Serological research for detection of anti - Rickettsia spp. in horses healthy localized intensive farms in the Paraíba Valley, SP

• Grant number: 16/22629-6
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: January 01, 2017
• End date: December 31, 2017
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Veterinary Medicine - Preventive Veterinary Medicine
• Principal Investigator: Jonas Moraes Filho
• Grantee: Claudia Iorio Budweg
• Host Institution: Universidade de Santo Amaro (UNISA). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Rocky Mountain spotted fever is a severe and lethal disease for humans caused by the bacterium Rickettsia rickettsii. In São Paulo, the causative agent is transmitted by the tick Amblyomma cajennense. The epidemiological cycle of transmission has been intensively studied and many details have been generated in the last decade, in which the horse (Equus caballus) after intravenous inoculations with the etiologic agent has been shown that this bacterium was able to infect these animals, causing response immune, functioning as important sentinels for the disease in the region where they live. This project aims to: a) serological detection in horses from intensive farms located in the Paraíba Valley, SP, for the presence of antibodies anti-Rickettsia rickettsiii, Rickettsia Rickettsia parkerim amblyommii, Rickettsia rhipicephalii and Rickettsia bellii; b) taxonomic identification of the collected ticks in the animals studied, and check the frequencies between the possible infection of bacteria of the Brazilian spotted fever group. The results of this project will be fundamental for a better understanding of disease transmission and the role of horses in the region studied, and this information will be key to better structuring of the control strategies and prevention of Brazilian Spotted Fever in the study area of this research project. (AU)