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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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da Silva TF, de Quadros APN, do Rêgo GMS, de Oliveira J, de Medeiros JT, Dos Reis LFM, Ribeiro TMP, Carvalho MV, de Mattos PSR, Mathias LA, Paludo GR. Leptospira spp. in Free-Ranging Capybaras ( Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris) from Midwestern Brazil. Vector Borne Zoonotic Dis 2023; 23:106-112. [PMID: 36847360 DOI: 10.1089/vbz.2022.0034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: Leptospirosis is a contagious disease that affects domestic and wild animals as well as humans. It is caused by infection with some pathogenic species of the genus Leptospira. In Brazil, studies on leptospirosis in capybaras are scarce or nonexistent in some regions, such as the Federal District. The objective of this study was to analyze the presence of DNA of the agent and/or anti-Leptospira spp. antibodies in capybaras. Materials and Methods: Blood samples were collected from 56 free-living capybaras captured in two different sites in the study region. The samples were submitted to hematology and clinical chemistry tests. To identify Leptospira positive samples, a conventional PCR (cPCR) and analysis of anti-Leptospira spp. antibodies by microscopic agglutination test (MAT) were used. Results: No animal showed cPCR amplification of the Lip32 gene, but 41.1% (23/56) of the animals had anti-Leptospira spp. antibodies on MAT. The serovars present were icterohaemorrhagiae (82.61%), copenhageni (65.22%), grippotyphosa (4.35%), and hardjo (4.35%). In the laboratorial tests, differences (p < 0.05) were observed in the biochemical assays of alkaline phosphatase, creatinine, albumin, and globulin. Although these values differed significantly between groups, they all remained within reference range (excluding albumin), and thus there is not enough to infer that this alteration could be caused by Leptospira infection. Conclusions: cPCR using whole blood samples to evaluate Leptospira spp. infection of free-living capybaras was not an efficient tool. The presence of Leptospira seroreactive capybaras shows that the bacteria are circulating in the urban environment of the Federal District.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thamiris F da Silva
- Laboratório de Patologia Clínica Veterinária, Faculdade de Agronomia e Medicina Veterinária-FAV, Universidade de Brasília-UnB, Brasília, Brazil
| | - Ana P N de Quadros
- Laboratório de Patologia Clínica Veterinária, Faculdade de Agronomia e Medicina Veterinária-FAV, Universidade de Brasília-UnB, Brasília, Brazil
| | - George M S do Rêgo
- Laboratório de Patologia Clínica Veterinária, Faculdade de Agronomia e Medicina Veterinária-FAV, Universidade de Brasília-UnB, Brasília, Brazil
| | - Julia de Oliveira
- Laboratório de Patologia Clínica Veterinária, Faculdade de Agronomia e Medicina Veterinária-FAV, Universidade de Brasília-UnB, Brasília, Brazil
| | - Jussara T de Medeiros
- Laboratório de Patologia Clínica Veterinária, Faculdade de Agronomia e Medicina Veterinária-FAV, Universidade de Brasília-UnB, Brasília, Brazil
| | - Luiz F M Dos Reis
- Laboratório de Patologia Clínica Veterinária, Faculdade de Agronomia e Medicina Veterinária-FAV, Universidade de Brasília-UnB, Brasília, Brazil
| | - Taiã M P Ribeiro
- Laboratório de Patologia Clínica Veterinária, Faculdade de Agronomia e Medicina Veterinária-FAV, Universidade de Brasília-UnB, Brasília, Brazil
| | | | | | - Luís A Mathias
- School of Agricultural and Veterinary Studies, Jaboticabal, Brazil
| | - Giane R Paludo
- Laboratório de Patologia Clínica Veterinária, Faculdade de Agronomia e Medicina Veterinária-FAV, Universidade de Brasília-UnB, Brasília, Brazil
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Campos JBV, Martins FS, Macedo GCD, Barreto WTG, Oliveira CED, Barbieri ARM, Labruna MB, Oliveira-Santos LGR, Herrera HM. Serological exposure of spotted fever group Rickettsia in capybaras (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris) from urban parks in Campo Grande, Brazilian Midwest. Rev Soc Bras Med Trop 2022; 55:e0192. [PMID: 36134865 PMCID: PMC9491230 DOI: 10.1590/0037-8682-0192-2022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2022] [Accepted: 07/01/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Rickettsia of the spotted fever group (SFG) has been reported in ticks and domestic animals in Campo Grande (CG), Midwest Brazil. Methods: We searched for Rickettsia in the SFG in capybaras and their ticks in an urban park in the CG. Results: The seropositivity rate was 88.2% (15/17). Although 87.7% of the capybaras sampled showed infestations with Amblyomma sculptum, A. dubitatum, and Amblyomma spp., no molecular results were detected in ticks. Conclusions: Since Rickettsia from the SFG circulates among capybaras in the urban parks of Campo Grande, this large rodent species should be monitored within the One Health Agenda.
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Affiliation(s)
- João Bosco Vilela Campos
- Universidade Católica Dom Bosco, Pós-Graduação em Ciências Ambientais e Sustentabilidade Agropecuária, Campo Grande, MS, Brasil
| | - Filipe Santos Martins
- Universidade Católica Dom Bosco, Pós-Graduação em Ciências Ambientais e Sustentabilidade Agropecuária, Campo Grande, MS, Brasil
| | - Gabriel Carvalho de Macedo
- Universidade Católica Dom Bosco, Pós-Graduação em Ciências Ambientais e Sustentabilidade Agropecuária, Campo Grande, MS, Brasil
| | | | - Carina Elisei de Oliveira
- Universidade Católica Dom Bosco, Pós-Graduação em Ciências Ambientais e Sustentabilidade Agropecuária, Campo Grande, MS, Brasil
| | - Amália Regina Mar Barbieri
- Universidade de São Paulo, Departamento de Medicina Veterinária Preventiva e Saúde Animal, São Paulo, SP, Brasil
| | - Marcelo Bahia Labruna
- Universidade de São Paulo, Departamento de Medicina Veterinária Preventiva e Saúde Animal, São Paulo, SP, Brasil
| | | | - Heitor Miraglia Herrera
- Universidade Católica Dom Bosco, Pós-Graduação em Ciências Ambientais e Sustentabilidade Agropecuária, Campo Grande, MS, Brasil.,Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso do Sul, Pós-Graduação em Ecologia e Conservação, Campo Grande, MS, Brasil
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