| Grant number: | 18/02521-1 |
| Support type: | Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctorate |
| Effective date (Start): | July 01, 2018 |
| Effective date (End): | December 05, 2019 |
| Field of knowledge: | Agronomical Sciences - Veterinary Medicine - Preventive Veterinary Medicine |
| Principal researcher: | Marcelo Bahia Labruna |
| Grantee: | Sebastián Alejandro Munoz Leal |
| Home Institution: | Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia (FMVZ). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil |
| Associated scholarship(s): | 19/17960-3 - Advanced culture techniques, next generation sequencing, and immunoblot applied to the study of a Brazilian relapsing fever spirochete, BE.EP.PD |
Abstract Ticks of Argasidae Family transmit bacterial microorganisms to vertebrate hosts that they parasitize, including humans. Particularly, antropophilic Ornithodoros spp. act as vectors of Borrelia spp., microorganisms recognized as the agents of human Tick-borne Relapsing Fever (TBRF) in tropical and subtropical regions in the world. In South America, two species of this group were recognized in the first half of 20th century and at least one, Borrelia venezuelensis transmitted by the tick Ornithodoros rudis, was recognized as the causative agent of human TBRF outbreaks in Colômbia, Panamá, and Venezuela. Although this zoonotic disease has never been documented to occur in Brazil, another agent of the group, Borrelia brasiliensis, was once isolated from the tick Ornithodoros brasiliensis in the southern region of the country. Yet, updated reports on the occurrence of this and other agents of TBRF are currently inexistent. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the recent finding of O. rudis infected with a TBRF Borrelia in rural areas of Maranhão state, points that the occurrence of the disease might be neglected in the country. With no precedent, the current study aims to molecularly characterize in vivo- and in vitro-isolated Borrelia spp. harbored by antropophilic Ornithodoros spp. from Brazil. Additionally, serological screenings in search for Borrelia-reactive antibodies will be also performed using human blood samples collected in the prospected localities, using herein isolated spirochetes. Finally, the results of this study will refocus the attention towards a more-than-50 year-unstudied disease in South America. (AU) | |
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