Serosurvey on sentinels animals for Spotted Fever disease, and correlation to the forest fragmentation on the southern metropolitan area of the City of São Paulo

• Grant number: 12/25172-6
• Support type: Scholarships in Brazil - Master
• Effective date (Start): November 01, 2013
• Effective date (End): March 31, 2015
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Parasitology - Entomology and Malacology of Parasites and Vectors
• Principal researcher: Adriano Pinter dos Santos
• Grantee: Claudia Araujo Scinachi
• Home Institution: Superintendência de Controle de Endemias (SUCEN). Secretaria da Saúde (São Paulo - Estado). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Brazilian Spotted Fever is a zoonotic disease caused by bacteria Rickettsia rickettsii and transmitted by ticks. In São Paulo city metropolitan area, the incriminated vector in the transmission is Amblyomma aureolatum, and domestic dogs assist in the maintenance of the disease cycle in rural areas and areas near forest. This study intends to evaluate the epidemiological aspects of Brazilian Spotted Fever, with analysis of the relation between the presence of Amblyomma aureolatum and seroprevalence of Rickettsia rickettsii in dogs, in fragmented areas of São Paulo. The areas selected for the study will be determined taking into account ecological and epidemiological characteristics that favor the occurrence of spotted fever. Ticks samples will be taken from dogs hosts for identification of species and dogs serology will be held for detection of infection by Rickettsia rickettsii. The presence of A. aureolatum ticks and positivity of infection by R. rickettsii are a risk factor for the occurrence of spotted fever in human beings, since dogs are in constant contact with humans who are susceptible to the infection. (AU)

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

SCINACHI, CLAUDIA A.; TAKEDA, GABRIELA A. C. G.; MUCCI, LUIS FILIPE; PINTER, ADRIANO. Association of the occurrence of Brazilian spotted fever and Atlantic rain forest fragmentation in the Sao Paulo metropolitan region, Brazil. Acta Tropica, v. 166, p. 225-233, FEB 2017. Web of Science Citations: 7.