculation eschar of Rickettsia parkeri rickettsiosis in Brazil: Importance and cautions. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2023; 14:102127. [PMID: 36693294 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2023.102127] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2022] [Revised: 01/06/2023] [Accepted: 01/19/2023] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
Two well characterized tick-borne rickettsioses occur in Brazil. Rickettsia rickettsii caused spotted-fever, transmitted by Amblyomma sculptum and Amblyomma aureolatum, is a severe disease with a high case-fatality rate in the southeastern region of the country. Rickettsia parkeri strain Atlantic rainforest infections transmitted by adult Amblyomma ovale ticks cause a milder non-lethal febrile disease with an eschar (necrosis) at the tick bite site. Clinical diagnosis of rickettsiosis is challenging, particularly during the early stages of the illness when signs and symptoms are non-specific. Since eschar at the tick bite site has emerged as the main clinical feature of mild R. parkeri infections and used to differentiate it from severe R. rickettsii infection, its proper recognition, distinction from other tick bite lesions, and boundaries as a clinical tool must be highlighted. Of importance, eschars induced by Rickettsia must be differentiated from dermatoses caused by other tick-borne skin infections as well from lesions caused by the tick bite itself. We herein highlight information on eschar in rickettsial diseases in Brazil and discuss the need for further research on its clinical relevance and application in the diagnosis of spotted fever caused by R. parkeri strain Atlantic rainforest. In particular, we draw attention to diagnosis of other febrile diseases in the presence of concomitant tick bites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessandra Castro Rodrigues
- Laboratório de Ixodologia, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária, Universidade Federal de Uberlândia, Av. Pará, 1720/Campus Umuarama-Bloco 2T, CEP 38400-902, Uberlândia, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Márcio Botelho de Castro
- Laboratório de Patologia Veterinária, Universidade de Brasília, Av. L4 Norte, Hospital Veterinário - Campus Universitário Darcy Ribeiro, CP. 4508, Asa Norte, CEP 70910-970, Brasília, Distrito Federal, Brazil
| | - Marcelo Bahia Labruna
- Departamento de Medicina Veterinária Preventiva e Saúde Animal, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, Universidade de São Paulo, Av. Prof. Orlando Marques de Paiva, 87, Cidade Universitária, CEP 05508-270, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Matias Pablo Juan Szabó
- Laboratório de Ixodologia, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária, Universidade Federal de Uberlândia, Av. Pará, 1720/Campus Umuarama-Bloco 2T, CEP 38400-902, Uberlândia, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
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Rocha JM, de Oliveira PB, da Costa-Neto SF, Ogrzewalska MH, Martins TF, Faccini JLH, Alvarez MRDV, Luz HR, Albuquerque GR. Molecular Detection of Rickettsia parkeri Strain Atlantic Rainforest in Ticks Parasitizing Small Mammals in Northeastern Brazil. Acta Parasitol 2022; 67:1657-1666. [PMID: 36125653 DOI: 10.1007/s11686-022-00617-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2022] [Accepted: 09/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Small mammals are important reservoirs of ticks and their pathogens in nature. However, studies reporting these associations are still rare in Brazil. In the present study, we investigated the presence of Rickettsia DNA in ticks parasitizing rodents and marsupials captured in different areas throughout the Atlantic rainforest biome, Bahia, Northeastern (NE), Brazil. METHODS The study was conducted in five municipalities within of the Atlantic Forest biome, Bahia state, in NE Brazil. Two campaigns were done in each municipality. For host captures Sherman and Tomahawk traps were used, and pitfall traps. After being captured, the hosts were anesthetized and their entire body examined for ticks. When ticks were detected, they were manually removed and stored in eppendorf tubes (1.5 ml) containing absolute PA ethanol for future laboratory analysis (identification of ticks and detection of Rickettsia spp.). RESULTS A total of 609 mammals were captured. Overall, 208 ticks of the genus Amblyomma and Ixodes were collected: A. ovale, I. loricatus and A. varium. Rickettsia DNA was detected in A. ovale and it was 99-100% of identity to the sequence deposited in GenBank as Rickettsia parkeri strain Atlantica rainforest. CONCLUSION These results suggest that R. parkeri strain Atlantic rainforest occurs in the region, and A. ovale is likely the vector.
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Affiliation(s)
- Josiane M Rocha
- Postgraduate Program in Animal Science. State University of Santa Cruz, UESC, Ilhéus, BA, Brazil
| | - Philipe B de Oliveira
- Department of Animal Parasitology, Federal Rural University of Rio de Janeiro, UFRRJ, Seropédica, RJ, Brazil
| | | | | | - Thiago F Martins
- Department of Preventive Veterinary Medicine and Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - João L H Faccini
- Department of Animal Parasitology, Federal Rural University of Rio de Janeiro, UFRRJ, Seropédica, RJ, Brazil
| | - Martin R D V Alvarez
- Department of Biological Sciences (DCB), Mammal Collection (CMARF), State University of Santa Curz (UESC), Ilhéus, Bahia, Brazil
| | - Hermes R Luz
- Postgraduate Program in Health and Environment, and Biodiversity and Conservation, Federal University of Maranhão, São Luís, MA, Brazil.
| | - George R Albuquerque
- Postgraduate Program in Animal Science. State University of Santa Cruz, UESC, Ilhéus, BA, Brazil
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